And although we’ve all shed plenty of tears when a character we love dies, we also shared a sense of joy when a major villain or irritating protagonist got murdered. We’re only human, after all. So in this piece we’ll be focusing on some truly satisfying deaths, counting down the most enjoyable deaths in all of anime!
20. Tahoumaru
Anime: Dororo Tahoumaru is a bit different than most of the other picks on this list, because I honestly didn’t even hate the guy. However, his final battle with Hyakkimaru just ended the whole story so beautifully that I couldn’t help but feel happy. Not to mention that the two brothers finally found understanding and compassion for each other, even though it’s unfortunate that death had to knock on the door for them to reach this point. I would have been even happier if Hyakkimaru also killed his father, but I will take what I can get.
19. Makoto Itou
Anime: School Days Unlike the previous pick, Makoto absolutely had it coming. And I would be lying if I denied shouting “kampai” at his demise. Most of the characters in this show aren’t really good people. But Makoto is just an S-class douchebag who really wanted to get laid. He gave little thought to how the girls he manipulated felt, and even ruined a few lives in the process. So even though he was just a stupid kid with too many hormones and too little human decency, I was glad his streak was ended.
18. Uvogin
Anime: Hunter x Hunter (2011) Although Uvogin was one of the “bad guys”, I didn’t mind him all that much. I did, however, love Kurapika and his revenge plotline. So seeing Kurapika finally dish out some sweet sweet revenge against those who wronged him, felt really good. Not only was the battle amazing, but we also finally got to see Kurapika go all-out and use his chains to get blood on his hands. You also just have to love the fact that he brought a shovel with him to a death match. Talk about confidence.
17. Rui
Anime: Demon Slayer Nearly every death in Demon Slayer feels like a masterpiece. Especially when major demons are involved. This is because the demons are seldom one dimensional, and usually get some type of closure upon death. Rui’s demise probably struck the strongest cord with me, because I truly felt sorry for him. He was born ill and then tricked into becoming a demon, leading him to murder his own parents. He even tried to build a fake family, but to little success. And he truly seemed relieved when he got the change to meet his parents in the afterlife. The animation in that fight was also some of the best we’ve seen in years.
16. Frieza
Anime: Dragon Ball Z Frieza was such an iconic villain in the Dragon Ball Z world, that his inevitable demise felt like the end of an era. His battle against Goku and the gang went on for so long that the final culmination had to be done perfectly. And it was. Now seen as one of the most legendary scenes in anime, Goku’s first transformation into his Super Saiyan form hyped up DBZ fans across the world. And having Frieza literally kill himself by accident seemed more than fitting for his character arc. Sure, he does come back in later series. But death in DBZ was never permanent to start.
15. Roberto
Anime: Monster This man is a showcase of what would happen if you gave the stereotypical “protagonist tenacity buff” to a villain. The dude just would not stay down, and kept being an evil menace throughout the entire show. Even when you’re certain that he’s dead, he somehow bounces back and kills off the likable characters. When death finally(and I truly mean finally) came for Roberto, he just had to off one more important character before he finally left the moral realm. I honestly felt like opening some champagne when he finally fell to the ground.
14. Tsunekichi Hatadaira
Anime: Talentless Nana This anime was a bit weird when it came to death, simply because it came so frequently, and because it felt like nearly every character deserved it. You would think that the audience would just go numb at some point. But nothing can replace the euphoria of Tsunekichi’s death. Even by just looking at him, you know that he’s a douchebag. He was so full of himself. He was rotten to the core and he had no issues with blackmailing people into submission. Bonus points to Nana, because even from a strategic standpoint, this murder was the most entertaining one of the bunch.
13. Clementine
Anime: Overlord There are few things as satisfying as seeing someone get put in their place. Clementine was one of those characters who enjoyed killing way too much, and thought that the entire world was beneath her. She also had quite the kink for torture. So it was beyond satisfying when she ran into the god himself, Ainz. How he killed her was so underwhelmingly poetic and beautiful that I felt like clapping. The man literally just hugged her to death to show her how weak she truly was.
12. Danzou Shimura
Anime: Naruto: Shippuden Oh boy, when Danzo finally died, the Sasuke fandom probably threw the biggest party ever. This is because even though Danzo acts like the good guy who only wants to help the leaf, he caused too many issues for his personal gain, that the death sentence seemed appropriate. Plus, Sasuke finally got a major kill under his belt. And even though Sasuke did kind of nearly kill his teammate in order to achieve his goal, the battle ended on a high and hyped note.
11. Jason
Anime: Tokyo Ghoul Whenever there’s a torture scene, I wish death upon the executor. And being that Jason was not only thoroughly enjoying himself (especially if you read the manga) but that he also planned to torture Kaneki indefinitely, my need to spit on his grave grew even larger. And luckily my plea was heard. As Kaneki proceeds to kick Jason around like a wet blanket in one of the most satisfying revenge action scenes I have ever witnessed. I will forever say that this fight was the absolute pinnacle that the anime adaptation had ever reached.
