Death is perhaps the only truth that has managed to keep itself unadulterated. And believe it or not, it is just because of the fear that it brings along, nothing has been able to deface its ‘spirit’.
Takeshi Obata, the exceptional Japanese manga artist has projected this universal fear for death, in one of the most striking fashions.
One of his creations that helped the manga genius to reach his goal is, Shinigami. Of course, it made him use his best of knowledge to come out with the death god in a befitting avatar.
But just like a true professional, he has always been modest about his great work. In an interview on how he conceptualized the characters of manga (that ultimately brought to us the super-cool anime), the artist hinted that he wanted a mix of a beast and a wizard in Shinigami.
He, however, also revealed that the character conceptualization of Ryuk was the toughest of the lot, because there wasn’t any solid reference, on which he could rely to draw the sketch.
The idea of showing Shinigami as wizard wasn’t implemented, and the death God took the appearance of more of an insect.
Well, that doesn’t mean I’m wrong in claiming Obata left a blend of animal and wizard on the god of the death, because rags on such supernatural beings are suggestive of connection with the world of wizardry.
What I feel scary about Obata’s Shinigami, is its dreaded power of extending its life by killing a mortal. And when we watch Death Note series online, even though, the storyline hover around that aspect of death, it takes a cue from it, to make the occurrence of deaths more mysterious.
I am sure, you haven’t thought of Death Note’s Shinigami’s this aspect ever before. But let me make it clear that all the dreaded incidents that come to you either through manga or the animation have their roots attached to that death god!
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And you know what; he picked manga-turned-anime, Death Note, as one of the glaring examples of a show, misleading fans!
I won’t be able to ascertain the number of entities, who had tried to defy that universal fact. But I can certainly claim that at a certain point of time, we all have fancied about the concept of a realm, where there is no trace of death.
And that’s why I have decided to discuss something that existed at the periphery of the masterpiece, but may have managed to evade your observation.




