Fictional media uses deaths to hammer in the emotional impact of a scene, with a viewer’s favorite character biting the dust in heartbreaking moments many times. Anime is no exception here, with some of the best shows featuring emotional deaths that are hard to stomach.
It’s hard to process these moments, especially when they come out of nowhere to surprise viewers. Thankfully, these deaths aren’t just used for shock value and emphasize the brutality of the events in these anime.
Sasha Braus
Her Sudden Death Led To Gabi Turning Into AoT’s Most Hated Character
As horrid as the Liberio Assault was, the Survey Corps members couldn’t help but feel that this was a resounding victory for them. They had made a major dent in Marley’s attacking forces and morale without too many losses on their end.
However, they weren’t out of the clear just yet, with Gabi landing in one of the zeppelins and fatally shooting Sasha. It’s a shocking moment that comes out of nowhere, turning Gabi into a hated character for the longest time before Isayama’s genius became clear.
Kyojuro Rengoku
Shone His Brightest In A Single Arc Before Fizzling Out
The Flame Hashira is one of the most powerful swordsmen in Demon Slayer. He clearly worked his butt off to earn this position and shows his strength during the Mugen Train arc.
However, just when it seemed that things were settled, Akaza’s surprise appearance made for a major setback. In a heroic moment, an exhausted Rengoku decided to take on the Upper Rank Three Demon Moon in battle and keep him occupied so that Tanjiro and the others would be safe. Despite his best efforts, he was punched in the gut and met a grisly demise at this demon’s hands in one of the most shocking Demon Slayer deaths of all time.
Jonathan Joestar
No One Expected This Protagonist To Die After Seemingly Taking Out Dio
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure may have had a rough start, but Araki’s brilliance was still clear as day even in Phantom Blood. Fans loved the ambitious storytelling, especially near the end of the arc when it seemed that everything had been settled.
However, Dio’s severed head arrives to try and kill Jonathan, who manages to save his beloved but at the cost of his life. It’s a sudden demise that comes out of nowhere, turning Jonathan into a heroic protagonist that everyone grew fond of over time.
Lelouch vi Britannia
His Tale Has One Final Twist That No One Expects
Lelouch may seem like a monster with his ambitious plans in Code Geass, but it’s clear that this member of the royal family genuinely wanted the very best for the Kingdom of Britannia. This is why he made a deal with his best friend, Suzaku, who takes on Zero’s garb and assassinates Lelouch in front of the public.
Despite how harrowing this moment is for Nunnally, the public cheers the death of a person they saw as their tormentor. This shocking death ensured that Lelouch would see to the good of the people, even if it came at the expense of his life.
Neji Hyuga
Sacrifices Himself To Save Naruto And Hinata
The Fourth Shinobi World War arc had its problems, but there’s no denying that this prolonged battle had its fair share of shocking moments. With Obito using the Ten-Tails to wreak havoc, Naruto simply didn’t have enough chakra to save everyone.
He was going to be speared by one of the Ten-Tails’ projectiles, only for Neji to heroically step into the fray. He prevented Hinata from making this sacrifice in a shocking moment, ensuring that this couple would enjoy a happy life after the events of this harrowing war.
Nina Tucker
Her Father’s Monstrous Actions Ruin What Could’ve Been A Promising Life
There are many reasons why Fullmetal Alchemist is so riveting to watch, with its captivating use of alchemy coupled with the satisfying justifications of this power system, making for a great time. However, the show is also full of traumatic moments, such as when Nina’s life is cut short by her monstrous father.
Seeing Shou’s cursed chimera say “Ed… ward…” is one of the most traumatic moments in the series. Nina was as good as dead following this shocking moment, with Scar mercifully killing her to end her painful and cursed existence short.
Miki Makimura
The Way She And Her Friends Meet Their Demise Is Horrifying
Devilman Crybaby is a series full of shocking moments, but nothing comes close to the brutality of Maki’s demise. Despite all the death in the world, fans still held out hope that Akira’s girlfriend would survive.
Instead, she becomes the victim of a brutal lynching as she’s stabbed and torn apart by hysterical humans in one of the most painful and traumatizing deaths in the entire series. Seeing Akira’s reaction to the death of his friends is hard to fathom and makes it clear why he lost all faith in humanity after this moment.
Kyomoto
Fujimoto Takes Everyone By Surprise With The Killing Spree Of An Axe Murderer
Look Back is an excellent piece of work by Tatsuki Fujimoto. This one-shot takes a look at the lives of two aspiring mangaka who eventually drift apart, only for one of them to face a sudden and tragic demise.
The anime movie does a great job of adapting this amazing manga and hammers in just how shocking and sudden Kyomoto’s demise is. It’s a genuinely surprising and emotional moment, although the exploration of events in an alternate timeline did ease the pain of her death somewhat.