10. Sweyn Forkbeard
Anime: Vinland Saga Whenever I see a kingly character, I already know that he’s either going to be the coolest dude on the block, or literal scum. Sweyn definitely falls under the latter category. I mean just look at that face. He looks like the witch from Snow White on a good day. It was especially satisfying to see his death because it finally meant that Canute was going to take over and become the next king. Which was quite the enjoyable experience, considering we have watched him harden up and take up true virtues of a leader.
9. Honest
Anime: Akame ga Kill! Since we’re already on the topic of terrible kings at whose death I rejoiced, let’s talk about Honest. Okay, technically Honest isn’t even a king. However, he never let that stop him from ruling the empire. Considering that the real ruler is a little kid, Honest had a pretty easy time manipulating him into doing whatever he wanted. So seeing Leone, who’s best girl by the way, bash his skill in with her bare hands after being shot multiple times, felt like divine justice. His ending was even more satisfying in the manga where he’s thrown into a crowd of soldiers and mutilated completely, but I’ll take what I can get.
8. Shigekiyo Yangu
Anime: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable I don’t know whether this makes me a bad person or something, but I was honestly really glad when this guy got the axe… or should I say the bomb. Even though he was technically one of the good guys, his constant acts of selfishness and greediness just never sat right with me. Plus, his design is quite an eyesore. So it’s not like he makes much for eye candy either. So when I finally realized that I’ll never have to see his face again, I was honestly over the moon.
7. Yoshikage Kira
Anime: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable To balance out the previous JoJo pick, I’m going to talk about Kira now. He was honestly an excellent villain, which made me extremely glad to see him go. He was as evil as they come. And defeating him was nothing short of a herculean task. So when he finally bit the dust it felt like a nice, satisfying conclusion to a battle that waged on for quite some time.
6. The Smiling Titan
Anime: Attack on Titan The death of Eren’s mother was one of those scenes that I’ve seen so many times through flashbacks, that I feel like my own family was murdered. And at the center of that nightmare was the Smiling Titan. So when Eren finally met face to face with the hungry murderer, the stakes were pretty high. And in a move that’s so typical of Attack on Titan, Miss Smiles gets a beautifully ironic demise as Eren accidentally orders all of the surrounding titans to eat his foe alive.
5. Neferpitou
Anime: Hunter x Hunter (2011) The trope of putting a usually happy-go-lucky protagonist into a dark and morbid situation has always been a show stopper for me. But no show pulled it off as well as Hunter x Hunter. Neferpitou was the perfect villain, as I was always hyped and terrified when she was on screen. And the second she killed Kite, we all knew Gon was gunning for revenge. But never could I have predicted such a gruesome and gory battle. And yet it was so satisfying. We’ve been waiting for this clash for dozens of episodes, so to finally see the finishing blow was ecstatic.
4. Seryu Ubiquitous
Anime: Akame Ga Kill! Anime is no stranger to depicting devils. But this supposedly human character has captured the essence of evil and hatred way better than any deity ever could. She’s so convinced that she’s fighting for justice that she blows her top at the thought of brutally massacring “villains”. No method is below her. Not a hidden gun, being eaten alive, blowing yourself up, it’s all fair game. So when she was not only defeated, but also prevented from taking any of the protagonists with her to hell, I felt like humanity had just won a major victory.
3. Cell
Anime: Dragon Ball Z Cell’s death hits on a lot of the same notes as Frieza’s. It was an iconic moment in anime history that marked the end of what felt like an era. Just like with Frieza, Cell was built up and hyped on for dozens of episodes. And even the final battle felt like an entire tournament. So when Gohan, a character that had not done anything too major up until this point, put on his big boy pants and pulled off one of the most emotional and dramatic Dragon Ball Z fights ever to hit the anime world… it was breath-taking.
2. Hidan
Anime: Naruto: Shippuden Yes, I know Hidan is immortal so he technically didn’t die. But he is six feet under and out of the picture, so I’m going to count it. I doubt that I’m alone when I say that Shikamaru was one of the best characters Naruto had to offer. He was always laid back, calculated, and was the only ninja to rely on his brains. So to see him not only go out for revenge against the man who killed his father, but also end him off in such a badass way, was a treat to any Naruto fan. The fact that he incorporated Asuma’s lighter into the final blow was just the cherry on top.
1. Envy
Anime: Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood I know some might say that Father’s death was more satisfying. But I’m team Down with the Envy all the way. For the entire series they’ve played games with everyone’s emotions, and even killed off our beloved Hughes in such a brutal manner. So having Roy finally go all out on them, while they try to pull more off their cold-hearted tricks, was extremely satisfying. And man, when Roy’s mad, he does not have even a sliver of mercy. You do not mess with the Flame Alchemist.
