What that says about our current society, I’m not sure. But I definitely remember a few outcasts that were basically the opposite of “attractive”. I’m talking vile, hideous, and just plain creepy. Definitely a few that have haunted my dreams after seeing them. So for this ranking we’ll check out some of the more terrifying and unsettling anime villains that make our skin crawl.
20. The Titans
Anime: Attack on Titan We’re going to start with a rather general entry, as I honestly couldn’t pick a single Titan. With Titans coming in all shapes and sizes, at least one is bound to give you nightmares. Be it how Ymir’s Titan has the most terrifying eyes with an unpleasant body-to-head ratio, or how the Colossal Titan is literally a giant hunk of flesh and steam that can destroy your entire city. There’s plenty to choose from. And don’t even get me started on the Abnormal Titans who can run at you like there’s no tomorrow, or on Eren’s entire existence during the final season.
19. Zagred
Anime: Black Clover Demons (and demon lords) in modern anime are all either hot and edgy boys, or lollis. Zagred, however, took quite the different approach, and looks like death itself. Being that he constantly looks like he’s on fire, and that he has horns coming out of his head, and that he can summon swords out of thin air to give you the Caesar treatment… he really does fit the Biblical description of a devil. That face just makes me feel uneasy.
18. Seryuu Ubiquitous
Anime: Akame ga Kill! Seryuu can kill you through cheer shock factor. This is because when she’s calm, she is anything but unnerving. Just a kind girl walking her little pup! But if she gets at all flustered, you might need a change of pants. Whether it’s because she’ll start tearing her limbs off to brandish her weapon, or the fact that her cute pup will become a giant, blood-thirsty monster. Either way, all of her initial charm goes away in the blink of an eye.
17. Deishuu Kaiki
Anime: Monogatari Series This dude just gives me the heebie jeebies. There’s nothing supernatural about him. He’s just an ordinary guy, and yet everything about him makes me feel like running away. His demeanor is always so calm that it feels like he doesn’t fear anything in this world. And his eyes just look menacing. He’s so scary-looking that he can give you serious health issues through a placebo! I would honestly rather take my chances with Zagred.
16. Claire Stanfield
Anime: Baccano! This man goes by many names. But for the purposes of this list I want to focus on one of them in particular – Rail Tracer. Imagine this: you’re in a train trying to enjoy your lunch when all of a sudden you feel someone watching you. You turn towards the window and see a man covered in blood, hanging to the side of the train as he pulls people out of a moving train. I think it’s a safe bet that you would be terrified. The fact that he’s also extremely delusional and under the belief that the entire world is just his dream doesn’t help his case in the slightest.
15. Dabi
Anime: My Hero Academia I already know what you’re going to say, “oh but he’s so hot”. But hear me out. Really try to imagine this dude being in your world. A psychopathic dude who keeps murdering people, and whose face is so terribly burnt that there’s almost no skin left, with only piercings seemingly keeping his face held together. If you can honestly tell me that you wouldn’t be terrified of this guy, then you’re a braver person than I will ever be.
14. Ryuk
Anime: Death Note Ryuk is just straight-up a sleep paralysis demon. I’m almost relieved that seeing him means you’re probably going to die soon, as I would not want to be kept alive knowing that he’s roaming the streets. Not only is he huge, but he can also float around and go through walls. And what about those soulless eyes looking straight through you soul? Plus, he’ll steal all your apples, so the doctors are definitely coming.
13. Hand Demon
Anime: Demon Slayer All of the demons in this show are terrifying, with characters like Michael Jackson being on the low end, and this monster being on the high end. I mean, just look at this thing! It’s huge, bulky, covered in who knows how many arms… plus it constantly looks like it’s trying to strangle itself too. And on top of all that, it also looks pleased to see you. Nope, that’s a huge nope from me. I’m getting out of this stupid forest.
12. Orochimaru
Anime: Naruto Orochimaru’s introduction actually cost me sleep when I was a kid. His demeanor is just beyond unsettling, as he really likes getting into people’s faces and licking things. The fact that his neck can also extend in the blink of an eye (allowing him to bite you from a distance) is just extra horror fuel. And when Sasuke actually tagged him, and his face started burning to show an even more sinister face underneath, I was just petrified.
11. Entoma Vasilissa Zeta
Anime: Overlord This character just made me feel betrayed. No, that’s not a cute little maid who just happens to never blink or move her mouth. It’s actually a collection of sentient bugs that want to murder you. How could I trust anyone ever again after discovering that? Just imagine finding out that someone’s face was simply the hard shell of an insect! Oh god, I’m getting all queasy again. And not only will your eyes be scarred forever, but she’s also likely going to murder you. The ol’ double whammy.
