Platinum End vs Death Note: How Close Are the Anime Related?

Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Ohba made their way through the anime world and not in the most gentle way. Their association led to the eruption of anime gems like Death Note, the famous psychological thriller anime. The masterminds went even further in their collaborations and released the manga Bakuman in 2008 and Platinum End in 2015. However, it turns out that Platinum End and Death Note seem to have some common aspects and that’s what this article is all about; How close are the anime related? 

Although the fact that the same masterminds are behind both projects, some other similarities come between Platinum End and Death Note:

• Both protagonists’ purpose is to be the new God
• The series introduces Supernatural Beings
• Both protagonists got tired of the world
• Protagonists possess powerful artifacts
• The Meaning of Life & Death Questioned

1. Both Protagonists’ Purpose is to be the New God

Analyzing Platinum End and Death Note, you will instantly acknowledge that the protagonists’ aim in the series is to become the next God. When Light discovers the full powers of the Death Note and what he will be able to achieve with that, his main objective is to eradicate all evil minds from the planet and create a ‘New World’ where he would be the new God!

Mirai on the other hand never set out to become God. However, he got intentions different from Light’s ones and has a different method to achieve his purpose.

In his world, people who want to commit suicide are tired of the current state of the world, so they are given a chance to become God and the power to change everything. In the anime, Mirai and twelve other candidates engage themselves in a contest to be the future deity.

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2. Platinum End and Death Note Introduce Supernatural Beings

Supernatural beings are present and play an important role in both anime. Both protagonists even have them as companions. Death Note introduces Shinigamis (Japanese death Gods),  a race of extra-dimensional creatures who survive by killing humans to extend their own lives.

Ryuk is the most prominently featured Shinigami of the series as well as one of the top main characters as he is Light’s companion throughout the anime. 

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Platinum End introduces the angels as its supernatural creatures. At first sight, an angel is a celestial servant retrieving human souls after their death.

God selected thirteen angels to accompany the respective thirteen candidates in their quest for God’s replacement. Nasse, the Angel of Purity and a very powerful angel selected Mirai as her God candidate.

3. Both Protagonists are Tired of the World

Light and Mirai are two teenage boys tired of the world, each in their own way. Light is disappointed in the state of the world, so that’s what drives him to kill criminals at first. He then decides he will be the God of the world he will create.

Mirai on the other hand was so tired of the world that he attempted suicide. So when he became a God candidate, he had in mind that, if he became God he” would create a world in which everyone would be happy. 

4. Protagonists Possess Powerful Artefacts

Paying more attention to Platinum End and Death Note, you’ll realize both protagonists have powerful artefacts to achieve their goals. Light possesses a notebook called Death Note which has evil powers.

Initially, the book belongs to a god of death and its purpose is to take human life, thereby increasing the lifespan of the Shinigami who uses it. Light uses it in a similar way to kill criminals and every single person trying to prevent him from creating his ideal world.

Mirai in contrast received wings, and a Red, and White Arrow. Nasse tries to convince him to commit crimes with these tools. With the Red Arrow named ‘Cupid Arrow’, he can control others and make any person fall in love with the one he pierced for 33 days.

The one person pierced will feel extremely compelled to please the person who shot the red arrow and follow the orders they’re giving. They will also adopt the host’s point of view. With the White Arrow, Mirai can kill whoever wronged him. White arrows kill any living being instantly, including God and angels.

The wings allow him to fly to any place in the world at a speed the human eye cannot keep up with. This is the only way someone can dodge an arrow as the wings travel faster than them.

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5. The Meaning Of Life & Death Questioned

Another correlating point in Platinum End and Death Note inspection is the questioning of Life and Death exposed in the shows. In Death Note, from Light’s perspective, life and death seem to be meaningless.

Light could eliminate whosoever he wanted, he killed criminals and eventually, anyone who tried to stop his plans, regardless of the victim’s status. Light could do anything to get his way.

In Platinum End, since there were different candidates to replace God, there were different perspectives on the meaning of life and death too. Mirai planned to create a world where nobody would be joyful and not depressed enough to commit suicide.

Oddly, Metropoliman, another candidate, had Light Yagami’s mindset. He would remorselessly kill whoever impeded his plans. This is another point associating Platinum End and Death Note.

Is Platinum End as Good as Death Note?

Considering that Platinum End came from the brilliant mind of Tsugumi Ohba, you might deduce it has the same value as Death Note. The problem with this type of comparison is when you highly appreciate the first work and place it on a pedestal, you mostly find yourself disappointed in your next anime expectations.

Opposing Platinum End and Death Note, you’ll get the same assessment; Platinum End is a relatively good anime but if you hope to get back the same hype just like when watching Death Note, you might get a little bit disappointed. 

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One thing is sure, Platinum End and Death Note are closely related and are both good anime. In many ways, Platinum End functions as a counterpoint to Death Note. The parallels are numerous but subverted in various ways. If you’ve followed the two and need to watch similar anime, here is our recommendation for top anime like Platinum End and Death Note.