Light Yagami is the protagonist of Death Note, the manga and anime series in which a brilliant student uses a supernatural notebook to kill criminals as Kira. His maniacal laugh became one of the show's most recognisable moments, often shared in clips of his confrontations with L and his descent into god-complex villainy. As Death Note stayed popular through streaming and anime meme culture, the laugh spread across TikTok, YouTube edits and reaction videos, where it now works as instant shorthand for a villain who believes he has already won.