Darkest Anime Girls

Summary

• Dark anime girls add depth and complexity to shows, making them more emotionally engaging and entertaining.
• These powerful and twisted female characters are not to be underestimated, as they are capable of extreme violence and cruelty.
• From cunning manipulators to ruthless killers, these dark anime girls are not your typical heroines, but they still steal the spotlight.

While some of the most popular anime characters are goodhearted and inspirational, in many cases, evil and dark characters are just as beloved as the heroes of the show. Some of the bravest female anime characters had epic battles and even violent deaths because of these diabolical and homicidal maniacs. While these horrible characters are certainly not role model material, they do make these shows more entertaining and often more complex and emotional.

These imaginatively dark anime girls are often more memorable than the heroes they go up against, and they sometimes completely overshadow everyone else. Anime viewers can find all kinds of twisted characters in a wide variety of shows who stop at nothing to achieve their goals or just simply create suffering and destruction everywhere they go.

While the focus is mainly on girls, dark anime women who are between 18–30 years old will also be considered. If a character’s age is not known, an approximation will be made.

Updated February 18, 2025 by Mark Sammut: Anime girls tend to be depicted as fairly innocent, but there are certainly exceptions to the rule. When a story decides to take things in a different direction, the result can be some of the most memorable and entertaining characters. Two more deadly anime girls have been added to this discussion.

25

Gretel

A Traumatic Past Leads To A Deadly Present

Honestly, most of Black Lagoon‘s female characters could qualify for this discussion. Likable as she is, Revy is an extremely dark character, especially for a female protagonist in an action anime. However, as nihilistic as she is, she has nothing on Gretel, who forms one-half of Black Lagoon‘s most unsettling villainous duo. Alongside her brother, Hansel, Gretel arrives in Roanapur to kill Balalaika, and every one of her scenes is deeply uncomfortable.

Even without considering her background, a young girl who is willing to kill without hesitation is already incredibly dark; however, Gretel’s backstory takes things up a few notches. The twins were forced to kill for their survival, and they eventually came to love the practice. They were also victims of physical and sexual abuse, which led to them developing unhealthy patterns as they got older.

24

Akito Sohma

Having Power At A Young Age Does A Lot To A Person

Akito is one of the hardest villains to feel sorry for, but at the same time, it’s a little understandable why she is the way that she is. Being abused by her mother and expected to be the head of the family at a young age after her father’s death, Akito was afraid of being alone and forced the other Zodiac members to be close to her. She controlled their lives through fear and reveled in the pain she caused them, abusing them both physically and psychologically.

Akito injured Hatori after he asked for her permission to marry Kana which led to their break up and Hatori erasing Kana’s memories. She pushed Rin out of a window after her relationship with Hatsuharu was revealed. There is much more to how she abused the members, and no one can blame the others for being distant.

23

Diva

A Vampire Who Doesn’t Care For Anyone

It would be so easy to feel sorry for Diva since her childhood was pretty rough. Being neglected while her sister had a great life was bound to leave some scars, but no one could predict that Diva would be like this. She’s utterly sadistic and couldn’t care less if even her allies die. She enjoys making Saya’s life miserable and loves it more when her sister is in pain.

But what made Diva evil in a lot of viewers’ eyes was what she did to Saya’s Chevalier, Riku. Her infatuation with him turned very deadly and poor Riku died because of it. There are very few redeemable qualities to Diva, but it’s not enough to overlook all the horrible things she’s done.

22

Nana Hiiragi

The Friendliest Face Can Be The Most Cunning

Talentless Nana is one of the twistiest psychological anime shows, all thanks to the seemingly cute and innocent Nana Hiiragi. She’s one of anime’s ultimate plot-twist queens who can fool anyone with ease.

Nana is a deceptively cunning young girl, who is capable of playing the friend card flawlessly while plotting everyone’s downfall. Nana is convinced that these kids’ talents could cause the end of humanity. So, even though Nana is driven by a good cause, she’s still a dangerous murderer. Her character is brilliantly crafted, so Nana is able to fool not only the other kids who are with her on the island but the viewers as well.

21

Shiro/The Wretched Egg

The Bubbliest Person Can Have The Darkest Side

Shiro herself is a very bubbly girl despite the grim environment she’s in. However, it’s her other half, the Wretched Egg that others should be worried about. The complete opposite of Shiro, the Wretched Egg personality is vicious and merciless to everyone around her. Because of the horrible experiments done on her body, Shiro created the Wretched Egg personality as a way of coping with the pain.

Though they usually disagree on most things, the only thing Shiro and the Wretched Egg can agree on is their love for Ganta. However, this doesn’t stop the Wretched Egg from harming those around him, and is the one responsible for slaughtering his entire class at the beginning of the series.

