L Lawliet Appears

Lore & Background

L is an enigmatic, mysterious, and highly esteemed international consulting detective whose true identity and background is kept a secret. He initially communicates with law enforcement agencies through his equally inexplicable handler/assistant, Watari, who serves as his official liaison with the authorities. Though his past is shrouded in mystery, he has gained a reputation as arguably the world's greatest detective. L is revealed to actually be a tall, disheveled and gaunt youth in his 20s with a pale complexion and visible dark circles around his eyes.

He is a socially-inept, awkward and somewhat misanthropic recluse. He has many notable quirks and eccentricities, such as holding things with his index finger and thumb, crouching instead of sitting, mostly walking around barefoot, scratching his ankle with the toes of the other foot, and having an unnatural affinity for sweets, cakes, candies, dairy foods and confectionery foods. He is seen exclusively eating these foods but this diet has no apparent effect on his health and physiology.

Even with these eccentricities, he is a highly skilled, intellectually-astute and brilliant criminologist/crime investigator. He may come off as cold and cynical and often utilizes questionable methods and mostly takes up solving cases out of boredom rather than a sense of duty. However, he does have a strict moral code, is aware of his own flaws and shortcomings and is unwilling to cross morally repugnant standards, unlike Kira. It is implied that he suffers from loneliness, internal torment and low self-esteem, even calling himself "a monster" at one point.

Reader's Guide

The saga begins when mass murders draw global attention toward a supernatural killer known as Kira. Authorities struggle to identify the culprit using conventional methods alone. When local policing fails, the Japanese police seek outside help from the enigmatic Watari. He introduces a mysterious private consultant who demands total control of the investigation.

This marks the formal start of the counter-Kira task force under L's leadership. L isolates himself in a secure room, analyzing data while consuming sweets and observing suspects through screens. His first major move involves narrowing down Kira's location to Japan based on crime patterns. Surveillance intensifies on high-profile students and officials within that region.

This phase establishes the psychological duel between two geniuses who refuse to yield. Neither side holds complete information, leading to a stalemate of deduction and deception. Ultimately, this arc sets the stage for the long-term battle that defines the series' narrative structure. The dynamic shifts as both parties begin testing each other's limits without revealing their true identities or capabilities fully.

Did You Know?

• L's fighting style has been described as similar to capoeira, though Obata denied considering this when drawing L's fights, saying he was thinking of the most effective way to kick someone whilst handcuffed.
• In the anime adaptation, L is voiced by Kappei Yamaguchi in Japanese, and by Alessandro Juliani in English.
• L is portrayed by Kenichi Matsuyama in the live-action film series, by Kento Yamazaki in the TV drama, and by Lakeith Stanfield in the American film.