Mello and Matt

Shinigami (死神, literally "death god") in the Death Note universe are a supernatural race of beings from a separate dimension who extend their lifespans by ending the lives of humans with the Death Note. They are sometimes referred to as "grim reapers."

Kira is the nickname given to several serial killers in the Death Note manga, anime, films, and book universe. They used Death Notes to kill criminals—mysterious objects from the World of Death Gods that allowed them to kill people by writing their names in the notebook (provided the writer knew the victim's full name and appearance).

Appearance
Matt is a handsome young man of average height, with a strong yet slender build. He has short brown hair (though fan art often depicts it as red or black), which is often in a "creative disarray." His eyes are gray-blue, but he almost never shows them, hiding them behind goggle-like glasses.
His overall style is reminiscent of cyberpunk: he wears leather gloves, black high boots with thick soles, a striped pullover and a fur vest.
Character and habits
By nature, Matt is rather withdrawn, cool, and rational. However, he's deeply immersed in the virtual world: he constantly plays video games (often on the PSP) and smokes heavily—habits that often irritate his friend Mello. Due to his intense passion for games, Matt sometimes perceives reality through the lens of games, which sometimes leads to miscalculations.
He doesn't like arguing with large groups of people—he fears he won't be able to find his arguments when outnumbered. He only loses his temper when confronted with rude flattery or betrayal. However, in critical situations, he's able to quickly find a way out. Another trait is that he's not sentimental: he easily parts with things, people, and familiar places.
Role in the plot
Matt was a foster child at Wammy's Home (like Mello and Near). He was ranked third in intelligence among the foster children, but L never chose him as his successor. After Mello left the home, Matt followed him, and they met again four years later. After the Los Angeles Mafia was crushed, Matt became Mello's sole assistant and actively assisted him in his investigations, organizing surveillance on Misa Amane and later on Aizawa and Mogi.

Appearance
Mello has chin-length golden-blond hair and blue eyes. His bangs fall just above his eyebrows, and he is of average build. A noticeable scar later appears on his face: it runs from his jaw almost to his left eye. He received this scar after an explosion at a mafia hideout, which he himself caused to escape.
He prefers dark colors in his clothing, often wearing a leather jacket. His look is complemented by accessories with religious symbolism: red rosary beads, a bracelet with a cross, a belt with cross-shaped buckles, and a pistol holster (in the manga, the handle also features a cross; in the anime, this element is toned down, with the cross being represented only by a horizontal crossbar).
Character and motivation
Mello's character is a mixture of contradictory traits:
Emotional and impulsive. He often acts on the spur of the moment, which often leads to problems.
Stubbornness and a desire for leadership. Being first and the best is extremely important to him—it's his obsession.
Resourceful and decisive. In extreme situations, he is able to think quickly and find creative solutions.
Self-confidence bordering on arrogance. Sometimes this plays a cruel joke on him.
An inferiority complex. He'd always felt "eternally second" to Near at Wammy's House, and it fueled his motivation. This rivalry led Mello to harbor a strong dislike for Near.
The main driving force is the thirst for revenge for L, who was killed by Kira. But not only that: Mello also wanted to prove to Near and himself that he is L's true heir.

Appearance
L is a young man of rather slender build with pale skin. He is easily recognizable by his tousled, neck-length black hair and dark eyes. One of his most noticeable features is the bags under his eyes, a consequence of chronic insomnia. His attire is fairly standard: blue jeans and a white long-sleeved shirt. L almost never wears shoes or socks—he even appears barefoot in public. Another detail: he often slouches and sits with his legs tucked under him, explaining that this maintains maximum mental alertness.
Character and behavior
Behind his casual demeanor lies a keen, meticulous mind. L is prone to questioning everything, basing his reasoning solely on logic and deduction. He is quite secretive, preferring to communicate with the outside world through his assistant, Watari. L himself also uses aliases (for example, Ryuzaki) as an additional security measure. However, he is capable of strong emotions: for example, after the death of agents or after Watari's disappearance, he is overcome with rage and a thirst for revenge. Another trait is his sensitivity to insults: he doesn't like to lose.