10. Carnage Kabuto
Anime: One Punch Man Where do I even begin with this man? First off, he’s just huge. And has way too much muscle to even resemble a human. And second, he just looks like a cockroach. Let’s be honest here: a normal cockroach can have you screaming for your mama. Now imagine one that looks like the poster boy for steroids, and can also power up to look even more dangerous. There isn’t enough bug-spray in this world that would keep me in his vicinity for longer than two seconds.
9. Millennium Earl
Anime: D.Gray-man Never have my stranger danger instincts acted up as much as when I saw this dude. I just know that he’s going to either sell me pills, abduct me, or kick my teeth in for some laughs. You never trust a dude in a top hat and trench coat. And you especially don’t trust a person who’s constantly smiling like their life depends on it. So this demonic Merry Poppins can go straight to hell. I’m running away and never looking back.
8. Kaonashi
Anime: Spirited Away No Face just sincerely creeps me out. Even as an adult I find it to be way too creepy, as I could totally imagine actual spirits looking like that. And I honestly don’t know when it was worse: when it was just a silent observer that happened to be everywhere, or when it had its entire tirade and nearly consumed everything in its path. Okay, the latter was definitely more terrifying. But even when it’s quiet, it just comes off as way too eerie for my liking.
7. Sister Krone
Anime: The Promised Neverland Even though this show had literal demons as antagonists, Sister Krone still haunted my dreams the longest. She was so intense about everything that she did. I could never relax around her. Isabella was terrifying in her own way. But she at least played nice when nothing was happening, while Krone looked like she was prepared to blow the entire house up. Plus, her routine of talking to that creepy doll of hers just cemented her as the true fear factor of the show.
6. Yoshikage Kira
Anime: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable Even if you knew nothing about this man, I think you would still be on edge around him, as he has literally never looked calm or happy. He constantly looks like he’s scheming something. And his mysterious past would only add to that. And then one day you learn that he’s carrying a severed hand around, and you know that he’s probably behind you – and that it’s too late. Even if he didn’t have the power to literally blow you up, I would still fear this man based on his vibe alone.
5. The Parasites
Anime: Parasyte -the maxim- This is another vague one, but it couldn’t be helped. They all terrify me equally. Imagine talking to a dude and thinking that he’s the one only to have his hand transform into a creepy mutant that can speak by itself… and can also kill you. I love Migi, but if he ever appeared on my body, that body part would be chopped off. There’s just something so fundamentally creepy about the entire prospect that I couldn’t help but include it on this list.
4. Hisoka Morow
Anime: Hunter x Hunter (2011) I feel like this is another pick that people are going to fight me on. But I just need you to really think about it. Hisoka is a full-on clown that likes to butcher people for fun, and is into kids for some reason. Say it once more, slowly, and really think about whether or not he would scare the ever-loving hell out of you. If you’re still not swayed, just remember the face he made in the forest when he decided that it was time to murder some innocent soul.
3. Petelgeuse Romanée-Conti
Anime: Re: Zero Insane people are to be feared, since you never know what they’re going to do next. And if said crazy person is wearing religious attire, clawing at their eyes and eating their fingers, all the meanwhile screaming something about love… you either pull out your shotgun, or sprint in the opposite direction as quickly as possible. It also doesn’t help that from your perspective, it looks like he can mangle corpses in front of your very eyes just by using his mind. Pure horror fuel.
2. Mahito
Anime: Jujutsu Kaisen Mahito just looks like Frankenstein’s more successful project that might also be on TikTok. In all seriousness, he looks like a walking corpse that was stitched together days beforehand. His demeanor isn’t much better, either. He seems very casual about murder, and has one of the most cursed laughs I have heard in my life. I’ll admit that he might not be as terrifying as some of the literal monsters on this list. But I found him to be among the creepiest, as he seems like a human, and yet he’s ever so slightly off the mark.
1. Tomura Shigaraki
Anime: My Hero Academia I feel like this should go without saying but, but if someone has severed human hands all over their body and on their face, they’re beyond insane. Even when this guy isn’t sporting his questionable attire, he’s just off-putting. Maybe it’s because he looks like he smells: like death. Or maybe it’s because his smile just makes me fear for my life. But even when he’s not trying to put on a show, Tomura is positively creepy.
