Wammy, Quillsh

キルシュ・ワイミー

Watari serves as L's assistant, supplying logistics to the investigation team. Prior to the team's formation, he is the sole individual who has seen L and the only one able to contact L directly. Similar to L, he identifies himself with an Old English "W" on computer screens. He also acts as a fatherly figure to L. Outwardly, he is Quillsh Wammy (キルシュ・ワイミー Kirushu Waimī?), a renowned inventor and the founder of Wammy's House, an orphanage for gifted children located in Winchester, England. Watari is well-trained in espionage and marksmanship.

Spoiler

He is voiced by Kiyoshi Kobayashi in the Japanese anime and French Tickner in the English dub (except for the film, in which Ron Halder takes over).
Watari's name was originally intended to be "Shadow," referencing his role as L's shadow, but the editor disapproved, leading to the name "Watari," which references his role as a handler. The design team finalized Watari's design during the second chapter. Obata did not devote much thought to Watari's disguise because his face did not appear, but afterwards, the rough drafts depicted Watari as an elderly man with a single strip of hair. Obata decided to keep him as an old man because older characters were more fun to draw than younger ones due to the "weird angles" that could be created with their wrinkles, whereas younger characters might be designed as "attractive, normal, or ugly." Obata likes leather coats, so he had Watari wear one. Watari is Obata's third favorite human character because he likes older characters and because Watari "seemed to be hiding a lot of ability" and "had depth." His birthday is May 1, 1933. Watari was always counted as a father and is often seen giving L snacks.