Despite the growing popularity of “gore”and “horror”in anime, the depiction of brutal scenes serves a greater purpose beyond commercialization. These scenes serve as a medium to convey important messages about humanity. Examples such as the “Uchiha massacre”in Naruto and “Sukuna’s rampage”in Shibuya demonstrate how anime creators do not shy away from portraying violence in their shows.
With adults being traumatized by the brutal scenes in anime, it is clear that anime is not suitable for children. While anime has long been thought of as simply animated shows, comparable to cartoons or children’s movies, it is time to dispel this misconception.
Despite being labeled as “animated”, anime is a distinct art form from cartoons and children’s movies. Most significantly, anime addresses sensitive topics and critiques societal injustices, as demonstrated by these graphic scenes from various anime series to dispel the notion that it is solely intended for children.
From Nina’s Transformation to Setsuko’s Death, Here are 10 Examples of Brutal Anime Scenes That Destroyed the Myth That Anime is for Children
The Parade of Mutilated Bodies – Devilman Crybaby
The 2018 Devilman Crybaby is highly praised as one of the best anime of all time. The series consists of 10 episodes that explore themes of discrimination, isolation, self-discovery, and purification.
The main focus of the story is on Akira Fudo, who unintentionally transforms into a “devil man”and delves into the distinctions between humans and demons. As the anime concludes, Ryo initiates a mass slaughter, causing the world to descend into a state of fear and aggression.
In Devilman Crybaby’s ninth episode, a group of people violently attacks Akira’s friends for their affiliation with Devilmen. The paranoid mob goes on a rampage, mercilessly killing Miko, Miki, and Wamu and then displaying their mutilated corpses in a horrifying parade. This scene is depicted in a graphic and disturbing manner, leaving a strong impact on the viewers.
Kearu’s Torture and Redemption in Redo of Healer
Despite receiving mixed reactions from fans, the 2021 anime Redo of Healer has been widely criticized for its extremely unsettling and brutal torture scenes.
The main focus of the story is on Kayaru, a healer who has been subjected to both physical and mental abuse. As a result, he has become dependent on drugs and has developed a state of madness. Despite being imprisoned by Princess Flare, Kayaru is also tormented and exploited by Flare, Blade, Bullet, and the entire imperial army.
The methods of torture depicted are among the most brutal anime scenes ever created. The uncensored version of the anime is extremely unsettling and is not recommended for viewers who are sensitive to graphic content.
Street Kill- Psycho-Pass
Set in a futuristic world ruled by a biomechatronic computer system called “Sibyl,”Psycho-Pass is widely regarded as one of the top sci-fi thriller anime in the industry.
The “crime coefficient”(Psycho-Pass) is used to monitor individuals in order to control crime rates. If a person’s “psycho pass”hue becomes clouded, it is an indication that they are either committing a crime or in a vulnerable state. In such cases, the person is initially restricted by Sibyl monitors and subsequently apprehended by MWPSB.
In the “street kill”scene, Makishima Shogo viciously attacks a woman in the midst of a busy street. However, despite his violent actions, his hue remains stable and neither the Sibyl system nor the surrounding individuals attempt to intervene. Instead, the woman is taken into custody by Sibyl’s monitors.
Nina’s Transformation in Fullmetal Alchemist
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, a renowned masterpiece, features some of the most intense and violent scenes in anime. The story follows the journey of Edward and Alphonse as they strive to find the philosopher’s stone in order to regain their physical forms.
Upon successfully qualifying for the state alchemist exam, Edward and his companions take up residence at Shou Tucker’s house in order to further their studies in bio-alchemy.
The atmosphere becomes disturbing as Edward comes to the realization that Shou has transformed Nina, a 4-year-old girl, into a chimera capable of speech. The moment is portrayed as one of complete vulnerability when Scar murders both Shou and Nina for their involvement with alchemy.
Ume’s Murder – Demon Slayer
In Demon Slayer, the storyline revolves around a fierce battle between the “demon slayer corps”and demons. In the “Entertainment District Arc”, Tanjiro, Tengen, and their allies engage in a deadly fight against the upper moon six siblings, Daki and Gyutaro.
Despite their heinous actions that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of people, these two siblings surprised the audience with their backstory. Unlike the majority of bloodthirsty demons such as Doma, Daki and Gyutaro didn’t seek power and immortality when they became demons. Rather, their transformation was driven by a desire for justice and revenge for themselves.
