Anime is filled with manipulative characters. Sometimes, they are the great villain who duped their minions like lambs to the slaughter. Sometimes, they are the villain's minion who just humors their boss' delusion of being the one in charge.

There are plenty of times when the character the audience thought was going to be the hero or the love interest, or even the narrator, reveals themselves to be the one controlling everything in the plot. They're so good, even the viewers did not realize they were tricked. And while it usually helps, a character does not necessarily have to be outright evil to be manipulative – they just have to be the one pulling the strings from the sidelines.

Updated on March 12th, 2024 by Chelsea Steele: Manipulative characters in anime are more prevalent than one would think. They are often the driving force in any conflict and masters of getting others to do their bidding. While they are not always villains, many of them at least have less-than-stellar intentions when it comes to getting what they want. We've updated this list to meet CBR's current publication standards, providing more info on some of anime's most cunning and devious manipulators.

This list contains mentions of violence inflicted on a child and suicide.

15 Kiyotaka Ayanokoji Uses His Powers Of Persuasion To Get What He Wants

Classroom Of The Elite

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji is a stoic member of Class D in Classroom of the Elite. Despite his aloof demeanor, Ayanokoji is singularly adept at getting whatever he wants. Though he does use his powers of persuasion to his help classmates, fans are still wary of his true intentions initially.

No matter the situation, Ayanokoji always seems to know more than anyone in the room. He anticipates everyone’s actions and always has a contingency for them. Plus, he knows just the right buttons to press to trick people into doing what he wants. He may be the hero of the story, but he is also the most manipulative.

14 Moguro Tricks Unsuspecting Victims Into Making Dangerous Deals

The Laughing Salesman

Moguro goes around making Faustian deals with people to satisfy their greatest wishes in The Laughing Salesman. However, as one might expect, these deals almost always backfire horribly, leaving the contractor in utter shambles.

Moguro's saving grace is that there are plenty of times when it seems that the person involved probably would have been fine if they listened to a warning he gave them. He also seems to spare children from his tricks. On the other hand, many characters have learned the hard way never to turn down his offers to help.

13 Eriol Hiiragizawa Takes Advantage Of Misunderstandings To Reach His Goals

Cardcaptor Sakura

Eriol Hiiragizawa is Sakura Kinomoto's quiet classmate who soon turns out to be the reincarnation of Clow Reed, the creator of the Clow Cards in Cardcaptor Sakura. While ultimately not a villain, he is something of an antagonist, manipulating the characters as he sees fit and feeding them extremely convincing lies.

Although he is not evil. Eriol takes advantage of this misconception to pose as some mysterious villain to get Sakura to transform the Clow Cards. His ultimate goal is to save the cards, guardians, and even Sakura's life.

12 Drosselmeyer Controls The Story For His Own Amusement

Princess Tutu

It is easy to be the one running the show when you are the one who wrote the story. Drosselmeyer is technically supposed to be dead but somehow controls his characters from beyond the grave.

He initially seems to be a good guy, being the one to give Ahiru the ability to transform from a duck into Princess Tutu. Yet, the reality is that he wants the cast to be trapped in a cycle of death and tragedy. Before the townspeople cut his hands off, he wants his story to have a sad ending, after all.

11 Wiseman Pulls The Strings Behind The Scenes

Sailor Moon

Wiseman, the alter-ego of the Death Phantom, is a real chess master in the second story arc of Sailor Moon. Some of his tricks include manipulating Prince Demande into killing his brother, Saphir, and turning Esmeraude into a mindless dragon with the promise of making her the queen of Nemesis. While most seasons have the twist of the main villain working for an even greater evil, Wiseman actually is the alter-ego of the greater evil, the Death Phantom.

Infamously, Wiseman manipulates Chibiusa to transform her into a villainess. Instead of merely implanting false memories out of thin air, he manipulates memories she already has to corrupt her, making her parents and the people she knew seem far less caring than they really were.

10 Akio Uses Those Around Him As Pawns In His Schemes

Revolutionary Girl Utena

Akio's public image is that of a princely gentleman in Revolutionary Girl Utena. One would hardly guess that he has control over a school of teenagers, particularly his own sister, Anthy. Akio does this all to regain his former power as Prince Dios and revolutionize the world.

That said, like any good manipulator, he needs his pawns far more than they need him. Akio eventually gets what is coming to him when Anthy breaks free from his control and tells him to enjoy his cozy coffin while she searches for Utena. The sequel manga, After the Revolution, has him take his life as a reaction to this turn of events.

9 DIO Brando Charms Others Into Doing His Bidding

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure

The first main antagonist of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, DIO Brando, is a very powerful being, even being able to stop time itself. Yet, nothing is as impressive as his ability to control others. Quite a few enemies who have appeared in the series are essentially just other people who he has charmed. He was especially invested in ruining Jonathan's life, but his ultimate goal seems to be world domination.

DIO can also be extremely petty in getting what he wants, as well as brutal. In a clear example of his sadistic manipulation, he once promised a mother that he will not harm her child. He then proceeds to use his vampiric powers to force her to eat her child.

