Death Note: Light Yagami and L Appeared in Another Anime For Split Seconds But You May Have Missed It

Death Note is arguably one of the iconic psychological thriller anime of all time. The series is a complete banger in terms of its characters, plot, and top-notch animation. But that isn’t all considering its cult popularity and fanbase.

Even decades after its premiere, it stands as one of the finest shonen anime outlining morality and conflict. But that is not all considering an Easter Egg that most die-hard fans missed out on.

Light Yagami in a still from the series | Credit: Madhouse

Surprisingly, both L and Light’s cameo in this anime is an Easter Egg most fans overlooked. Both series are juxtaposed in a hilarious scene that would have fans in splits.

But most of all, Tsugumi Ohba’s magnum opus stands as a landmark in the shonen genre through its impeccable storytelling. From death to justice, Ohba left no stone unturned in setting their series apart as a Shonen masterpiece.

Fans overlooked Light Yagami and L’s surprising anime cameo

Light Yagami and L’s relationship outlines their rivalry in most aspects. They’re evenly matched in terms of their intellect, wit, and scheming persona. Both characters are similar in their complexities in more ways than one.

While Light is an unparalleled genius, he finds his nemesis in L. Lawliett. The hero’s ascension into villainy is reflective of his god complex. In his writing of the protagonist and the tropes, Ohba embodied Faustian symbolism and metaphors.

Light and L in a still from Fullmetal Panic! | Credit: Kyoto Animation

A perfect example of this is the morality and conflict that is ever-present in the anime. Light is the multifaceted and multifarious hero who represents intelligence and wisdom. His trajectory is ironical, though, in many aspects.

As a harbinger of justice, he is enmeshed in his web of lies and complex. This leads him to his impending doom as a result which further outlines the tragedy. Ohba went the extra mile with their characters which influenced storytelling and writing for decades.

On top of that, their series has had a major cultural impact on the shonen genre as a whole. Apart from brand collaborations, most fans missed this major detail that highlights its influence. This pertains to the characters’ cameo in yet another iconic series.

Not One Piece or Naruto, but Light and L appeared in a cameo along with Misa in Fullmetal Panic! The Easter Egg brilliantly juxtaposed two different genres in that iconic scene. But there’s more to Ohba’s magnum opus being the shonen masterpiece it is,

Death Note is an outstanding shonen masterpiece

Almost eighteen years back Death Note premiered on screen. To this date, it stands as one of the iconic series in the shonen genre. From death to gore, Ohba underscores unsettling themes in the series.

The fusion of morality with religion and the supernatural renders novelty to the series. Unlike Tite Kubo’s Shinigami, Ohba gave their spin to Ryuk by imbuing his persona with modern elements. But we’ve barely scratched the surface with this one.

L in a still from the series | Credit: Madhouse

Tsugumi Ohba’s characterization and take on justice, morality, and law is what makes his series stand out. Unlike most shonen protagonists, Light’s trajectory outlines his descent into insanity.

His possession of the Death Note along with his self-proclaimed omnipotence topples his initial goals. His trajectory is pivotal in understanding the unconventional writing of shonen protagonists.

While Naruto and Luffy are conceptualized as morally sound heroes, Light’s journey as an anti-hero outlines the profundities. By imbuing their series with spiritual, modern, and philosophical elements, Ohba succeeded in giving a spin to the classic Faustian hero archetype.

Death Note is available for streaming on Crunchyroll. The manga is available for reading on the Manga Plus app.