Dramatic irony is a literary device that gives the audience more information than the characters in a story, typically in such a way that the audience knows something the characters don't. This literary device is used to great effect and is especially popular in tragedies, such as Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.
Watching anime characters operate with less information than the audience can be frustrating (or even amusing) to watch, depending on the series. In some cases, a character is trying to warn or protect others, but no one will believe them. In other cases, characters might not be willing to believe an important life lesson until they've learned it the hard way.
10 Shinichi Tried To Warn Kana About Parasites But She Didn't Listen (Parasyte -the maxim-)
Although she initially debuted as an antagonist, Kana Kimishima ended up falling in love with Shinichi Izumi in Parasyte -the maxim-. Or at least she thought it was love. The truth is that Kana developed the ability to sense Parasites and was likely drawn to Migi, the Parasyte residing in Shinichi's arm. Shinichi tried to caution Kana against pursuing him and using her ability to psychically link with Shinichi, but Kana wouldn't listen. Eventually, she attracted the attention of a Parasite that hunted her down.
9 Thorfinn Didn't Take His Father's Peaceful Words To Heart (Vinland Saga)
When the elite warrior Thors Snorresson abandoned the battlefield to start over as a peaceful farmer in Vinland Saga, he thought he'd left a life of violence far behind him. That's precisely why he made sure to tell his son, Thorfinn, that he had no enemies and there's no one he needs to hurt. Unfortunately, Thors' pacifism ended with his death, a traumatizing event that sent Thorfinn on a quest for vengeance. It's not until after Thorfinn lived a dangerous, violent life that he truly understood his father's words.
8 No One Believed Kakyoin About Mannish Boy (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders)
Appearing as a defenseless baby, Mannish Boy is an evil genius Stand user trying to kill the Joestar group in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders. Only Noriaki Kakyoin was able to sense that something was off about Mannish Boy, and he tried to warn the others that the baby was suspicious.
None of his comrades believed him. In fact, they even started to think that he was going a little crazy. Mannish Boy's Stand, Death Thirteen, attacked the Joestar group in their sleep. Luckily, Kakyoin managed to defeat him.
7 Future Trunks Tried To Warn Vegeta That Cell Shouldn't Reach His Perfect Form (Dragon Ball Z)
Traveling back from a distant, horrific future, Future Trunks immediately sought out Goku and the Z Fighters in order to prevent his hellish future from occurring in their timeline. But his actions slightly altered the timeline in Dragon Ball Z, and Cell came from the future to achieve his Perfect Form. Drunk on his newfound power after training in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, Vegeta allows Cell to become Perfect Cell despite Trunks warning him that Cell would be too powerful.
6 Light Clearly Didn't Believe Ryuk's Warning About The Death Note (Death Note)
When Light Yagami first obtained Ryuk's titular Death Note, he made sure to clearly understand the rules for using it. While he's explaining the Death Note's powers, Ryuk also cautions Light that he'll be the one to write Light's name in the Death Note when it's time for him to die. Surprisingly, Light doesn't look too far into Ryuk's warning, suggesting he believed that he'd have a long life. But becoming involved with the Death Note ended up disastrous for Light, and Ryuk made true on his promise.
5 George Joestar Didn't Trust Jonathan's Intuition (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood)
Before George Joestar took in Dio Brando in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood, he lived a peaceful and happy life with his son, Jonathan. But shortly after Dio arrived, Jonathan kept falling to one misfortune after another, sometimes being reprimanded by George himself. Surprisingly, George never wanted to accept the idea that Dio was harming his son. It's not until Jonathan unmasked Dio's plot to poison George that he finally believed Dio was the source of Jonathan's grief as a child. Unfortunately, it was too late.
4 The Other Magical Girls Doubted Homura's Warnings About Kyubey (Puella Magi Madoka Magica)
Being a time traveler is tricky business. The first hurdle to jump is convincing everyone that you're telling the truth, which can turn out poorly. Homura Akemi found herself in this very predicament in Puella Magi Madoka Magica.
After Homura finds out about Kyubey's secret in the original timeline, she begins time traveling to try and convince the other magical girls that Kyubey has ill intentions and is not to be trusted. Unsurprisingly, none of the other magical girls are willing to believe her until Kyubey's plans come to fruition.
3 Yuno Was Unable To Convince Anyone That Tsubaki Was A Threat (Future Diary)
Posing as a harmless messenger of god in Future Diary, Tsubaki Kasugano convinced five other Diary users that she had no intention of becoming god. All of them fell for her ploy except for Yuno Gasai, who sensed that something was off about Tsubaki. But the other Diary users, Yukiteru Amano among them, wrote off Yuno's warnings as the jealous ramblings of an unstable, lovestruck girl. It wasn't until Tsubaki's cult started attacking them that Yukiteru and the rest of the Diary users believed Yuno's previous warnings.
2 Ed Tried To Persuade Rosé That Father Cornello Was Abusing Alchemy (Fullmetal Alchemist)
Arriving in the desert city of Reole, Fullmetal Alchemist's Edward Elric and his brother, Alphonse, noticed that a local priest was bringing life back from the dead and being revered as a miracle worker. Ed and Al pointed out that Father Cornello was using alchemy without adhering to the rules of equivalent exchange, something that alchemists should never do. Rosé didn't believe their warnings until Father Cornello attacks her after she discovers he's been lying.
1 Kaede Over-Relied On Her Doppel Despite Mitama's Warnings (Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story)
Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story is different from its predecessor in many ways. Not only is Gen Urobuchi uninvolved with the project, but it's also based on a mobile game that offers an alternative to magical girls becoming Witches. Instead, magical girls in Kamihama City can use their Witch powers as Doppels. Overuse of Doppels causes the magical girl and Doppel to fuse, but Kaede Akino didn't believe Mitama Yakumo about overusing her Doppel until she fused with it by mistake.