Daki, also known as Ume, was a stunning young woman undergoing training to become an “Oiran”. One fateful evening, while Gyutaro was away on business, a disgruntled customer and the brothel owner cruelly bound, tortured, and set her ablaze. The sheer brutality of this event, coupled with Gyutaro’s anguished cries as he held Ume’s charred remains, undoubtedly lingered in the minds of viewers for days.
Setsuko’s Death in Grave of the Fireflies
The Pacific War is the setting for the 1967 Studio Ghibli masterpiece Grave of the Fireflies, widely considered one of the greatest war films of all time. The film follows the journey of two war orphans, Seita and Setsuko, as they struggle to survive during the final months of the war.
The film accurately portrays the social reality of World War II and evokes strong emotions. Shortly after Seita and Setsuko were forced to depart from their aunt’s home, Setsuko fell ill as a result of malnutrition and exhaustion.
Seita drained his mother’s account to purchase food for Setsuko, but sadly, she was already on the brink of death. It was heart-wrenching to witness Setsuko, in a frenzied state, consuming stones before her passing, causing many viewers to be unable to watch the film again after their initial viewing.
7) The Uchiha Clan Tragedy in Naruto
Committing murder is a horrific act, but being coerced and manipulated into killing one’s own parents in order to protect their brother holds a deep sense of sorrow that can devastate anyone’s emotions. The tragic event known as the “Uchiha Clan Massacre,”carried out by the gifted Itachi Uchiha, is a prime example of this.
Danjo exploited Itachi’s sense of patriotism, indoctrinated him to carry out the massacre of his clan, and transformed him into a despicable fugitive. The severity of this event is underscored by its devastating aftermath.
Despite the numerous heart-wrenching moments in Naruto, the entrenched sorrow and political scheming involved in this massacre are overwhelming for a young mind to comprehend.
Eri’s Experience in My Hero Academia
Chisaki Kai was a well-known villain in the world of My Hero Academia. He not only led a gang known as the Shie Hassaikai, but also caused chaos in the black market by selling “Quirk-destroying drugs”.
Chisaki kept Eri, the granddaughter of Shie Hassaikai’s leader, confined in a cage and conducted experiments on her in order to develop the Quirk-destroying drug. He repeatedly harmed Eri’s hands and legs to produce a never-ending source of the drug, as it was derived from her blood.
The prolonged torture inflicted on the heroes in anime traumatized both them and the audience with its brutality.
9) Killing of a Puppy in Elfen Lied
Similar to Parasyte, Elfen Lied is a short sci-fi series that follows the story of “Lucy,”a “Diclonius”seeking revenge. The anime also explores the concept of “violence”as a primal instinct within humans.
During her time at the orphanage as a child, Lucy experienced feelings of isolation and was constantly ridiculed by other children due to her unique appearance. In a traumatic event, some of her peers cruelly took and ended the life of her beloved puppy, causing Lucy to react in a state of hysteria and ultimately resulting in the deaths of four of the children.
Despite the prevalence of violent murders throughout the anime, this particular scene is widely considered to be one of the most brutal in the entire series.
10) Kaneki’s Interrogation by Aogiri – Tokyo Ghoul
The 2014 Tokyo Ghoul is a remarkable action anime with a plot that makes viewers contemplate. It depicts the journey of Kaneki Ken, who becomes a half-ghoul after a surgery.
Kaneki was taken captive by the “Aogiri Tree”and subjected to brutal torture by Jason. His nails were plucked and his toes were broken repeatedly, each time he regenerated. The torture methods, including forcing a centipede through his ears and gouging out his eye, were all depicted on screen.
In this scene, the combination of Jason’s physical torture and Kaneki’s psychological torment creates an overwhelmingly horrific atmosphere. The scene culminates with Ken fully transforming into a ghoul.
Although on-screen violence can be disturbing, it is utilized in anime to depict the harsh reality of violent crimes in our society. Despite this, intense scenes in anime can have a powerful effect on viewers.
Hence, it is important for the audience to break away from the misconception that anime is solely intended for children and carefully monitor the content that a child is exposed to. This applies not only to children but also to adult viewers, as they should be mindful of their tolerance for violence before watching scenes like the “parade of deathbodies”in Devilman Crybaby.
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