10 Best Assassin Anime That You Should Watch

Assassin anime presents captivating narratives centered on themes of intrigue, action, and moral ambiguity. Whether motivated by ideology, monetary gain, or duty, assassin main characters must navigate perilous environments that challenge their abilities and beliefs.

The Assassin anime showcases dark underground networks, worldwide plots, powerful adversaries, and dangerous missions.

Whether it be lighthearted classrooms filled with assassins or dark and intense organized crime thrillers, this genre offers thought-provoking tales to suit every preference. Here are 10 of the most captivating assassin anime encompassing a variety of styles and themes.

10 must-watch assassin anime for thrill seekers

Assassination Classroom

The anime Assassination Classroom puts a fresh spin on the typical assassin genre. It follows Nagisa Shiota and his unconventional classmates as they are tasked with the assassination of their teacher, Koro-sensei.

Despite being an immensely powerful tentacled creature, he is in danger of destroying Earth if he is not assassinated within a year of teaching Class 3-E. Surprisingly, his students form a close bond with him, even as they plan to take his life.

Assassination Classroom is a unique coming-of-age tale that combines humor and heart. It delves into important themes surrounding adolescence, figures of authority, and individual accountability with intelligence and depth.

2) Darker than Black

Despite being set in a world where the impossible has become possible, Darker than Black is an anime focused on assassins. The emergence of ‘Hell’s Gate’ in Tokyo and ‘Heaven’s Gate’ in South America a decade ago resulted in a sky filled with artificial stars and the birth of individuals with extraordinary abilities, known as Contractors.

The Contractors are forced to pay a price for their abilities, often succumbing to an involuntary obsessive behavior. However, in return, their powers grant them the ability to carry out assassinations and espionage for various organizations and governments during a period of significant political and criminal turmoil.

Hei, also known as the Black Reaper, is one of the Contractors who works for the ominous Syndicate. Alongside Yin, Huang, and Mao, Hei and his team must carry out covert assassinations while facing off against rival agencies and other Contractors who possess dangerous abilities.

Phantom: Requiem for the Phantom

The plot of Phantom: Requiem for the Phantom revolves around a young man named Zwei, who is recruited by the Inferno crime organization to become an assassin. Despite having no recollection of his past, Zwei is equipped with only a gun and a pocket watch.

Initially, he is known solely as the assassin-in-training. However, everything changes when he encounters Ein, the original and most proficient Phantom assassin, who is assigned to mentor him. This marks the beginning of Zwei’s heartbreaking evolution from an average youth to a ruthless assassin, as well as his deepening bond with Ein.

Phantom: Requiem for the Phantom delves into the realm of assassins, offering a thought-provoking exploration of complex characters, deep themes, and dark subject matter.

Noir

Noir is an anime about assassins that tells the tale of two female assassins, Mireille Bouquet from Corsica and Yuumura Kirika from Japan. Together, they set out on a quest to unravel the secrets of their forgotten pasts and discover their true identities.

After uniting as the assassination team “Noir,”they become targets of a covert group called Les Soldats and its operatives. As Mireille and Kirika delve into their connections with Les Soldats, they confront a wide-reaching scheme that challenges their loyalty through deceit, sorrow, and the more sinister aspects of human behavior.

The complexity of its female protagonists, graceful animation, and tastefully executed action sequences have earned this classic assassin anime high praise. Its meaningful relationship at the core only adds to its acclaim.

Canaan

In Canaan, an assassin anime, the story unfolds in present-day Shanghai and revolves around a highly talented mercenary named Canaan. Canaan possesses synesthesia, which allows her to associate sounds and individuals with specific colors.

Maria Osawa, a photojournalist, crosses paths with her as they both become embroiled in a bioterrorism plot involving the enigmatic Ua Virus and the malevolent group known as Snake. As they further investigate the scheme, they come to the realization that things are far more intricate than initially believed.

Canaan is faced with the challenge of battling highly infectious virus outbreaks and confronting dangerous groups fighting for control. This supernatural adventure pushes her to her limits, delivering thrilling entertainment with intense gun fights, martial arts combat, and incredible superhuman powers.

Jormungand

Koko, the leader of a team of bodyguards, is an arms dealer who illegally sells weapons for HCLI all over the world. Jonah, a child soldier with combat skills acquired from the battlefield, joins her team. The series, Jormungand, combines intense gun battles with sharp humor and delves into the ethical complexities of the arms trade.