8 Nakago Drives A Wedge Between Two Best Friends

Fushigi Yuugi

Nakago is a undeniably charming villain who notably turns Miaka and Yui against each other. He makes the latter believe she was abused and abandoned, as well as takes advantage of her feelings for Tamahome in Fushigi Yuugi.

Nakago's manipulation gets to a point that he will make fun of people just to toy with them, even if it otherwise serves no real purpose. Nakago's strongest joy in life is to mess with people so he can feel in control.

7 Naraku Uses Trickery To Toy With Others & Destroy Lives

Inuyasha

Naraku starts the series by manipulating Inuyasha and Kikyo against each other. One of his more long-running tricks is reviving Sango's brother Kohaku as his minion just to mess with her head.

It can be argued he likes being manipulative for the sake of it; when he finally gets his hands on the Shikon Jewel, he is not sure what to do with it. That said, Inuyasha ultimately proves that even a powerful manipulator can be taken advantage of since the Shikon Jewel turns out to be the true evil of the series.

6 Sousuke Aizen Is So Deceptive, He Can Maniuplate Others Without Them Even Realizing It

Bleach

Sousuke Aizen is easily one of anime's most manipulative characters. Since the start of Bleach, he's used trickery to force Ichigo Kurosaki into becoming stronger, sparked a rebellion in Renji by making him think there was a plot to kill Rukia, schemed to get the Soul Society to execute Rukia just to get at her soul, and has kept Hinamori as a pawn for decades. He even fakes his death at one point, complete with an illusionary body.

Aizen is a character who is just too good at hiding how sadistic he is, leaving his victims completely unaware they've been manipulated. Even Ichigo is fooled by him multiple times, often underestimating the threat he truly poses. However, in reality, he's one of Bleach's most dangerous foes, willing to use any means to get what he desires.

5 Mahito Uses His Manipulation Skills To Turn Others Against Each Other

Jujutsu Kaisen

Mahito may be a relatively new Cursed Spirit in Jujutsu Kaisen, but he is already a master manipulator. As the embodiment of people’s hatred, he is skilled at turning people against each other. However, it is never more prevalent than it is when he meets a young man named Junpei Yoshino.

Mahito convinces Junpei that he can get back at his tormentors by becoming a Sorcerer. Mahito then helps Junpei realize his Cursed Energy Technique and sends Junpei off to attack (and kill) his bullies. Although Yuji Itadori tries to step in, he is too late, as Mahito’s manipulative hold on Junpei eventually costs Junpei his life. Mahito takes great pleasure in using people, and he uses any means necessary to do as he pleases.

4 Makima Treats Denji Like Her Plaything

Chainsaw Man

Although Makima “kindly” takes in Denji when he is at his lowest point, her true colors are quickly revealed in Chainsaw Man. She uses and treats Denji as her pet and has little regard for anyone but herself. Her signature manipulation tool is the promise of intimate relations – especially where Denji is concerned.

Makima always puts herself first and does not care for anyone else’s wishes. She would do whatever it took to get her way. Although Denji is her closest target with the most to lose, Makima can control anyone. Her manipulative tendencies know no bounds when it comes to her own gains.

3 Eren Yeager's Corrupted Ideals Spark A Deadly Revolution

Attack On Titan

Eren Yeager has had ideas about what should be done about the Titan problem ever since his village was attacked at the beginning of Attack on Titan. However, the more he learns about them, the more corrupted his ideas of peace become. And, unfortunately, many people are drawn to his new ideas.

Eren is a very black-and-white character who sees that the only way to have comfort for the people of Paradis, is to wipe out anyone else – including Paradians who stand in his way. His convictions are so strong, that others flock to his way of thinking without pause. Eren’s power and extreme solution cause people to take notice, and blindly follow him wherever his whims lead.

2 Light Yagami Manipluates Everyone In The Name Of His Twisted Sense Of Justice

Death Note

Light Yagami is a genius with a dangerous God complex, notably using the titular Death Note to control the scales of life and death. Fueled by his twisted, misguided sense of justice, Light chooses who gets to live to see another day and who gets to die. In his eyes, those who have committed crimes are unfit for civilization and don't deserve to live. Thus begins his horrific killing spree as he targets convicts and criminals of varying levels of severity.

Light has proven capable enough to manipulate Shinigami, all-powerful spirits of death, into accomplishing what he wants — let alone mere humans. He even manages to manipulate the task force into accepting him as their leader for years. Even as police and detectives tirelessly search for the infamous Kira, they remain completely blind to the fact that he's been under their noses the entire time.

1 Kyubey Traps Young Girls In An Endless Cycle Of Death & Despair

Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Kyubey is an otherworldly creature from Puella Magi Madoka Magica. Although he appears to be a cute, innocent character, Kyubey is anything but good. Every so often, Kyubey lures young girls into becoming Magical Girls to fight off enemies called Witches. In return, he promises to grant the girls one wish each. Yet, once they agree to his terms, they soon realize that nothing of what he says is actually true.

Little do they know that Witches are simply corrupted magical girls and that their efforts are all for Kyubey to steal the world's energy. Yet, the most sorrowful part of this is that – while Kyubey does grant everyone’s wishes – there is always a “Monkey’s Paw” element to them. Kyubey is a purely selfish character who does whatever it takes to keep himself alive and content.