In the world of anime, there are only a few titles that have managed to leave a long-lasting impression on viewers. Among them, Death Note stands as one of the most recognized and popular anime in the community.

Tsugumi Ohba’s Death Note has captivated audiences around the world with its unique blend of psychological thriller elements and intricate plot twists. Moreover, the anime perseveres as a definitive gateway anime and remains as beloved today as it was in the mid-2000s for many fans.

Ryuk and Light in Death Note | Credit: Madhouse

Light Yagami has generated an enormous fanbase thanks to his cunning strategies and 100 IQ plays that left many fans blown away by his intelligence. After witnessing several genius plays, fans have ranked Light Yagami as the smartest character in the entire anime verse, surpassing the likes of Aizen, Lelouch, and even Johan Liebert. Surprisingly, Senku from Dr. Stone, the man who brought human society back after extinction, ranked the lowest, sparking a lot of commotion online.

Death Note‘s Light Yagami Tops the List While Senku Ranks Last

Light Yagami and L (Ryuzaki) left several fans enthralled by the clash between the two smartest individuals. Light emerged victorious and earned the title of the smartest in the eyes of some fans. Tsugumi Ohba first introduces viewers to Light Yagami as Japan’s brightest high school student who is meant for great things until he encounters a magical notebook that grants him the power to sentence anyone to death (murder people).

Light Yagami from Death Note | Credit: Madhouse

Later, Light meets the original owner of the notebook who is a Shinigami named Ryuk. On their first meeting, Ryuk is intrigued by Light’s character and ends up closely following our protagonist. Despite Light’s evil deeds, many fans justify him as a good guy who only intended to make the world a better place by removing criminals from society.

However, Ohba quickly introduced L, who opposed Light’s methods of justice and voiced many fans’ beliefs. Throughout the series, the mangaka highlights the clash of ideals between the two smartest individuals, leaving fans to anticipate more. With only 37 episodes, Death Note doesn’t overwhelm a potential newcomer with too much pressure like One Piece or Naruto.

Owing to Death Note‘s immense popularity and enormous fanbase, many fans vouch for Light to be the greatest and smartest anime character of all time. However, with characters like Aizen, Lelouch, and Johan Liebert also in the mix, ranking Light as the smartest is a topic ripe for considerable debate.

Interestingly, a fan poll about the smartest characters in the anime verse has caused a lot of commotion online. Senku Ishigami, from the famous Dr. Stone anime where the entire plot features around his intelligence, was ranked the lowest on the list, making many fans furious and expressing their anger on social media.

Fans Furious as Senku Ranks Last Among the Smartest Anime Characters

Dr. Stone takes viewers to a post-apocalyptic world, where Senku Ishigami emerges as the only hope for humanity’s survival. Not to forget, the use of science in Dr. Stone is one of its most remarkable features that made the anime stand out from the rest. Throughout the series, Senku showcases his expertise in biology, chemistry, and physics to rescue others from several life-threatening threats.



Naturally, seeing the beloved protagonist ranked last on the list made fans furious. Thanks to Senku’s intelligence and understanding of science, our beloved protagonist brought human society back to civilization from the stone age.



One fan even points out how Light’s over-smartness ended up being the reason for the character’s demise in Death Note. Apart from that, many comments argued about Light earning the top spot, despite the addition of Aizen and Johan Liebert to the list.

Senku Ishigami from Dr. Stone | Credits: TMS Entertainment

Indeed, placing Senku in the last spot could be an overstatement as the anime features several iconic moments highlighting Senku’s intelligence. Although Light may not be the smartest character of all time, Death Note is one of the most recognized anime in the community, consistently exceeding fans’ expectations.