One of the most terrifying yet ever-present threats that loom over the heads of every anime hero is death. And while most courageous protagonists are infamous for constantly avoiding their seemingly inescapable demise with a thick shield of plot armor, death always follows them on their dangerous adventures, sometimes in the form of a fellow companion or a vicious nemesis. It's common for death to be imagined as a personified force, making it easier for the audience to grasp and relate to such a chilling, uncomfortable concept.
With themes of the afterlife being so prominent in anime culture, characters representing the Grim Reaper don't even have to be antagonistic. Some Deaths can be charming and sympathetic, despite their reputation. From cold-blooded murderers to playful, fun-loving spirits, the anime characters representing death breach the gap between the material world and the mysterious realm of the great unknown.
10 Light Yagami Was Much Deadlier Than Even The Shinigami (Death Note)
While Death Note features characters who perform the literal duties of death gods, shinigami, none of them can compare with the series' protagonist, Light Yagami, in terms of ruthlessness. After stepping onto the path of bringing justice to the corrupted world, Light succumbed to the Death Note's power, deeming himself the God of the New World.
Most people didn't side with Light's point of view. For them, he was just as awful as all the criminals killed by the Death Note. Even Light's alias, Kira, means "killer," making him the real Grim Reaper of the series.
9 Celty Is Very Sincere And Compassionate For A Supernatural Anomaly (Durarara)
Not every anime character associated with death earned this title through their horrible deeds. Some were just unfortunate to attract such an association due to their appearance, like Celty Sturluson from Durarara. Commonly referred to as The Headless Rider of Ikebukuro, Celty is a motorcycle-riding Irish fairy called a Dullahan who came to Japan searching for her missing head.
Contrary to her reputation, Celty has one of the most genuine, optimistic, and down-to-earth personalities in the entire series, making her a hilariously ironic and unconventional representation of death.
8 Q Gains Twisted Satisfaction From Using His Terrifying, Uncontrollable Powers (Bungou Stray Dogs)
Bungou Stray Dogs is a supernatural anime that highlights many creative, often destructive abilities its characters possess. Some of them might be a bit disturbing. However, none come close to Q's power Dogra Magra, which curses the target with violent, vivid hallucinations and causes them to attack everyone around them sporadically.
The most chilling thing about Q is that they gain sadistic pleasure from activating their ability, regardless of its destructive actions. As a result, Port Mafia's deadliest and youngest member, Q, leaves a trail of death wherever they go.
7 Momo Is A Sympathetic And Kindhearted Shinigami (Momo: The Girl God Of Death)
The supernatural drama Momo: The Girl God of Death is a stunningly tragic anime series about a compassionate and tender shinigami. Dressed in all white and followed around by a winged familiar, a black cat Daniel, Momo strives to make the passing of those she takes to the afterlife as peaceful and painless as possible.
Momo showcases that death can be sorrowful and grief-inducing experience even for those who carry out the Grim Reaper's miserable duties. Likewise, being a shinigami doesn't have to strip a person from their humanity and empathy.
6 William T. Spears Takes His Grim Reaper Duties Seriously (Black Butler)
For many Grim Reapers in anime, playing the role of Death is simply a job, similar to any regular nine-to-five position. Black Butler's diligent Grim Reaper William T. Spears approaches his duties of reviewing and collecting souls with competence, impartiality, and respect for rules and regulations.
The beings that compromise this aloof yet effective routine, such as demons or his annoying and chaotic coworker, Grell Sutcliff, make William endlessly irritated. Nevertheless, the Grim Reaper code remains William's unshakable priority, even when he gets incredibly frustrated.
5 Ikkyu Soujun's Plan To Eliminate Humanity Was Merciless And Deadly (Read Or Die)
R.O.D. - Read or Die OVA features one of the most chilling villains in anime history, more terrifying than death itself. Unlike most anime antagonists, the 600-year-old monk clone Ikkyu Soujun isn't motivated by power, grief, or revenge. He simply believes humanity to be wasteful and plans to destroy those who, according to Ikkyu, do not deserve to live with their own hands.
After discovering a lost Beethoven Suicide Symphony, Ikkyu Soujun plans to play it from space for the whole world to hear, forcing every human to end their own lives.
4 Hua Cheng Doesn't Shy Away From Violence, Especially If Xie Lian Is In Danger (Heaven Official's Blessing)
In Heaven Official's Blessing's lore, a ghost doesn't reach a Supreme rank and become the most feared out of the Four Great Calamities unless he commits some atrocious crimes. Associated with death and devastation, the Crimson Rain Sought Flower is a ghost king that rules over the Ghost City, the most prosperous place in the Ghost Realm.
However, Hua Cheng isn't as unequivocally negative as the Heavens portray him. Beneath the ruthless, nonchalant facade, Hua Cheng is a caring, gallant person who devoted his life to his lover Xie Lian.
3 For Tsukuyo, The Courtesan Of Death Is A Noble Title (Gintama)
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After being sold to the red-light district Yoshiwara as a child, Gintama's Tsukuyo put every ounce of her willpower into fighting against her captors. After a long time of physical and mental abuse, Tsukuyo meets Hinowa, Yoshiwara's highest-ranking courtesan, who inspires her to free her soul from the town's cage and fight to protect Hinowa.
After years of training under one of Yoshiwara's deadliest assassins, Tsukuyo abandoned her womanhood, earning the title of the Courtesan of Death, a mysterious protector of the red-light district's courtesans.
2 Johan's Harmless Facade Disguises His Psychotic Nature (Monster)
In anime, demonic spirits or vengeful supernatural entities commonly personify death. Yet, the most monstrous, deadly beings in the real world are, unfortunately, other people.
At first glance, Johan Liebert from the thriller drama Monster is a charming, handsome young man. This flawless facade helps Johan to captivate his victims. His true nature is ruthless, manipulative, and sadistic. For Johan, life is nothing but a tiny, insignificant flash, and death is an utterly normal aspect of existence, which he mercilessly brings upon his countless victims.
1 Death Is A Realistic And Relatable Character With Very Down-To-Earth Weaknesses (Soul Eater)
No character represents death better than Death himself, the optimistic, benevolent, and good-natured headmaster of Death Weapon Meister Academy from Soul Eater. After Death's son, Asura, betrayed his father and became a Kishin, the reaper had to seal him, sacrificing his mobility in the process.
Stuck within the bounds of his own soul, Death opened the academy on the grounds of Death City, teaching meisters and demon weapons with his eccentric and often unorthodox methods. Despite being an ancient, powerful reaper, Death is a grounded individual, prone to speaking in silly voices and telling excessive expositions.