Ryuk is a Shinigami, a god of death, and a pivotal character in the anime series Death Note. Bored with his existence in the Shinigami Realm, he decides to drop a Death Note, a notebook with the power to kill anyone whose name is written in it, into the human world. This act sets off the main events of the series. Ryuk is characterized by his mischievous and unpredictable nature, and he primarily observes the human protagonist, Light Yagami, as he uses the Death Note. Ryuk's interactions with Light provide both comic relief and tension, making him an intriguing figure in the series.