Live-Action TV
Description
Arma is a shinigami created exclusively for the 2016 live-action film Death Note Light up the NEW world and does not appear in the original manga or anime series. Her visual design is loosely based on the shinigami Sidoh from the original manga, but she has been re-imagined as a distinct female character with a white, feathered appearance and a spiderweb-like pattern across her body, with her right eye often kept hidden. This design was conceived at the request of the film's director, Shinsuke Sato, who wanted a shinigami with a beautiful and alluring quality, a concept developed under the supervision of original series artist Takeshi Obata.
In terms of personality, Arma stands apart from many of her fellow shinigami due to her notable sympathy and affection for humans. She is described as a charming and elegant being with a somewhat languid demeanor. Unlike the mischievous and apple-obsessed Ryuk, Arma's preference is for muscat grapes. Her primary motivation throughout the film is not the typical shinigami goal of extending her own lifespan by killing humans, but rather a deep-seated desire to protect the human she is attached to, Ryuzaki, who is a successor to the original L.
Arma's role in the story is directly tied to one of the six Death Notes that have descended into the human world, of which she is the original owner. She resides in the home of Ryuzaki and is first seen welcoming him back, indicating a close and familiar relationship. Her key relationship is exclusively with Ryuzaki, for whom she develops a strong attachment. This bond is so profound that observers have noted her role as being similar to a traditional housewife, showing great care and loyalty towards him. She is not allied with the other human characters, such as the cyber-terrorist Tsukuru Mishima, and her actions are solely motivated by Ryuzaki's well-being.
Throughout the film, Arma remains largely in the background until the climax. Her most significant action demonstrates her ultimate development and sacrifice. When Ryuzaki and Mishima are confronted by Sho Nanase, a task force officer seeking to kill Mishima for her brother's death, Arma intervenes by writing Nanase's name in her own white Death Note, causing the woman to die of a heart attack. However, this act is not performed to save Mishima. Instead, Arma's intention is to protect Ryuzaki, who she knew was already in danger, with only days left to live. In a final, poignant moment, she echoes a lighthearted phrase Ryuzaki had once said to her, asking, Am I not your faithful friend? before turning to dust and ceasing to exist. This act of saving a human life, even for altruistic reasons, violates the core nature of a shinigami, whose purpose is to end life, leading directly to her death.
Regarding her abilities, Arma possesses the standard powers common to all shinigami in the Death Note universe. These include the ability to fly using her wings, levitation, intangibility that allows her to pass through solid objects, and immortality under normal circumstances. Like all shinigami, she can only be seen by humans who have touched a Death Note. She is also assumed to possess the Shinigami Eyes, which allow her to see any human's name and remaining lifespan just by looking at their face. Her own Death Note is notably unique in appearance, being white in color, unlike the black notebooks typically seen.
In terms of personality, Arma stands apart from many of her fellow shinigami due to her notable sympathy and affection for humans. She is described as a charming and elegant being with a somewhat languid demeanor. Unlike the mischievous and apple-obsessed Ryuk, Arma's preference is for muscat grapes. Her primary motivation throughout the film is not the typical shinigami goal of extending her own lifespan by killing humans, but rather a deep-seated desire to protect the human she is attached to, Ryuzaki, who is a successor to the original L.
Arma's role in the story is directly tied to one of the six Death Notes that have descended into the human world, of which she is the original owner. She resides in the home of Ryuzaki and is first seen welcoming him back, indicating a close and familiar relationship. Her key relationship is exclusively with Ryuzaki, for whom she develops a strong attachment. This bond is so profound that observers have noted her role as being similar to a traditional housewife, showing great care and loyalty towards him. She is not allied with the other human characters, such as the cyber-terrorist Tsukuru Mishima, and her actions are solely motivated by Ryuzaki's well-being.
Throughout the film, Arma remains largely in the background until the climax. Her most significant action demonstrates her ultimate development and sacrifice. When Ryuzaki and Mishima are confronted by Sho Nanase, a task force officer seeking to kill Mishima for her brother's death, Arma intervenes by writing Nanase's name in her own white Death Note, causing the woman to die of a heart attack. However, this act is not performed to save Mishima. Instead, Arma's intention is to protect Ryuzaki, who she knew was already in danger, with only days left to live. In a final, poignant moment, she echoes a lighthearted phrase Ryuzaki had once said to her, asking, Am I not your faithful friend? before turning to dust and ceasing to exist. This act of saving a human life, even for altruistic reasons, violates the core nature of a shinigami, whose purpose is to end life, leading directly to her death.
Regarding her abilities, Arma possesses the standard powers common to all shinigami in the Death Note universe. These include the ability to fly using her wings, levitation, intangibility that allows her to pass through solid objects, and immortality under normal circumstances. Like all shinigami, she can only be seen by humans who have touched a Death Note. She is also assumed to possess the Shinigami Eyes, which allow her to see any human's name and remaining lifespan just by looking at their face. Her own Death Note is notably unique in appearance, being white in color, unlike the black notebooks typically seen.