Myths

Like many series, Death Note is open to myths. They can come from mistranslations, fan speculations or jokes being taken seriously. They can range from an absurd notion to being highly probable. Many of these myths still exist, and will be explained on this page to avoid further confusion. Such myths when sighted on any other page should be corrected. This can be done by clearly stating what the problem is, placing a link to this page, and informing the editor as to what they did wrong.

Unnamed Shinigami's identity
Myth: The Unnamed Shinigami from the Director's Cut is really Light Yagami.

Fact: Nowhere in Death Note does it say that the Unnamed Shinigami is Light. In fact, the end rules of the Notebook state that "After [humans] die, the place they go is MU (nothingness)" and "Once dead, they can never come back to life." Although Light could be an exception to these rules, further information has yet to be revealed. However, some have theorized that the "nothingness" described may be the Shinigami Realm for those who use the Death Note, and "never coming back to life" may mean reincarnation as a Shinigami.

Near is Albino
Myth: Near is an albino. The evidence to support this are his pale hair and skin as well as his slate-grey eyes (which are actually common for albinos), the fact that he is never seen outside (albinos tend to be very sensitive to UV rays), and that he is bad at darts and usually doesn't look those who he is talking to in the eye (signs of bad eyesight, another common thing for albino persons).

Fact: This speculation has been made by a number of fans, but unfortunately it is not confirmed in either the manga nor the anime. Ohba, the creator of Death Note, hasn't commented on this issue, either.

L has Asperger's Syndrome
Myth: L has Asperger's Syndrome, which causes his strange behavior, seeming disregard for social contact, apparent lack of empathy, and extreme intelligence.

Fact: While it would seem to be a logical explanation, there is no evidence to support this theory in any of the various publications of the story or in any publicized interviews or notes about the author.

L has Marfan's Syndrome
Myth: L has Marfan's Syndrome, whose symptoms are 'spidery hands', which are shown throughout the anime, and scoliosis, a curvature in the spine, a slender figure and a higher IQ than normal people. His abnormal obsession for sweets could be explained by the fact that people with Marfan's get lightheaded and can't concentrate when their blood-sugar levels are low.

Fact: It hasn't been confirmed by his creators, and there hasn't been any evidence of any connections to the disease.

Misa has AD/HD
Myth: Amane Misa has Attention Defecit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

Fact: While Misa can be extremely hyper sometimes, it is never stated anywhere that she has AD/HD, or any other medical problems.

Madonna Cosplaying Mello
Myth: In the music video for the song "Jump", Madonna is cosplaying as Mello.

Fact: The video was shot in Tokyo, Japan while Madonna was on the Japanese leg of her Confessions Tour. In it, she is seen wearing a short blond wig and black pants. This has caused Death Note fans to believe she may have been cosplaying as Mello. However, no official conformation to these claims has been made.

American Film Adaptation
Myth: An American film adaptation of Death Note is going to be made with Zac Efron as Light.

Fact: An American film adaptation of Death Note is planned for 2010, but it is unknown who any of the cast will be yet.

Tsugumi Ohba is Hiroshi Gamou
Myth: Tsugumi Ohba is the alias of Hiroshi Gamou, author of Tottemo! Luckyman.

Fact: Some speculate this, but there is little to no evidence to support this. The rumor apparently started due to a sign the campus of To'oh University that reads "Gamou Seminar" (manga). However, there are many stories with references to seminars and other things named Gamou, that have no relation to Death Note.