The Best Anime Where The Main Character Dies At The End

In anime, a protagonist’s death often feels like the final note that has been building up for hours. For viewers, it’s not just about losing their favorite character; rather, it’s about the story’s heartbreaking twists and turns that they can’t help but feel the weight of. Indeed, these deaths are never easy to witness, but sometimes, they are essential for the story and carry a lot of meaning.

From Eren Yeager’s pre-determined death in Attack on Titan to Lelouch’s self-sacrifice in Code Geass, the deaths of these protagonists aren’t an end of the story for them; they’re the point where everything they fought for comes to a head, leaving us with a bittersweet understanding of what they gave up for the sake of others.

Heavy spoilers below. Read on at your own discretion.

10

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners – David Martinez

⁠A Dystopian Future Where Everyone Dies

Japanese animation studios have always pushed the boundaries of different genres, and Western studios are now adopting that style into their own setting. A brilliant example of this is Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, based on the widely popular video game Cyberpunk 2077.

Like the original game, the show’s creators worked to replicate a stunning yet doomed futuristic world. And that’s exactly what happened. In the end, including the protagonist David Martinez, every character, no matter if they’re good or bad, ends up dead, either through someone else’s actions or by making a sacrifice to save others.

9

Dragon Ball Z – Goku

Goku Has Died And Been Brought Back Multiple Times

There are only a few characters in anime who’ve reached the kind of legendary status that the characters of Dragon Ball have, especially Goku, the hyperactive Saiyan who’s always saving the world.

The world of Dragon Ball is a very exaggerated one, so it’s completely possible for a character to die and reappear, and it’s true for Goku too, as he has died multiple times. But one thing is for sure, every time Goku dies, anime fans can’t help but wonder when and how he’ll come back.

The End Of The Elric Brothers

Fullmetal Alchemist makes it clear from the very first episode that it’s a serious and violent show, as we witness the consequences for the Elric brothers when their attempt at alchemy goes horribly wrong. We thought there was no way they’d kill off the brothers, but we were wrong.

During the final battle with the homunculus, Edward Elric is killed by Envy, his own half-brother. Seeing Edward fall, Alphonse uses the Philosopher’s Stone to heal his body and bind his soul back, but in doing so, Alphonse’s own body disintegrates to dust.

7

Devilman Crybaby – Akira Fudo

Satan Wins, A Rare Case Where The Villain Triumphs

Devilman Crybaby follows the story of Akira, a teenager who gets thrown into a world of demons after merging with one and becoming a demon himself. The main plot of the series revolves around the friendship-turned-rivalry between Akira and his childhood friend, Ryo Asuka, who is revealed to be Satan.

The two friends eventually have to face each other to bear the consequences of their moral choices. In the finale, Ryo kills the one person he’s ever loved, delivering us one of the most controversial endings in anime.

6

Code Geass – Lelouch Vi Britannia

Does It Count If He Kills His Alter Ego?

Code Geass introduced us to Lelouch Vi Britannia, the prince of the Holy Britannian Empire, who seeks to avenge his father by overthrowing the empire and creating a world free from oppression.

Throughout the show, consumed by his desire for revenge, Lelouch builds his power as a rebel, using Geass, an ability that lets him influence people’s actions. He also adopts the persona of a masked anti-hero, Zero, and leads a rebellion against the empire. But when the war ends, he orchestrates his own death to shift the world’s hatred onto him.

5

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure – Jonathan Joestar

The Original JoJo Really Gave It His All

When it comes to anime deaths, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is full of them, especially that of the Joestars, a family whose members are either destined to kill or be killed by the villains they face.

The first arc of the show features a similar death, that of Jonathan Joestar’s, as he faces off against his arch-rival, Dio Brando, a moment that left everyone shocked. After fighting all his life, Jonathan reaches the point where he sacrifices himself to save everyone else, forever solidifying his legacy as a true Joestar.

4

Cowboy Bebop – Spike Spiegel

A Bit Unclear, But Spike Most Probably Died There At The End

Cowboy Bebop is a show set in a western-futuristic setting about a few bounty hunters who are carrying the weight of their past and the choices they make to escape it. The series introduces Spike Spiegel, a former member of the Red Syndicate, a criminal group.

Now a carefree bounty hunter, Spike leaves his violent past behind after falling in love with Julia, the girlfriend of the criminal mastermind Vicious, who eventually finds and kills her. In the show’s finale, Spike and Vicious finally face each other, leaving Spike seriously wounded and leaving the possibility open that he might be dead.

3

Grave Of The Fireflies – Setsuko

The Horrors Of War Are Difficult To Fathom

Ghibli films have constantly given us masterpiece films with their melancholic themes, paired with perfect soundtracks that can bring you to tears, even when you’re happy. Back in 1988, Studio Ghibli released their anti-war film Grave of the Fireflies, as a protest against the horrors of war.

The story follows a young boy, Seita, as he looks after his younger sister, Setsuko, during World War II after the siblings are separated from their parents. The film beautifully develops their bond throughout, only to break your heart when you watch Setsuko die from starvation, making it one of the saddest endings ever.

2

Death Note – Light Yagami

Light’s End Was Both Tragic And Satisfying

There have been many attempts to remake Death Note into a film or live-action series, but none of them worked, as the conviction that the original series always had was absent.

The story follows Light Yagami, who is fed up with a society full of criminals and gets a chance to change the world when he finds a notebook that can kill anyone whose name is written in it. Even with the lives of everyone in his hands, the show reaches its peak when Light dies at the end, closing the story on a perfect note.

1

Attack On Titan – Eren Yeager

Eren Lets Mikasa Kill Him

Attack on Titan isn’t just about fighting Titans, but a story about survival and the lengths people are willing to go to for it, which is something that perfectly sums up who Eren Yeager becomes.

At the start of the show, Eren Yeager seems like an innocent boy determined to get his revenge. But we soon realize this was all predestined, as he could control everything using the powers of the Founding Titan. He even knew he would die and that it would be at the hands of Mikasa, the girl he loved the most.