Once in a while, a series comes along and makes the controversial choice to kill off its main character. Creators kill characters for many reasons, but they must remember that a character's death needs to have an impact. A death thrown in for shock value or one that does not serve any purpose to the story or another character's growth is a death wasted, and it cheapens the story that it is meant to enhance.
Some anime series become notorious for large-scale character deaths, while others are more conservative with their death scenes (if they choose to show any). Nevertheless, well-written character deaths can set the premise for a series or give it a satisfying ending.
Updated by Alexandra Locke on May 19, 2023: Almost every anime character has their fair share of tragic experiences. Yet, a surprising number of main characters meet their ends during their shows. Regardless of whether they are revived, these main characters lose their lives at some point in their shows. Some even die multiple times. No matter how they meet their ends, these protagonists all fall victim to death.
Spoilers ahead!
15 Kazuma Sato (Konosuba)
On his way back from getting a video game, Kazuma Sato thinks he sees an oncoming truck headed right toward a classmate. Kazuma tries to help her, but he has a heart attack due to terror, and he passes away. However, he is isekai'd into a new world.
Kazuma’s death was extremely awkward, as the truck he thought he saw was really a tractor – moving very slowly. Embarrassed, Kazuma finds himself in a new land, with an annoyingly adorable companion. He and the goddess Aqua do whatever it takes to make a living and carve out lives for themselves in the strange new world of Konosuba.
14 Sailor Moon (Sailor Moon)
Sailor Moon loves her friends and her boyfriend so much that she regularly sacrifices herself for them. While she is always resurrected in some capacity, it never takes away from the pure acts of love that Usagi Tsukino performs. Sailor Moon is full of strong, brave women and girls who would do anything for their friends.
But even then, Sailor Moon shines as the most self-sacrificing. She stands in the way of a blade aimed for her beloved Mamoru, she gives her life energy to save the world from aliens, and she even loses her life in the future, but is once again brought back with the help of her friends. Sailor Moon has a big capacity for love, and she shows it by giving her life for others.
13 Mitsuha Miyamizu (Your Name)
Mitsuha Miyamizu and Taki Tachibana become linked when they randomly begin trading bodies in Your Name. The phenomenon goes on for some time, with the two eventually agreeing to meet in real life. Unfortunately, though they both try, the meeting never happens due to a shocking tragedy.
As Taki later discovers, he and Mitsuha are not only distances apart but timelines apart. The Mitsuha he knew is actually three years in the past, and she and her entire village were obliterated when a meteor struck their town. Although Taki and Mitsuha’s love eventually overcomes their timelines so that Taki can save Mitsuha retroactively, the initial discovery of her death was truly shocking to viewers.
12 Seita & Setsuko (Grave Of The Fireflies)
Grave of the Fireflies established itself as a highly acclaimed war film by Studio Ghibli, and it proved heartbreaking to watch. Fans quickly warned new viewers about the movie's heavy and somber content, a complete 180 from Ghibli's cozy, whimsical, and light-hearted films.
After the 1945 firebombing in Kobe, Seita and his little sister, Setsuko, become orphaned and scramble to survive. Their predicament mirrors the unfortunate reality of many Japanese youths who suffered after World War II destroyed their homes and families. Despite his best efforts, Seita cannot keep up and provide for them, and the two succumb to malnutrition and starvation.
11 Light Yagami (Death Note)
Death Note is a psychological thriller with no shortage of mind games and diversions up its sleeve. The protagonist-turned-antagonist, Light Yagami, starts as a principled and disciplined genius who wants to use the Death Note's power to purge the world of evildoers.
In the process, Light becomes an evildoer whose primary goal shifts from dolling out justice to maintaining his hold over the world as Kira. The series foreshadows Light's eventual death. The Shinigami, Ryuk, plainly tells Light that when his time has come, Ryuk will be the one to write Light's name in the Death Note.
10 Goku (Dragon Ball)
Throughout the Dragon Ball series, Goku dies more than a few times. Regarding Dragon Ball Z, however, Goku officially dies at least three times, depending on the timeline. In the main timeline, Goku gets killed by Piccolo during a last-ditch effort to defeat Raditz.
Goku dies again during the Cell Games after Cell decides the only way to win is to blow himself up. Goku teleports Cell to King Kai's planet, where Cell's explosion destroys them. In the alternate Future Trunks timeline, Goku succumbs to a rare heart disease and cannot be revived.
9 Edward Elric (Fullmetal Alchemist)
Before the 2009 remake, Fullmetal Alchemist's anime took a surprising turn with its ending. It may be due to the manga still publishing when the first anime aired in 2003, leaving the writers at Studio Bones scratching their heads on how to end the series.
