Few things rile up an anime community more than a betrayal that they did not expect. It’s a very common theme in some of the more popular series out there. With some of the best anime betrayals going as far as to shock entire fandoms.
These controversial narratives are put in place with some strategy in mind. They are either usually placed to play on the sentiment of the audience, for shock value, or to keep a plot from stagnating too much.
What makes them memorable is how they subvert expectations. Completely breaking the notions that you have formed of a character.
Below are some incredible anime betrayals that shook the world and upset entire fandoms.
Top anime betrayals that no one saw coming
10) Shou Tucker: The Chimera experiment (Fullmetal Alchemist/Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)
Shou Tucker is by far one of the most hated anime characters of all time. He is the cause of one of the most tragic scenes in Fullmetal Alchemist where he transmutes his daughter Nina with their pet dog Alexander to re-create a Chimera.
- Tucker is first introduced as a nervous yet friendly State Alchemist and a doting father, however, that’s far from his true self.
- His first experiment, where he turned his wife into a chimera, was concluded to be a success by his superiors which led to Tucker’s initial success as a State Alchemist.
- However, unable to recreate his initial success, he crumbles under the expectations and uses his daughter for another successful project.
The revelation and what eventually happens to Nina and Alexander is one of the most horrifying scenes in anime history. This is one anime betrayal where the fandom rightly shows no sympathy for the villain. Tucker is vehemently hated and to date wishes him the worst.
9) Kaworu Nagisa: A quest to destroy humanity (Neon Genesis Evangelion)
Kowaru betraying Shinji in Neon Genesis Evangelion is not something that the fans of the series were expecting at all. Much of it has to do with the fact that Kowaru betrays the protagonist within 13 minutes of being introduced to the series.
- Shinji who is suffering from a form of PTSD, is shown to have his psyche breaking at the seams leaving him to starve for any semblance of affection.
- Kowaru immediately wins over Shinji as soon as he is introduced to the plot. The protagonist immediately falls for him and starts to believe that Kowaru loves him.
- However, within minutes it’s revealed that Kowaru is an Angel who is on a quest to destroy humanity. He is the very thing that Shinji has been fighting against.
What makes this anime betrayal stand out is the fact that Kowaru does have genuine feelings for Shinji. He cares about the series protagonist in a way that “transcends continuities.” Kowaru ultimately chooses death and sacrifices himself because of his love for Shinji, and how he is now convinced that humanity is worth saving.
It’s the show’s myriad of psychological elements makes it one of the best Cyberpunk-themed anime of all time.
8) Walter C. Dornez: His drive to beat Alucard (Hellsing)
Walter betraying Integra Hellsing is all about creating shock and breaking the audience’s notion of the butler. The betrayal happens at the tail end of the plotline where Walter reveals that he is the Millenium’s new secret weapon, the Angel of Death.
- Walter’s newfound allegiance to the Captain comes from his intense desire to beat Alucard.
- The rejuvenation procedure, during his capture, helped Walter regain his youth. He was stronger, faster, and a much better version of what he used to be.
- This convinced him that he was strong enough to take out Alucard, and his desire to beat the vampire is what drove him to betray Integra.
For much of the series, Walter comes off as, or rather shown to be a dutiful servant of the Hellsing clan. He was Integra’s protector and executioner who would lay down his life for his mistress. Unsurprisingly, this betrayal takes an emotional toll on Integra and is successfully able to turn the plot on its head.
7) Villetta Nu: Shoots Kaname Ohgi (Code Geass)
Schemes, betrayals, murder, and genocide are not new concepts in Code Geas. The world of the series is rather bleak, so it takes a special type of anime betrayal to stand out in a story that is already rich in cold horrifying events. This betrayal comes as quite a shock for many fans, is by far one of the most traumatizing moments in Code Geass.
- Villetta was initially introduced as a Nightmare Frame pilot who lost her memories after being shot.
- She was rescued by Ohgi who was the leader of the Japanese resistance cell, the very people that she was fighting against.
- Villetta, who’s now Chigusa, starts to fall for Kaname and they eventually get married. However, their marriage doesn’t last long and Villetta soon regains her memories and her former personality.
She ends up shooting Ohgi as she wants to remain true to her cause. This plot twist defies expectations as many fans believed that after spending so much time with Ohgi, Villetta would eventually choose him over her former life.
Unfortunately, that was not the case as the elite Nightmare Frame pilot wished to remain true to her pledges.
6) Ryo Asuka: Satan takes over the world (Devilman)
There have been a lot of renditions of Devilman over the years. While the details of what ultimately happens in the plot differ from adaptation to adaptation, it does hold onto the central theme of Ryo’s betrayal.
Ryo is introduced as the best friend and the closest confidant of Akira Fudo, the series protagonist. They share a rather deep bond, where Ryo can go as far as convincing Akira to absorb the powers of a demon to fight the supernatural forces who are looking to take over Earth.
- Audiences soon come to realize that the person called “Ryo Asuka” died several years ago.
- The present-day Ryo is actually Lucifer whose memory was wiped and placed on Earth to take over the humans.
