In anime, there are numerous instances of mass slaughters that would give the audience a sense of dread. The use of genocide as a trope in anime plots with themes of political struggles, anti-colonialism, ethnic cleansing, and wars serves to heighten the dark and unsettling nature of the storyline.
Whether it is a rampage carried out by a merciless murderer or an attack by a conquering army, genocides depicted in anime are both terrifying and all-encompassing. Yet, these mass killings serve a crucial purpose in portraying the complex and conflicting nature of humanity. They bring a level of authenticity to narratives that tackle sensitive subjects like “ethnic cleansing”in Black Clover or the “expression of inherent violence”in Elfen Lied.
Please note: This article includes descriptions of widespread violence and represents the author’s perspective.
List of 13 Mass Slaughters in Anime
Deadman Wonderland: Classroom Massacre
Despite not being the deadliest, the “classroom massacre” depicted in Deadman Wonderland is undeniably one of the most gruesome and horrifying mass killings in anime. What makes this scene truly terrifying is not the number of deaths, but rather the brutal and merciless way in which it was carried out.
The story begins with a typical, happy day in the life of the main character, Ganta. However, it quickly takes a dark turn as a scene of mass slaughter unfolds. Ganta is later accused of committing these murders by the notorious Red Hand.
Elfen Lied: Lucy’s Awakening
Elfen Lied is an anime that delves into themes of prejudice, isolation, mistreatment, and vengeance, while also challenging viewers to contemplate the concept of “humanity.”This brief series follows the journey of a “diclonius”named “Lucy”as she seeks retribution.
After enduring regular torture while being confined in an inventory, Lucy finally managed to escape. Seeking revenge, she went on a killing spree, targeting everyone in the inventory as well as the army that had been trying to capture her.
Blood C: Killing Bunny Rampage
The creator’s intention of using “C”as a homophone of “See”in the series Blood-C was not meant to be humorous, as the show is filled with brutal genocides. Fumito’s final “Elder Bairn”release is named “Bunny.”
The multiplying Bunnies terrorize a small town, leaving a trail of destruction and death in their wake. Their merciless slaughter of innocent civilians is considered one of the most horrific events in anime.
10) The Kurta Clan Massacre in Hunter x Hunter
Many anime, such as Attack on Titan and Joran, use the concept of “ethnic cleansing”to symbolize real-world political conflicts. One example of this is seen in the anime world through the devastating “Kurta clan massacre.”
In the anime Hunter x Hunter, the notorious criminal group known as the “Phantom Troupe”committed a brutal massacre of the Kurta clan in order to obtain their rare “scarlet eyes.”They brutally removed the eyes of pure-blooded clan members and subjected the married women to torture and abuse. The innocent children were also brutally slaughtered in front of their parents, as it was believed that the trauma would awaken the power of the “scarlet eyes.”This massacre, known as the “Massacre of the Kurta Clan,”is considered one of the most horrifying acts of mass murder in the anime world.
Berserk: Guts vs 100 Soldiers
Although the audience anticipated Griffith sacrificing the “band of Hawks”for his own benefit, they could not have predicted Guts transforming into a ruthless “Killing Machine”until they witnessed him brutally killing 100 soldiers in order to save Casca.
During the “Golden Age Arc”, while rescuing Casca from the “Blue Whale”armies, Guts found himself vastly outnumbered and surrounded by the enemy. The intense artwork and Guts’ unyielding demeanor only heighten the brutality of this moment as he mercilessly cuts down the soldiers around him. This scene from Berserk is a harrowing depiction of mass slaughter in anime.
One Piece- Destruction of Lulusia
The dismantling of the Lulusia kingdom in One Piece is depicted as one of the most despicable instances of political rebellion in anime. Lulusia, a small island, becomes a central location for a rebellion against the corrupt “World Government”.
Imu, the enigmatic leader of the World Government, commanded the annihilation of the Lulusia Kingdom, sparing no survivors. This heinous act is considered one of the most gruesome mass killings in anime.
Code Geass: Euphemia’s Declaration of Genocide on the Japanese
Code Geass, like Joran, is a highly ambitious anime that was created ahead of its time. It is a post-world-war alternate history story, where Lelouch VI Britannia becomes part of the rebellious group in Japan, determined to overthrow the Colonialist government’s rule.
During a confrontation with his sister, British princess Euphemia, he unintentionally activates his “Geass”ability and commands her to eliminate all of the Japanese individuals present at the ceremony.
The intensity of the scene was heightened by the fact that both Lelouch and Euphi were opposed to the massacre taking place. This portrayal of the massacre demonstrates the complete helplessness of not only the victims, but also the perpetrators.
