I Got Into Anime As An Adult, But This Series Made Me A Lifelong Fan (2024)

For countless anime fans, their love of the medium has lasted an entire lifetime. These are the people who grew up watching anime from a very young age, creating many fond childhood memories with characters from beloved anime series like Naruto, Attack on Titan, and Dragon Ball Z. However, although many anime fans discovered their interest in their youth, not everyone had this experience.

Apart from a few episodes scattered here and there throughout my middle and high school years, I was largely unfamiliar with anime until my twenties. I always appreciated the artistic merit of the genre and had friends who watched it frequently, but it never piqued my interest enough to fully explore the world of anime.

However, it wasn't until the summer after my freshman year of college when my best friend recommended I watch Death Note, that I finally gave anime a proper chance. From the very first episode of the series, I was hooked, drawn in by the compelling plot.

Death Note Introduced Me to Anime, Hooking Me from the Start

With Only 37 episodes, I Finished the Entire series in Just a Few Days

I had intended to watch only the first episode of Death Note to satisfy my best friend, but I did not think I would enjoy it as much as I did. Instantly, the series drew me in, from the moment Light discovered the Death Note outside his school. Armed with the deadly notebook, he began to sneakily kill criminals, while devising a plan to hide his murderous scheme. I was immediately interested in seeing what would happen next and found myself pressing play on episode after episode, entranced by the gripping mystery and bold personalities the show had to offer.

I finished the series in no time at all, due to its quick pacing and lack of filler episodes. Each new episode advanced the plot and revealed more insight into the characters and their motives. By the time I had finished the show, I was eager to dive right into my next series and immediately started Attack on Titan, which I also fell in love with. Thanks to Death Note, I discovered my interest in a brand-new genre that was previously unknown to me, and I believe that this series is the perfect anime for beginners who are looking to get into the genre.

Death Note's Incredible English Dub and Short Length Make it an Easy Watch

The Acclaimed Series Boasts a Phenomenal English Dub

While many anime fans are used to watching with subtitles and even prefer it to dubs, this can seem daunting for those who have never encountered this kind of viewing experience. As Death Note had both a Japanese subtitled version and an English dub, I chose the latter, and I found the same drama and emotion of the original language. With talented voice actors like Brad Swaile as Light and Alessandro Juliani as L, the dub perfectly captured the personalities of these characters. I now watch almost exclusively subtitled anime, but having such a high-quality dub option felt accessible to me in the beginning as someone who had never watched subtitled media.

Another aspect of Death Note that drew me in was the relatively short length. With only 37 short episodes, the anime captured my attention and did not feel like too large of a time commitment if I did not enjoy it. The prospect of watching an anime like One Piece with thousands of episodes and counting overwhelmed me, as I felt I'd never get caught up, but Death Note was easy for me to become engrossed in over a weekend. Filler episodes can also be a turn-off for new anime fans, proving to be a controversial topic among viewers.

A Fast-Paced Plot and Well-Written Characters Keep the Series Entertaining

The Mystery Aspect Was Particularly Absorbing, as I Never Knew What Would Happen Next

Some people hate filler episodes and some (admittedly not many) love them, but I personally enjoyed how Death Note had no filler content. Since filler can be an acquired taste that more seasoned fans enjoy, Death Note's lack of this type of content makes it more engaging and perfect for a new fan. The story itself is very fast-paced and filled with mystery and drama, making it impossible to stop watching. Hearing the characters' inner monologs, especially Light's and L's, gives a lot of insight into the character's motives and plans, making viewers feel like they know them well after only a few episodes.

As Death Note's main character and an anti-hero, Light captured my attention. Watching him develop a god-complex in pursuit of creating the perfect world was equal parts entertaining and horrifying to envision. To see such an intelligent character with unlimited potential for his future go to such dark lengths as he chased an unobtainable goal was something I'd never witnessed before in any other show, and it kept me eagerly watching to see what Light's fate would be. L's character particularly resonated with me too. I found his relentless pursuit of justice inspiring, and his quirky habits and affinity for sweets endearing.

Death Note Explores Moral Issues and Character Motivations Uniquely

Constant Inner Monologs Give Us a Peek into the Characters' Minds

Death Note's characters are one of its strongest points. Light, the series' villain and anti-hero, is very well-written. His increasingly inhumane actions are horrific, and the series does a phenomenal job of revealing his corrupted motivations through his inner monologue. Moral issues are explored, as the show reveals how power can corrupt someone without them noticing until it is too late. Death Note's animation is also beautiful and vivid, produced by talented studio, Madhouse. The music also steals the show, adding tension and sorrow in all the right moments with gorgeously composed scores, some of which have become popular internet memes.

Death Note has grown into a cultural icon, and for good reason. Although not quite on par in terms of popularity with classics like Naruto and Dragon Ball Z, it represents the anime genre flawlessly and is an ideal recommendation for getting people into the genre. Not only did my best friend introduce me to anime through Death Note, but someone also introduced her through the same series, and the cycle continues, as I always share this recommendation with anime newcomers.

Although I unfortunately did not get to explore the wonders of anime until adulthood, I have Death Note to thank for unlocking this new world for me.

Death Note

Created by

Takeshi Obata , Tsugumi Ohba

TV Show(s)

Death Note

Character(s)

Light Yagami , L Lawliet , Ryuk , Misa Amane , Near (Death Note) , Mello (Death Note) , Teru Mikami , Minoru Tanaka

Video Game(s)

Death Note: Kira Game