Ryuk is a Shinigami from Death Note, the manga created by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata and first serialized in 2003. He later became widely recognized through the 2006 anime adaptation, where his amused reactions and distinctive voice helped define the character. Clips of Ryuk laughing spread through anime compilations, character edits, reaction videos, and memes. The laugh remains useful because it communicates menace, mischief, and detached amusement even when removed from its original scene, making it easy to understand in short-form edits.