20

Malty S. Melromarc

One Of The Most Despised Characters In Anime

If there is one character who most anime fans hate: it’s Malty. This princess has to be one of the most irredeemable characters out there. She’s a spoiled, psychopathic princess who is good at manipulating others for her own gain and benefit. It’s almost painful to watch her get away with almost everything she does and how easily people fall for her tricks.

Even when she’s been caught, Malty will lie and pretend to cry as a way of trying to get out of trouble. She might not be the smartest person out there, but Malty isn’t above using her body or other tactics to get what she wants.

Malty’s age has not been 100% confirmed, but she doesn’t seem to be older than her early 20s.

19

Tanya Degurechaff

Her Body Count Is High Despite Her Young Age

Tanya Degurechaff is one of the darkest anime girls with a surprisingly high kill count. The Saga of Tanya the Evil‘s pint-sized powerhouse is not what she seems since she’s a reincarnated salaryman turned military prodigy in an alternate war-torn world. She’s driven by logic, self-preservation, and a vendetta against Being X, a mysterious god-like entity.

What makes Tanya especially dangerous is that she enjoys battles, often uses extreme and ruthless methods, and joyfully leaps into battle with both tactics and tantrums. She happily climbs the military ranks, so she can live a cushy life, while also trying to defy the divine.

18

Makima

Uses Anyone And Everyone To Achieve Her Goals

Chainsaw Man‘s most popular dark anime girl is no doubt Makima. There were plenty of unforgettable twists and fights in Chainsaw Man and many of them were thanks to this chillingly intriguing character. Beneath Makima’s poised exterior lies a mind that’s always three steps ahead and ambitions as vast as the sea.

She’s one of the show’s top-tier devil hunters with a penchant for manipulation and control. Nothing is more important for Makima than power, and she’s not afraid to use any tactics necessary as well as people, devils, or whatever she needs to achieve her goals.

Makima’s exact age is not known, but she seems to be in her 20s.

17

Kirari Momobami

Obsessed With Understanding Human Nature

While Kakegurui‘s world is filled with gambling addicts no one is as ruthless as Kirari Momobami since she isn’t just playing games; she’s turning them into psychological warfare. She is the enigmatic student council president at Hyakkaou Private Academy, who skillfully made high-stakes gambling the heart of school culture.

However, for Kirari, gambling is not about the money; it’s the intoxicating thrill of seeing one’s true colors under pressure. She’s obsessed with understanding human nature and uses her academy as her lab. Thanks to her unforgettable and terrifying gaze that can freeze anyone, and her sharp mind, she quickly became the queen bee in this hive of gamblers.

16

Android 18 (Alternate Timeline)

Killed The Z Fighters In Another Timeline And Still Deadly In The Present

Android 18 is one of the most powerful female characters in shonen anime who has a rather sadistic side. She also had one of the most interesting character arcs in Dragon Ball Z since she was one of the few deadly villains who turned things around and became a hero. However, during her villain time, she killed hundreds of thousands of people just for fun or because she felt bored.

For a long while, she was one of the most unstoppable and cruel villains in Dragon Ball Z who then ended up marrying one of the franchise’s kindest heroes, Krillin. DBZ follows the adventures of Goku and the Z Warriors who try to protect Earth and battle against some of the most terrifying and powerful villains in the universe.

15

Noriko

Calm Yet Deadly And Merciless In A Fight

Noriko was one of the deadliest space pilots who killed her enemies she did it ruthlessly and without any doubts or regrets. While she was mostly a calm character she switched when it came to battle and turned into a killing machine while piloting her space robot.

Norkio is also one of the anime girls with the highest kill counts and one who was one of the most merciless fighters of all time. Gunbuster is among the best sci-fi anime that’s also one of the most underrated classic anime shows. The story follows Noriko’s adventures as the young girl gets selected to be one of the vital pilots who’ll have to defeat alien life forms.

14

Daki

Beautiful Yet Very Deadly When Angry

Daki is one of the darkest anime girls of all time who was also one of the most powerful and terrifying demons in Demon Slayer. She was one of the most strong-willed demons who didn’t like to take orders from others and was especially dangerous when angry.

She was also one of the Upper-Rank Six demons who became even more powerful when her brother was attached to her so much so that she became immune even to decapitation. Demon Slayer is one of the most heartbreaking and scariest anime shows of all time. Its story follows the young Tanjiro, who sets out to become a demon slayer after most of his family members are murdered, and his sister is turned into a demon.

Technically, Daki is more than 100 years old, but she was 13 when she died as a hman.

