Not every admirable or interesting anime character will stay on the “good side.” Some will inevitably sink into the darkness, becoming evil or villainous. For this list, I’ve selected seven such characters. Notes are included with each entry.
Please note, I specifically chose characters that are not overused in other similar lists online. That’s why you might notice a distinct lack of the most classic characters who fit this pattern. The best examples are Eren Yeager, Lelouch Lamperouge, Light Yagami, and Sasuke Uchiha. None of them are here on my list because everyone talks about them all the time. Instead, enjoy the unusual variety.
Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for the following anime: Berserk, Tokyo Ghoul, Elfen Lied, Steins;Gate, Tower of God, Beastars, Devilman Crybaby, Higurashi no Naku Koro ni.
1) Griffith (Berserk 1997)
Though Griffith has always had great ambitions, he was originally an admirable man and an understanding leader to his men. But after an unfortunate political misstep, he was thrown into the dungeons and brutally tortured. Those loyal to Griffith eventually saved him, but by then, he was mentally and physically in shambles. In the end, Griffith used a dark magic item and sacrificed his own men to transform into a powerful demon.
2) Ken Kaneki (Tokyo Ghoul)
Starting off sweet and innocent, Kaneki was turned into a ghoul and thrown into a dark urban underworld. For a while after his transformation, this young man remained on the good side, resisting the urge to kill and devour. Unfortunately, one particularly psychopathic ghoul named Jason kidnapped Kaneki and tortured him horrifically for several days.
When Kaneki finally freed himself, he was a different person. Although fans debate over he really turned evil, there’s no question that Kaneki became more violent and unstable. He also left the group of good ghouls and joined an organization of savage, warlike ghouls instead.
3) Lucy / Kaede (Elfen Lied)
The main female character of Elfen Lied is extremely complex, having at least two personalities. Her instincts as a Diclonius Elf make her want to kill humans, so it’s possible she would have ended up badly in any world. However, based on the series, this character started off as an innocent child who was fiercely bullied. After the bullies slaughtered her pet dog in front of her, Kaede/Lucy tapped into her Diclonius powers and killed them all. Afterward, she was unable to resist the urges to kill more humans.
4) Moeka Kiryuu (Steins;Gate)
Moeka is not one of the more popular girls from Steins;Gate, but I have always liked her. She was all alone, suffering from severe depression and possibly Borderline Personality Disorder. Her life was empty until she was contacted by a mysterious, shady character called FB. This FB person seemed to love her, acting like a supportive mother. Completely enamored, Moeka vowed to obey FB’s every command. This is why Moeka murders an innocent girl named Mayuri. FB ordered her to get rid of unnecessary elements, and she obeyed.
Unlike the other characters on this list, Moeka is not evil throughout the whole show. In some timelines, she doesn’t become a murderer. In the ideal world-line of Stein’s Gate, she becomes friends with Mayuri and the others on the good side.
5) Rahel / Rachel (Tower of God)
It’s a long story, but the gist of it is that Rahel was not chosen as a candidate for the Tower of God. She was only dragged to the Tower to be bait for her innately qualified friend, Yoru (called Bam in some versions). As soon as Rahel had a good opportunity, she betrayed Yoru, pushing him directly into danger with the intent to kill him. Afterward, she took his place in the group, pretending to be innocent.
Some characters are more justified than others in their switch from innocent to villainous. Although I personally sympathize with Rahel, her only “justification” was selfishness.
6) Riz (Beastars)
Life was always been tough for Riz as a young grizzly bear in a world where he is expected to have perfect control over his desires. He was even forced to take medication that weakened him and gave him agonizing migraines almost every night. Riz’s life changed when he befriended a sweet alpaca named Tem. Throughout their friendship, Tem was very caring and accepting. For the first time, Riz did not feel like a monster.
One fateful night, Riz skipped his medication and approached Tem, thinking there would be no problem. Things did not go well. A lot happened that night. At the end of the intense interaction, Riz gave into his instincts, killing and devouring Tem.
7) Ryo Asuka / Satan (Devilman Crybaby)
The best friend of protagonist Akira, Ryo seemed like a charismatic and energetic young man. However, in truth, he was never truly Ryo Asuka, but the ancient devil Satan in a temporary human form. Once “Ryo” regains his memories of being Satan, he moves forward with his plan to wipe out humanity, ultimately succeeding. Importantly, Ryo/Satan did truly care for his human best friend. After causing Akira’s death in the final battle, this ancient devil feels regret and sorrow for the first time.
Runner up: Satoko Hojo
(Higurashi no Naku Koro ni – Post 2020)
Fans of the Higurashi franchise sometimes protest the legitimacy of the most recent productions, Higurashi Gou (2020) and Higurashi Sotsu (2021). At the end of the day, regardless of their grumbling, the events of those two seasons are canon. As for me, I saw some weaknesses and issues in the new productions, but ultimately enjoyed them a lot.
Ranting aside, Satoko becomes a cruel and heinous villain in the new seasons. She is the mastermind behind the immense violence in Higurashi Gou. Rika finally catches onto her, and the battle between the two time-traveling witches begins in Higurashi Sotsu. Personally, I didn’t find Satoko’s sins to be in any way justified. It was difficult for me to have sympathy for her. She is truly a character who turned evil.
Thank you for reading~
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