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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: 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.
How many episodes is Death Note?
Death Note has 48 episodes across the 2 series entries tracked in this guide.
- Death Note 37 episodes 2006-2007
- Death Note (2015 TV drama) 11 episodes 2015
Timeline 2006-2017
Every entry by release year: rows that share a year are a cluster, and the long droughts are called out on the rail.
- 2006 Death NoteDeath NoteThe Last Name
- 2008 L: Change the World
- 7-year gap
- 2015 (2015 TV drama)
- 2016 Light Up the New World
- 2017 Death Note
Where to play it today
Availability changes often and varies by region - links search each platform for Death Note.
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 verified · Sources: en.wikipedia.org, Wikidata
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