In the final episode, Edward Elric faces off against Envy. The homunculus does whatever he can to throw Edward off-guard, transforming into now-deceased allies and taunting him. In a last-ditch effort, Envy reveals his identity as Hoheheim's first son and homunculus creation, which is just the distraction he needs to kill Edward.
8 Sakura Minamoto (Zombie Land Saga)
Resembling a typical isekai, Sakura Minamoto gets run over by a delivery truck on her way to school, promptly killing her off in the first episode of Zombie Land Saga. However, Kotaro Tatsumi has plans for Sakura.
Kotaro revives Sakura using necromancy and intends to use her as a member of an idol group to revitalize the Saga prefecture in Japan. It is a nonsensical plan, and Kotaro is not open about how he intends to fulfill his goal using a zombie idol group, but this series' premise relies solely on Sakura's unfortunate death.
7 Johnathan Joestar (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure)
The first arc of the JoJo's Bizzare Adventure franchise became notable for depicting the death of the first protagonist, Jonathan Joestar. Fans were heartbroken at this first death for such an over-the-top and enjoyable series.
After spending a significant portion of his life at odds with DIO, Jonathan devotes the rest of his days to stopping DIO's aspirations for world domination. Jonathan maintains a gentleman's poise until he sacrifices his life to ensure he takes DIO down with him. Unfortunately, DIO survives the sinking ship and reemerges as a threat in future series installments.
6 Yusuke Uremeshi (YuYu Hakusho)
.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=750&dpr=1.5)
One of the most famous main-character deaths would have to be Yusuke Urameshi's from YuYu Hakusho. His sudden death took place during the first episode and became the catalyst that threw him into the strange world of spirits and demons.
Yusuke presents himself as a moody teenager who skips school, smokes, pulls pranks, and gets into fights. Some teachers believe he is a worthless punk, but Yusuke has a good heart underneath his tough exterior. He saves a boy from an oncoming car, dying in the process, but he "wakes up" as a spirit with a mysterious blue-haired girl ready to cut him a deal.
5 Eren Yeager (Attack On Titan)
Attack on Titan does not shy away from killing a large majority of its main and supporting casts, not to mention the countless civilians consumed by Titans. Seeing mangaka Hajime Isayama kill off his main character should not surprise fans.
Several circumstances and plot points throughout the series make Eren's death necessary, inevitable, and foreseeable. Once the third season starts, fans see Eren's gradual descent into his anti-Titan obsession, to the point where he's willing to cause mass genocide to enact his revenge. For some, it is even satisfying to see him go.
4 Subaru Natsuki (Re:Zero)
Subaru Natsuki cannot catch a break when it comes to death in Re:Zero. No matter what he does to try to change his fate, Subaru always ends up dying and returning to where he began his supernatural journey.
Although some deaths are less painful than others, Subaru still gets back up each time to try to right the wrongs of his previous lives. Subaru may not always be the most likable character, but fans respect him for continuing to get up, time and again, to try to reshape his world.
3 Ash Lynx (Banana Fish)
Banana Fish follows Ash Lynx – a teenage gang member as he tries to discover the meaning of “banana fish.” Along the way, he meets a Japanese man named Eiji Okamura, and the two hit it off.
Unfortunately, their relationship is cut short, as Ash is stabbed by a rival gang member while trying to read a letter from Eiji. Although Ash is able to deal with his attacker, he ultimately succumbs to his injuries – comforted by his love’s words. Ash’s death was such a shock to fans because just when it seemed like Ash could finally leave the dangerous gang life behind, fate decided against him.
2 Shinpei Ajiro (Summer Time Rendering)
.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=750&dpr=1.5)
Summer Time Rendering is a time-traveling loop of drama, mystery, and the occasional murderous shadow creatures. The plot remains suspenseful and keeps fans at the edge of their seats, even though its protagonist has died multiple times. After his adoptive sister's death, Shinpei Ajiro returns to his hometown on a small island to attend the funeral.
The somber procession is interrupted when Shinpei notices something is off about her death that no one else seems to notice. When he tries to investigate, Shinpei encounters a mysterious, fatally wounded woman and a sudden bullet to the head. He wakes up again on the same day, realizing he can travel back in time.
1 Spike Spiegel (Cowboy Bebop)
Spike Spiegel's death has become a point of contention for many fans, with some thinking he should not have died at all. He barely escapes death in past episodes, so the final episode is quite jarring. Realistically, it is unlikely that his rival, Vicious, would have allowed him to live a happy life.
Cowboy Bebop's events show that a person cannot outrun their past; it will eventually catch up. That is precisely what happens when Spike gets to play out his escape with Julia as far as he can. After her death, Spike realizes he needs to face Vicious and set things right – or die trying.