Anime · in order
Death Note Watch Order
Watch the definitive 2006 anime first: 37 episodes that tell the complete story. The Japanese live-action films and the 2017 Netflix movie are separate, optional adaptations.
Death Note Watch Order โ complete list
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Why this order?
Death Note has one definitive version and several separate adaptations, so the watch order is really a question of where to start. Begin with the 2006 anime. Its 37 episodes adapt Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata's manga from start to finish, covering Light Yagami's rise as the killer "Kira," his cat-and-mouse duel with the detective L, and the full ending. You do not need anything else to get the complete story, which is why it sits at the top of the default order.
The Japanese live-action film series is a distinct continuity, best watched in release order. The first film, Death Note (2006), and its direct sequel, Death Note: The Last Name (2006), retell the Light-versus-L conflict with a changed ending. L: Change the World (2008) is a spinoff that follows L on his own case and does not match the manga at all. Death Note: Light Up the New World (2016) is a later sequel set years afterward with new characters. These films share actors and a world but diverge sharply from the anime, so treat them as an alternate take rather than canon.
The 2017 Netflix film is an unrelated American adaptation that relocates the story to Seattle and reworks the characters. It connects to none of the above and is purely standalone, so its placement in the list is just for completeness.
The big gotcha: do not expect these versions to line up. Same names and the same notebook, but three separate continuities with different endings. If you only watch one thing, make it the anime. Fans of psychological cat-and-mouse stories may also enjoy the manga-derived intensity of Code Geass or the detective tension of Monster.
Timeline 2006โ2017
Every entry plotted by release year โ see the gaps, clusters and revivals at a glance.
Where to play it today
Affiliate links (Bookshop.org for books, store links for games/films) slot in here.
Frequently asked questions
What order should I watch Death Note in?
Start with the 2006 anime, which tells the complete 37-episode story on its own. Only then, if you want more, watch the Japanese live-action films in release order. The 2017 Netflix film is fully standalone.
How many seasons and episodes of Death Note are there?
The anime is a single season of 37 episodes that adapts the entire manga. There is no season two. The other entries are standalone feature films, not series.
Do I need to watch the live-action films?
No. The 2006 anime is the definitive, complete version. The Japanese live-action films are an optional separate continuity with a different ending, so they are extra rather than required.
Is the 2017 Netflix Death Note connected to the anime?
No. The 2017 Netflix film is an unrelated American adaptation set in Seattle with reworked characters. It shares only the notebook concept and stands entirely on its own.
Should I watch the anime or read the manga first?
Either works, since the anime closely follows the manga. The anime is the easiest entry point and covers the full story, so most newcomers start there.
What is the difference between the anime and the live-action films?
The anime is the faithful, complete adaptation. The Japanese live-action films compress and change the story, including a different ending, while the L spinoff and Light Up the New World add separate plots.
Last updated · Sources: en.wikipedia.org, Wikidata
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