This locks Ryo and Akira in a life-or-death struggle with each other. When the dust settles, however, Lucifer has conquered Earth and killed everyone in the process. He is ultimately shown to be cradling Akira’s severed torso and weeping, for he has lost the only person that he ever loved.
Ryo’s betrayal and the final scene of Devilman have very powerful imagery. It’s bleak yet it resonates with a sense of ethos, making the story unforgettable, irrespective of the adaptation that it is a part of.
Also check out: How strong is Igris compared to Sung Jin-Woo in Solo Leveling?
5) Rossiu Adai: The utilitarian dictator (Gurren Lagann)
Rossiu becoming one of the final villains in Gurren Lagann might not have come as much of a surprise to some fans, however, it did leave a lasting impact on the plot.
- He is the exact opposite of Simon (what he eventually becomes) and Kanami.
- He is quite utilitarian in his approach toward things and slowly comes to dislike the way Simone does things.
He overthrows Simon after blaming him for the rise of Anti-Spiral activities. While the series did show a discord forming between Simon and Rossiu, fans did not expect him to go as far as to plot against the hero who stood up to the Spiral King.
However, Rossiu’s leadership is lacking, and all his attempts to ensure humanity’s survival keep hitting an impasse. Rossiu lacks Simone’s determination and he has long lost the rebellious spirit that he had during his youth. His utilitarian approach cost him dearly, however, Rossiu redeems himself by the end of the series when he becomes his former self.
4) Reiner, Annie, and Bertholtd: The Titans who killed their comrades (Attack on Titan)
Reiner, Annie, and Bertholtd actually turning out to be the very Titans that were killing the members of the Survey Corps was one of the most shocking revelations in Attack on Titan. It completely turned the plot on its head while shattering any preconceived notions that fans have had of these very likable characters.
All three of the Survey Corps members were very popular amongst audiences. They were portrayed as very sincere members of the Corps from very early on. Hence, it’s not too surprising when the revelations about their betrayal shook the world.
It opened up more possibilities along with the fact that there are humans outside the walls. This is why these betrayals remain some of the most memorable moments in the series upon which the rest of the story now pivots.
3) Griffith: The death of the Band of the Hawk (Berserk)
Berserk’s “Golden Age” plotline which is also called the “Band of the Hawk” arc, is one of the most influential moments in the series. It’s around Griffith’s betrayal that the rest of the story is set with the arc being an extended flashback that leads Guts to where he is shown to be in episode one.
What makes the Griffith betrayal one of the most horrifying acts in Anime is how it goes about happening.
- The story begins with Guts, a lone mercenary finally meeting Griffith who is the leader of the Band of the Hawk.
- Griffith comes off as ambitious, loyal to his comrades, having the sole desire to create a home for them.
- However, by the time the arc comes to a close, Griffith, who is now decrepit after months of torture at the hands of the king’s men, seeks power over all else.
In his desperation, he sacrifices the Band of the Hawk by succumbing to the Egg of the King. His comrades meet a gruesome and graphic end, with Guts and Casca left to be the sole survivors. His betrayal comes as a manifestation of his own overgrown hubris. While his downfall was inevitable, what was not evident was how he was willing to sacrifice everything to achieve glory.
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2) Doma: Tries to murder Bojji (Ranking of Kings)
The protagonist of the show, Bojji, was born weak due to a powerful curse. Born with disabilities, he was constantly mocked by those around him.
However, Bojji never gave up and he was able to win hearts and grow from strength to strength through determination. This is why he is considered one of the best anime MCs who starts weak but becomes overpowered as the plot progresses.
Bojji’s very harmless and positive nature is what makes Doma’s betrayal come as a shock. Doma was Bojji’s sword-fighting instructor who was always shown to have the young prince’s back. So his teacher pushing him into the pit after journeying together for days is not something that fans were expecting.
Fortunately, Doma’s betrayal helped Bojji reach where he needed to go on his journey. He was one step closer to growing powerful enough to rival Bosse himself.
1) Rumi: The Lust for Stardom (Perfect Blue)
Much like his other works, Satoshi Kon’s Perfect Blue plays on the multiplicity of human personalities and how the public self is never the same mask that one wears in their private life. The story revolves around Mima Kirigoe who decides to leave her life as an idol behind and pursue acting.
- Her debut film includes a scene with graphic sexual assault which leads to controversy and criticism.
- Moreso, her life goes downhill when all of her collaborators start turning up dead.
Mima starts to feel that she is losing grip on reality, and it’s her who is probably going around doing all the killing. However, it soon turns out that there was actually a doppelganger involved and she was no other than Mima’s manager and most trusted confidant, Rumi.
This anime betrayal in Perfect Blue has a lot of psychological implications. It’s sad to see Rumi being so consumed by Mima the star when the actual character is doing nothing more than to escape that public image of herself.
Another quite fascinating thing is how the new Dune Part Two and Attack on Titan are surprisingly alike. Find out how!!
Anime Betrayals are heavy on the heart
All these plot-twisting scenes have laid down the foundations of some of the greatest shows the anime community has seen. According to The Backdash, betrayals are the key to a good thriller anime, with all the heavy-hitting suspense, only for it to end up being something we could never expect.
While these are our pick, what about you? What’s your favorite anime betrayal? Comment down and let us know!!