13

Ai Enma

Hatred And Vengeance Fuels Her Power

Ai is a young girl who becomes a youkai after being sacrificed to the mountain god for a bountiful harvest. Betrayed by her cousin and angry at the villagers, Ai swore revenge on them and burned the village down when she rose from the dead. This brought her to the attention of the Master of Hell, who made a bargain with her: her parents’ souls wouldn’t be sent to Hell if she became his messenger.

Since then, Ai has been a messenger of vengeance and hatred. She has a cold personality and is indifferent to even the most emotional situations. Though the Master of Hell ordered her to forget her emotions, there are times she defies them, especially if it’s hatred or another negative emotion she’s feeling.

12

Kasane Kujiragi

Cold And Calculating Under Her Calm Gaze

Kasane is one of the most powerful characters and greatest antagonists in Durarara!!. She’s a skilled fighter who can use her masterful sword-fighting skills to defeat almost anyone. Thanks to her quiet demeanor and her ability to control her emotions at all times no one knows that she’s a calculating and cold-hearted villain.

Durarara!! has some pretty unique and powerful characters with exceptional skills, and it’s one of the few shows that have characters who can manipulate darkness. Its story is set in a dark fictional part of Tokyo where all kinds of dangerous creatures roam the streets alongside humans.

11

Megumi Shimizu

Rising From The Dead Has Its Perks

Megumi started as a sweet and kind girl but was often bullied because of her looks and aspirations to move away to the city. However, she was also self-centered and looked down on the other villagers for their appearances. After becoming a Shiki, Megumi became utterly sadistic and malicious and had no problems taking the lives of those who bullied her. If anything, she enjoyed being one because it made her life a lot less boring than it was before.

Having been mocked and criticized for her outfits, Megumi takes pleasure in tormenting the villagers and enjoys watching them suffer. The only person she liked was Natsuno since he was always polite to her and wanted to leave the village too. However, these feelings turned into obsession as she also targeted those close to him.

10

Sato Matsuzaka

Even The Cutest Girl Has A Dark Side

Sato might look cute and friendly on the outside, but this is one girl with a deadly dark side. After meeting Shio, an eight-year-old girl, and letting her stay in her apartment, Sato becomes infatuated with her. This infatuation with Shio is deadly for anyone who comes near the little girl. Believing that she needs to protect their “Happy Sugar Life,” Sato will kill anyone, even her friends, who sees Shio.

Her behavior and possessiveness of Shio is very disturbing to watch. She is one of the scariest yanderes out in the anime world and knowing that not even her friends are safe from her wrath makes Sato all the more terrifying.

9

Yuno Gasai

As Ruthless As They Come

Yuno Gasai is one of the darkest anime girls and is one of the most popular yandere girls in anime. While she might seem like a lovely young girl she’s a ruthless murderer who’d do anything to make sure that she and Yukiteru survive the deadly game.

Future Diary is one of the scariest anime like Squid Game with plenty of violence and surprising deaths. It’s about a group of young kids who all get a Future Diary they can use to fight each other to survive the evil God of Time and Space’s cruel game.

8

Lust

The Ultimate Spear Lives Up To Her Title

Lust is one of the most well-known femme fatales in the anime world and for good reason. She will use her looks to seduce men to get what she wants as seen when she seduces Jean Havoc, one of Roy Mustang’s men. Like most of the other Homunculi, she cares little for humans and is very sadistic, taking pleasure in other people’s pain.

Being the Ultimate Spear, she’s one of the strongest and cleverest Homunculi. Her fighting abilities made her a fierce opponent to fight and very few could keep up with her because of how fast she was.

7

Esdeath

Loves Using Her Power To Cause Suffering

Esdeath is one of the most powerful dark anime girls who enjoys using her power to cause pain and suffering. She especially despises the weak and thanks to her sadistic personality, she not only causes physical harm but enjoys manipulating others to cause great emotional agony too.

Akame Ga Kill is a thrilling action anime about Tatsumi who leaves his safe village in the hope of finding a job and making good money. However, soon decides to join a group of assassins called Night Riad to fight against the corrupt Empire that causes suffering to its helpless residents.

6

Himiko Toga

Proves That Love Can Be A Scary Thing

Himiko is My Hero Academia‘s cutest and darkest character who wants to become as menacing and murderous as The Hero Killer. She’s also one of the strongest members of The League of Villains. She’s got an odd sense of humor and a weird infatuation with Deku, but Himiko is a great fighter and while she might seem like she’s not all there she’s quite intelligent.

My Hero Academia is a highly motivational anime with plenty of heartwarming moments in the series it’s still not without darkness and epic fights. Its story follows Deku after he finally gets a very special Quirk and embarks on a challenging and often painful journey to becoming a true hero.