As they journey across the globe, Koko and Jonah encounter both allies and adversaries, constantly challenged to uphold their values. From desert landscapes to dense jungles, their risky tasks bring them face to face with thieves, terrorists, and competing merchants.

Koko’s crew must depend on their coordinated tactics and specialized abilities to make it through chaotic firefights.

Kill la Kill

Honnōji Academy is dominated by the authoritarian rule and special Goku Uniforms wielded by student council president Satsuki Kiryūin. Ryūko Matoi, who carries half of a giant scissor blade, transfers to the academy in search of clues about her father’s murder.

Ryūko acquires a Kamui, a uniform that surpasses the strength of Goku Uniforms and grants her extraordinary abilities. Kill la Kill showcases extreme and exaggerated battles as Ryūko faces off against Satsuki’s student council members. She fights her way to the top of the school’s hierarchy in order to challenge the formidable Satsuki.

Kill la Kill explores themes of fascism, inequality, and personal identity, using its premise to provide insightful commentary. The show’s strong female protagonists, exhilarating action, and comedic elements elevate the story to an absurd level, ultimately highlighting its brilliance.

Golgo 13

Golgo 13, a different anime about assassins, follows the tale of Duke Togo, a skilled and unfeeling master assassin with exceptional abilities and a nearly flawless track record. With his specially designed M16 rifle and merciless accuracy, Duke is willing to take on any assignment, as long as the payment is satisfactory.

Known only as Golgo 13, Duke is a highly professional hitman who carries out jobs ranging from military targets to corporate leaders to powerful crime bosses. His past remains a mystery, but it holds little importance to him as he is solely focused on completing each mission with a strict and unwavering attitude. Some refer to him as a ghost, while others simply know him as Duke.

Regardless of the intended victim, they will inevitably meet their demise due to the lethal combination of Duke’s exceptional marksmanship, strategic planning, and adept use of disguises. Although Duke’s goals may seem straightforward, the obstacles he encounters throughout his missions create exhilarating and action-packed experiences.

Black Lagoon

Despite not being a traditional assassin anime, Black Lagoon incorporates many tropes typically found in the genre. The protagonist, Rokuro “Rock”Okajima, may appear to be a typical businessman, but his life is forever changed when he is abducted by the Lagoon Company, a group of mercenaries operating in Southeast Asia.

Despite being on a business trip and carrying a disc with valuable data, Rock’s company decides to cut all ties and declare him dead when he is taken hostage. Instead of paying the ransom, Rock chooses to join the Lagoon Company and accompany them on their dangerous missions transporting goods in the Southeast Asian seas.

The Lagoon Company, led by tough gunslinger Revy, stoic leader Dutch, and tech genius Benny, engages in battles against mercenaries and pirates while constantly dodging law enforcement. However, as Rock becomes immersed in this dangerous world, he begins to uncover a darker side of himself in order to survive amongst his lethal allies and enemies.

10) Akame Kills!

Akame ga Kill! is a thrilling anime that tells the story of Tatsumi, a sheltered villager who travels to the Capital in hopes of earning money for his impoverished hometown. However, he quickly uncovers the rampant corruption in the Capital, controlled by the tyrannical Prime Minister Honest, who takes advantage of and causes harm to the innocent citizens.

Having personally witnessed the corruption, Tatsumi decides to join the assassin group Night Raid in order to combat it. However, as Night Raid carries out their mission to eliminate corrupt officials and aristocrats in the name of justice, Tatsumi begins to struggle with their methods, which involve utilizing their powerful Imperial Arms weapons to transform into formidable warriors.

Despite the brutal revolution, Tatsumi comes to terms with the harsh reality that fighting for the greater good often requires taking lives and making difficult sacrifices. Akame ga Kill! showcases intense battles and characters grappling with their morals as they strive to save lives while also becoming merciless assassins.

Conclusion

The exciting potential of the medium is highlighted in assassin anime, with its blend of intense action and powerful themes. As we delve into the world of lethal assassins, we uncover their tragic backstories and intricate motivations, which create a sense of sympathy for them despite their unapologetic elimination of targets.

Observing their efforts to come to terms with their violent professions while searching for purpose exposes integral aspects of the human experience. The world of assassin anime also showcases impressive perseverance as individuals establish new relationships and discover optimism amidst desolation.

Even if you believe that anime lacks complex plots, intense gunfights, and deep philosophical themes, these assassin anime will prove you wrong. Their dark settings and intriguing characters will leave a lasting impression even after the credits have rolled.

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