Appearance
Near is a slender, petite young man with fair skin, gray eyes, and short, shaggy platinum-blonde hair, which he often plays with. He usually wears a white, long-sleeved pajama shirt and white pajama pants (in the anime, the pants are light blue). A special edition of the manga reveals that three years after the main events, he develops noticeable bags under his eyes, his hair grows out a bit, and he gains a significant amount of height.
Character and habits
His childish appearance conceals a keen mind. Near is obsessed with solving complex problems, viewing investigations as puzzles to be solved. He is highly observant and capable of monitoring multiple computer screens simultaneously.

Appearance. Mikami is a tall, lean man with long, shoulder-length black hair and brown eyes. He often wears glasses, which adds a serious air to his appearance. He is usually seen wearing a smart business suit, topped with a long, dark coat. Interestingly, designer Takeshi Obata was inspired by another character, Taro Kagami, from the manga's pilot. Initially, Mikami appears collected and neat, but when he is confronted with the reality of Kira, his appearance changes: his hair becomes disheveled, and overall, he takes on the appearance of a true fanatic.
Personality and Motives. Mikami's character is based on a heightened sense of justice, which developed in childhood. From an early age, he divided people into "good" and "evil" and sought to punish those he considered to be of the latter type. After a tragic incident (four bullies he fought against in school died in a car accident), he became convinced that some people cannot be changed and must be destroyed. After becoming a prosecutor, he tried to implement his beliefs legally, but when he learned of Kira, he perceived it as confirmation of his own righteousness. Mikami literally worshiped Kira, considering him a god and himself a servant of this higher order. His catchphrase, "Kira is justice," perfectly captures the essence of his ideology. His "justice" was extremely harsh: he did not hesitate to kill even those with past criminal records, even if they had no further offenses. He displayed cold calculation and mechanical devotion in his actions: as he wrote down names in the Death Note, he pronounced the word "delete" over each doomed person.

Appearance: Short and slender, with long, golden-blond hair (often braided with red ribbons, sometimes left loose). Her eyes are predominantly light brown in the manga, but green is also seen; in the anime, the color varies (light brown, light blue, and blue), and when using her Shinigami Eyes power, they become bright red.
Personality and behavior: hyperactive, impulsive, and childish (she likes to refer to herself in the third person—"Misa-Misa"). However, in critical moments, she displays resourcefulness and cunning (for example, successfully deceiving Kyosuke Higuchi). She is driven by deep trauma: as a child, she witnessed the murder of her parents, and when the killer was acquitted, it strengthened her resolve to "punish" criminals. Her love for Light Yagami makes her unconditionally loyal: she is willing to make deals with the god of death (exchanging Shinigami eyes) to be of use to him, even at the cost of shortening her own life.
Role in the plot: Misa becomes the "Second Kira." After receiving the Death Note, she seeks out Kira to thank him for killing her parents' killer. She later falls in love with Light and actively helps him using her Shinigami Eyes.

Appearance and manner of dress
Light is a young man of above-average height with medium-length light brown hair with bangs and hazel eyes. He has chiseled features and flawless white skin. In the first part of the story, he often wears a school uniform or casual clothes (a shirt with a blazer, a V-neck sweater), but in the second, he prefers formal suits. This attire emphasizes his discipline and restraint.
Character and personality
Light was distinguished from childhood by his sharp intellect and analytical thinking, and was Japan's top student. He sincerely hated crime and was guided by a sense of justice, but only displayed this in extreme cases.
However, after receiving the Death Note, he changes radically. His initial good intentions ("to cleanse the world of criminals") are quickly supplanted by delusions of grandeur: he imagines himself the "God of the New World," given the right to decide the fates of people.