6) Black Clover: Cleansing the Elves
Despite being considered a softer anime in comparison to Code Geass or Elfen Lied, Black Clover still has its fair share of intense and violent scenes. One of the most disturbing and brutal moments in the anime world is “The Massacre of the Elf Clan”in Black Clover.
Despite their peaceful nature, the elves lived separately from humans in the Forsaken Realm and were often feared and ostracized due to their powerful magic. Zagred used this fear to manipulate the human king into ordering the slaughter of the entire elf clan on the day of Licht and Tetia’s wedding.
This act of “ethnic cleansing”is a prime example of the most horrific mass slaughters in anime, ranking among the top 10 incidents.
Inuyashiki: Shinjuku Incident
Inuyashiki: Last Hero is a supernatural fantasy anime that explores the boundaries of morality. The series centers around Inuyashiki and Shishigami, both of whom gained extraordinary abilities after being affected by an extraterrestrial blast.
With his abilities, Shishigami unleashes a rampage, killing not only his classmates but also innocent civilians in Shinjuku. This event serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of giving immense power to an immature individual, similar to Light in Death Note. The brutality of this massacre places the “Shinjuku incident”among the top 5 most horrifying mass killings in anime.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood – Destruction of Xerxes Civilization
Despite the numerous dreadful scenes in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, ranging from the death of Edward and Elrich’s mother to Nina’s murder, the most horrific mass slaughter in this anime is the destruction of Xerxes civilization by the “Father.”
The destruction of Xerxes occurred 400 years prior to the beginning of the anime. “Homunculus”, created by alchemist Von Hohenheim, convinced the aging king to sacrifice the entire Xerxes civilization in exchange for a human body and the ability to become a “living philosopher’s stone.”
In Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, the Homunculus known as “Father”was responsible for the gruesome sacrifice of approximately 10,73000 Xerxes civilians, earning infamy for his actions.
The End of Evangelion: Third Impact
The End of Evangelion, a film released in 1997, serves as a continuation of the popular 1995 anime series Neon Genesis: Evangelion. This series is widely regarded as one of the most intricate and ambitious anime of all time, exploring various theological and philosophical concepts in its portrayal of human existence.
The storyline revolves around SEELE and Gendo Ikari’s joint experiment to combine the consciousness of all human beings into one unified consciousness.
Despite not showing a bloodbath, The End of Evangelion still manages to depict a harrowing mass slaughter through its intriguing surreal imagery and existential exploration of identity. It remains one of the most horrific events depicted in anime.
2) Attack on Titan: The Rumbling
In Hajime Isayama’s Attack on Titan, the society is a “Hobbesian Jungle”where the strongest instinct is self-preservation. The story takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where a leader known as an isolationist autocrat governs over the “Eldians”.
The anime delves into a wide range of themes, including political turmoil and the philosophical concept of existence, while also serving as an allegory for significant historical events across the globe. The plot also depicts some of the most horrific massacres in the anime universe.
The plot alludes to multiple motivations behind Eren’s terrible choice.
Deviman Crybaby: Ryo’s Destruction of Humanity
The anime series Devilman Crybaby has received widespread critical acclaim and is considered to be one of the best anime of all time. With a total of 10 episodes, the series delves into themes of prejudice, isolation, and self-discovery. It also incorporates thought-provoking theological and philosophical concepts, ultimately aiming to address the age-old question: “What is the true essence of humanity?”(Miko Kuroda)
Ultimately in Devilman Crybaby, Ryo incites a worldwide frenzy of paranoia, causing people to turn on each other and inciting a mass genocide. This devastating event, fueled by alienation and bigotry, is arguably the most brutal of all the horrific mass slaughters depicted in anime.
The conclusion is harrowing not just due to Ryo’s ultimate eradication of nearly all of humanity, but also because his use of manipulation to carry out this global genocide is deemed the most atrocious of all mass slaughters depicted in anime.
Final Thoughts
Based on Hobbes’ beliefs, humanity’s inherent nature is one of violence, which is often reflected in anime as a representation of the chaotic state of our world. This is evident in numerous anime series such as Attack on Titan, Psycho Pass, Devilman Crybaby, Parasyte, where humans resort to violence as their only means of defense when faced with danger.
This compilation features 13 instances of the most gruesome massacres in anime, intended to analyze the use of “violence”as a tool for conveying deeper themes on screen. The graphic depiction of mass killings in anime can be distressing for some viewers, making this list a valuable resource for those who are sensitive to such scenes.
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