Death Note - Do I read it or watch it first?

[Cloak519]

Hello Tempers!
Today Vol. 1 of Death Note arrived from Amazon and I was planning on reading it later on.
But then this guy called iMasaru (ever heard of him

?) pops up on MSN and says that it's better to watch it before I read it because it will affect me differently.
So, to those in the know - should I read it or watch it first? Or does the order even matter?
Thanks

!

 

[AlanJohn]

Watch it.

 

[Paarish]

I've only watched it but the series is well done. Can't say the same for the manga. But I don't think it really matters

And iMasaru doesn't know anything. He sounds like a noob

 

[haddad]

i would watch it if I were u

 

[Shockwind]

Watch it before you read it.

 

[Zorua]

Watch it first. The book's much more deeper than the movie.

 

[CrimzonEyed]

I watched the anime before i read the manga

 

[YetoJesse]

ok, how about if you do the one before the other, you'll probably stop doing the other?..
I'm reading it because i'm not that fond of watching anime... i prefer reading the manga...
but if you know everything through the anime and then read the manga, you'll be like:"I knew that.... and that aswell.... yeah, DUHH, Light!!1 (nub..)" so choose one (probably read it as you got the book) and watch it if you like ^^

 

[doyama]

Not sure why people would recommend watching before reading the manga. The movies basically ruin most of the story arcs for the manga. I figure it's best to read the manga, get the full sense of the world and its intricacies, then watch the anime and movies as a supplement.

Be warned though, Death Note is DENSE with text. If you're just 'dabbling' in Japanese and you're struggling to read Dragon Ball or whatever, this is going to give you a huge run for your money. You'll learn a lot though if you power through it.

 

[CrimzonEyed]

Not sure why people would recommend watching before reading the manga. The movies basically ruin most of the story arcs for the manga. I figure it's best to read the manga, get the full sense of the world and its intricacies, then watch the anime and movies as a supplement.

Be warned though, Death Note is DENSE with text. If you're just 'dabbling' in Japanese and you're struggling to read Dragon Ball or whatever, this is going to give you a huge run for your money. You'll learn a lot though if you power through it.

I think it's easier to get into the heavier story in the manga if you have seen the anime.

 

[Cloak519]

I like rich, heavy stories

.
See, this is the problem I'm facing... I'm not really sure if I'm going to watch anime in general much in the long run. I always prefer to read things instead of watching them. And I was thinking that watching the anime might ruin my enjoyment of the manga :/.

 

[ShadowNeko003]

I read the manga before watching the anime (but that's cause the anime wasn't out yet in Japan.) Yes, there's a lot of text in the manga, so if you don't mind reading a lot of text (especially for the second half of the manga), then I would suggest the manga. If you don't like reading, then watch the anime and then you can skim though the manga for parts that aren't included in the anime. I also would save the movies until after you've either finished the manga or the anime.

 

[Joktan]

I watched the anime and havnt got around to reading the manga yet...i plan to sometime though...but i dont think it really matters,just your preference...

 

[Cloak519]

Manga it is then

. Thanks all!

 

[Omninox]

I've only watched it but the series is well done. Can't say the same for the manga. But I don't think it really matters

And iMasaru doesn't know anything. He sounds like a noob

I've watched it aswell as read the manga. I think i would know what i'm talking about tyvm...

on topic:
The only reason you'd want to read the manga version of Death Note is for the alternative ending and Spin off chapter added after the series ended.

 

[Youkai]

I have read the Manga watched the Anime and the Movies and I would definietly recommend you like you seem to plan now to read the Manga !

especialy for Death Note its a very intelligent story.
If you do not like story bades stuff (where there not not only stupid action without sense) you should read (well Anime's not bad either really) cuz at least the movie takes out the intelligence and misses the action which makes it more or less ... nothing ... just boring.

 

[Omninox]

I have read the Manga watched the Anime and the Movies and I would definietly recommend you like you seem to plan now to read the Manga !

especialy for Death Note its a very intelligent story.
If you do not like story bades stuff (where there not not only stupid action without sense) you should read (well Anime's not bad either really) cuz at least the movie takes out the intelligence and misses the action which makes it more or less ... nothing ... just boring.

The movies also rearranged the story in a weird way o.O

 

[InuYasha]

At first I loved DN(anime) but sadly it was short(to me anyway) plus the ending in my opinion sucked...

 

[Cloak519]

The only reason you'd want to read the manga version of Death Note is for the alternative ending and Spin off chapter added after the series ended.

Eh? That makes it sound like watching anime is always better than reading manga

.

 

[Omninox]

The only reason you'd want to read the manga version of Death Note is for the alternative ending and Spin off chapter added after the series ended.

Eh? That makes it sound like watching anime is always better than reading manga

.

it's kinda hard to explain without giving spoilers :S

Like i said to you before, it's up to you which you go for, i just found that the anime portrayed certain scenes better then in the manga, and if you read about it before watching it, it wouldn't be as affective.
It's mostly up to personal preference :3

edit: Even if you don't want to take my word into account, i'm sure the poll answers your question anyways.