![Detectives Solving the Kira Case Detectives vs. Light Yagami Tumblr Grid](https://i.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/mobile/000/046/956/cover14.jpg)
Detectives Solving the Kira Case
Part of a series on Death Note. [View Related Entries]
This submission is currently being researched & evaluated!
You can help confirm this entry by contributing facts, media, and other evidence of notability and mutation.
About
Detectives Solving the Kira Case refers to a series of memes and fan art that explore the idea of various fictional detectives trying to solve the Kira case from the anime series Death Note. In October 2023, the format achieved popularity on X after a user posted Tumblr Grid in which detectives were ranked by their ability to solve the case and to intuit the mechanics of the Death Note.
Origin
In the Death Note manga and anime series, Light Yagami, also known as Kira, is a serial killer who uses a supernatural notebook to kill off criminals by writing down their names and time and method of death. In the series, genius detective going by the name of L is able to eventually track down Kira, learn his identity and figure out the way the killings are done.
On August 5th, 2021, Redditor DapperSkeleton1 posted an image of detective Columbo from the crime drama television series of the same name paired with the monologue in which he solves the Kira case. The post (shown below) received over 990 upvotes in the /r/TwoBestFriendsPlay[1] subreddit in two years.
![Right, of course you would know how L died Mr. Yagami "Right, of course you would know how L died Mr. Yagami, you were there after all but ah, just one last thing: did you know there was a torn page in this thing? I tell ya, kids these days just don't care for their books anymore" DEATH NOTE](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/002/165/509/d4b.jpg)
On November 18th, 2021, Tumblr[2] user reused the image from the post, writing that Lieutenant Columbo would have easily cracked the Kira case. The thread, which was continued by other users contributing dialogue that could have been said by Columbo at that moment, received over 22,000 reblogs and 31,100 likes on Tumblr in two years.
On November 24th, 2021, voice actor Gianni Matragrano posted a video titled "Columbo in… 'Death Note'," which was based on the Tumblr thread. The upload (shown below) received over 1.8 million views on YouTube[3] and over 5,500 reposts and 17,000 likes on X[4] / Twitter in two years.
Spread
On October 15th, 2023, X[5] user @akie_works posted a Tumblr grid which distributed several dozen famous fictional and real detectives, including Columbo, Harry Dubois, Sam & Max, Phoenix Wright, Frank Drebin, Benoit Blanc, Detective Pikachu and others, depending on whether they could solve the Kira case and intuit the mechanics of the Death Note. The post (shown below) garnered over 17,900 reposts and 62,000 likes in four days.
!["Could Solve the Kira Case" Grid can intuit the mechanics of the Death Note cannot intuit the mechanics of the Death Note could solve the Kira case KRISTEN BELL P veronica MARS Se fighting crime JULY hulu could not solve the Kira case JACKSON USHER HALL ROUNDTREE SHAFT JUNE 14 MARLOWE: PRIVATE EYE INVESTIGATION BI Hank Co. DETECTIVE AGENCY garde Francis York Morgan Please, call me York. That's what everyone calls me. OPT MISS MARPLE MONK](https://a.kym-cdn.com/assets/blank-b3f96f160b75b1b49b426754ba188fe8.gif)
The post was followed by various memes in which users imagined fictional detectives trying to solve the case and questioning Light Yagami. For example, on October 16th, 2023, X[6] user @imranzomg posted a meme that imagined Phoenix Wright from Ace Attorney making a guess that Light Yagami has been killing people with magic. The post (shown below, left) garnered over 4,500 reposts and 19,000 likes in three days. On October 17th, 2023, X[7] user @DSPStanky posted a Disco Elysium meme referencing I'll Take a Potato Chip and Eat It, gaining over 4,600 reposts and 19,900 likes in two days (shown below, right).
![What if you were killing people...with magic? Imran Khan @imranzomg Phoenix: (Okay, Wright. This makes no sense, but we have got to try something.) What if you were killing people...with magic? Light: WHAT DID YOU SAY ...](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/002/684/269/40d.jpg)
![His eyes. Why do they keep darting to the chip bag? DSPStanky @DSPStanky PERCEPTION [Easy: Success] - His eyes. Why do they keep darting to the chip bag? No one *looks* for the chips. They only inspect after a chip is grabbed. Unless- VISUAL CALCULUS [Challenging: Success] - The bag opening is angled perfectly to obscure it from all cameras. He knows. 2 A](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/002/684/285/19c.jpg)
Various Examples
![Can We Please Keep the Demon as a Pet? Look, Max! DENT NOTE It's a mythological note book with the names of Lights victims! Only if you promise to feed and clean up after it little buddy! Thats great Sam. But can We please keep the demon as a pet?](https://a.kym-cdn.com/assets/blank-b3f96f160b75b1b49b426754ba188fe8.gif)
![EVIL.... *Intense Typing* Larrywinwood @larrywinwood EVIL.... *Intense Typing* DEATH GOD... *Intense Typing* CAUSING HEART ATTACKS! SEARCH SEARCH SEARCH! "You Twit... You mean Shinigamis?" APPEN - Gu II GIF CARTOON NETWORK :](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/002/684/283/d64.jpg)
![The Culprit Used Mystery Book X to Write Down the Names of the Victims "The culprit used mystery book X to write down the names of the victims who appeared on TV or otherwise had public records! The book then killed all those whose names were written inside through unknown trap XI The exact nature of how the trap-works is a Devil's Proof! I refuse to explain!"](https://a.kym-cdn.com/assets/blank-b3f96f160b75b1b49b426754ba188fe8.gif)
![Hildibrand Manderville can intuit the mechanics of the Death Note cannot intuit the mechanics of the Death Note could solve the Kira case could not solve the Kira case](https://a.kym-cdn.com/assets/blank-b3f96f160b75b1b49b426754ba188fe8.gif)
!["How did you know it was me killing those people with the Death Note?!" Nova Mane @Nova3_Mane "How did you know it was me killing those people with the Death Note?!" "You are Light Yagami, we HAVE to know" 7094](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/002/684/282/e55.jpg)
![you may be wondering why i've gathered you here today kitaki cinematic universe @attorneytrash this post works on so many levels because it's the equivalent of assembling every detective fanbase in one room and being like. you may be wondering why i've gathered you here today, Revolutionary Gal Akie-san @akie_works · Oct 15 Discourse was had I don't make the rules: Detectives ranked by their ability to bag Light in the Kira Case can intuit the mechanics of the Death Note cannot intuit the mechanics of the Death Note could solve the Kira case 2:34 PM Oct 17, 2023 337.8K Views veronica MARS could not solve the Kira case MARLOWE 0 Book Ca MISS MARPLE MONK :](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/002/684/284/0b3.jpg)
Search Interest
External References
[1] Reddit – Right, of course you would know how L died Mr. Yagami
[3] YouTube – Columbo in… 'Death Note'
[4] X – @GetGianni
[5] X – @akie_works
[6] X – @imranzomg
[7] X – @DSPStanky
Top Comments
Nitpicker
Oct 20, 2023 at 02:10AM EDT
Triplem Moderator
Oct 20, 2023 at 03:42AM EDT