Death Note anime rights and licensing
The Death Note TV anime is a six-party rights venture led by Nippon Television and VAP, with VIZ Media handling the original U.S. digital release.
Published: 2026-08-19. Updated: 2026-08-19.
Short answer: The Death Note anime is copyright to Tsugumi Ohba, Takeshi Obata, Shueisha, DNDP, VAP, and Madhouse, according to VIZ Media's copyright page. The 37-episode series was produced by Madhouse and aired on Nippon Television. VIZ Media licensed the U.S. Download to Own and Download to Rent rights from Nippon Television Network Corporation in 2007.
Who owns the anime rights to Death Note?
VIZ Media's copyright page lists the Death Note animation copyright as 'Tsugumi Ohba, Takeshi Obata / Shueisha, © DNDP, VAP, Shueisha, Madhouse' and repeats the credit as 'Tsugumi Ohba, Takeshi Obata / SHUEISHA, VAP, MAD HOUSE, DNDP.' This names six rights holders: the writer, the artist, the manga publisher Shueisha, the production company DNDP, the Nippon Television group company VAP, and the animation studio Madhouse.
The manga was serialized in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump. Nippon Television broadcast the anime in 2006 and 2007. The unusually detailed copyright line reflects a co-production arrangement rather than a single production committee name, though the internal contract terms remain private.
Death Note rights holders as credited in public sources.| Rights category | Publicly credited holder | Source |
|---|
| Anime adaptation copyright | Tsugumi Ohba / Takeshi Obata / Shueisha / DNDP / VAP / Madhouse | VIZ Media copyrights |
| Original manga | Tsugumi Ohba / Takeshi Obata / Shueisha | Weekly Shonen Jump |
| Animation production | Madhouse | VIZ and NTV |
| Japanese broadcaster | Nippon Television | NTV official site and VIZ press release |
| U.S. digital rights (2007) | VIZ Media (licensed from NTV) | ComiPress report |
Who licenses Death Note for streaming and home video?
VIZ Media announced in January 2007 that it had licensed from Nippon Television Network Corporation the Download to Own and Download to Rent rights for the United States. The deal was notable because it made episodes legally available digitally while the series was still airing in Japan. ComiPress reported the announcement.
Since 2007, VIZ Media has released Death Note on Blu-ray and DVD and made it available on multiple streaming platforms. The current U.S. streaming home has changed over time as sublicenses expired and new platform deals were signed. No recent public announcement confirms a single exclusive current streaming partner.
Why Death Note's copyright names six parties
Most modern anime use a single production committee name in the copyright line. Death Note names the creators, publisher, production company, broadcaster, video distributor, and animation studio individually. This format was more common in the mid-2000s for high-profile Nippon Television productions.
The practical effect is the same as a committee: no single party can license the anime alone. VIZ Media negotiated with Nippon Television for U.S. digital rights, but the full chain of approvals would have involved the other credited rights holders.
Where public evidence stops
The copyright line confirms who holds rights but not each party's share or approval authority. No public source discloses the term of VIZ Media's 2007 license, whether it was renewed, or the terms of any later streaming sublicenses.
Because the series is nearly 20 years old, rights may have been reverted, renewed, or transferred to new distributors. Platform listings are the most reliable current guide, but the underlying copyright holders remain the same unless a public transfer is announced.
Ownership uncertainty note: Death Note's copyright names six specific rights holders, but their internal shares and current licensing authority are not public. Current streaming availability should be verified against platform catalogs.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns the anime rights to Death Note?
The anime is copyright to Tsugumi Ohba, Takeshi Obata, Shueisha, DNDP, VAP, and Madhouse.
Who licensed Death Note in the United States?
VIZ Media licensed the U.S. Download to Own and Download to Rent rights from Nippon Television Network Corporation in 2007 and later released the series on Blu-ray and DVD.
Which studio animated Death Note?
Madhouse produced the 37-episode TV series, which aired on Nippon Television from October 2006 to June 2007.
Is Death Note based on a manga?
Yes. It is based on the manga written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata, serialized in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump.