Despite its conclusion a long time ago, fans of Death Note still harbor a desire to alter Light’s fate in the anime.
Undoubtedly, one of the best-written anime protagonists is Light Yagami. In the beginning of Death Note, he is portrayed as an exceptional straight-A student who coincidentally discovers the notebook with the same title.
The upcoming events are just as captivating as they are malicious. The beloved anime series accurately illustrates Light’s transformation from a person with a desire to eliminate criminals to someone who has developed a God Complex and is willing to murder anyone, including his own family.
Despite its strengths, the anime series falls short in its depiction of the character’s ultimate fate. While the manga’s conclusion is a raw and brutal portrayal of Light’s agony and desperate pleas to Ryuk for mercy, the anime opts for a more poetic and undeserving death for the character.
In the anime, following the revelation of his true identity as Kira and being shot by Matsuda, Light escapes to an abandoned building. Ryuk, who has been observing everything, decides to spare Light and writes his name in the Death Note. As the sun sets, the killer succumbs to a heart attack and dies.
The manga’s ending is a stark contrast to the image of Light as a pathetic figure, which he himself had always believed to be true. Despite being a ruthless killer who showed no hesitation in taking lives, he ultimately begs for his own life and receives no mercy. This ending is fitting for someone who committed such heinous crimes and serves as a just punishment for his actions.
One user on X expressed their disappointment that the manga ending was not used, stating that it was more excruciating and frightening for Light, which they believed he deserved.
Another person pointed out, “In the anime, it seems like they made it less pathetic, but that’s not how it’s supposed to be. The whole point is for it to be pathetic.”
“I understand that they needed to fill in air time, but I dislike how they portrayed the protagonist’s transformation as a ploy for sympathy. It seemed as though they were trying to manipulate the audience’s emotions. This was pointed out by a third critic of the anime’s ending.”
Although the manga effectively portrays the human side of Light’s death, the anime also incorporates another layer of symbolism. In a pivotal moment in the plot, Ryuk divulges that Death Note users do not end up in either heaven or hell. This is why the anime depicts Light’s demise on a staircase, symbolizing his eternal state of never reaching paradise or purgatory.
If you enjoy Death Note and are looking for more psychological thriller anime, be sure to explore recommendations for similar shows as well as top picks for body horror anime.
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