Betrayal in anime is often seen as unforgivable by fans. However, sometimes, these betrayals are understandable, while other times, they are used to add excitement to a dull story.
Betrayals in anime often happen in dramatic and unexpected ways, and the most memorable betrayals usually involve a hero becoming a villain or an innocent character revealing a dark side.
Here are the top 10 greatest betrayals in anime history, which have created a dramatic shift in the plot and left a lasting impact on both the characters and the audience.
Disclaimer: The following list in entirely based on the author’s perspective, and we understand that individual choices and preferences may vary.
10. Satsuki betrays Ragyo in ‘Kill la Kill’
Many betrayals in anime build up over time, such as in Kill La Kill when Satsuki betrays her mother, Ragyo.
For most of the anime, Satsuki Kiryuin serves as the president of the student council at Honnoji Academy. Later in the anime, it is revealed that Satsuki is Ragyo Kiryuin’s daughter.
Ragyo is the wife of the CEO of Revocs Corporation. Satsuki failed to fuse with Life Fibers as a child, so her mother sees her as a disappointment.
However, Ragyo is a terrible mother, so this betrayal satisfied many fans. She experimented on Satsuki with Life Fibers and abused her emotionally and physically for years.
Later, Satsuki discovers Ragyo’s evil plan to sacrifice the city to the Life Fibers. In a shocking twist, Satsuki publicly betrays her mother and stands against her, siding with her friends.
Kill la Kill
IMDb Animation Action ComedyA young girl arrives at a school of superhumans to find out the truth behind her father’s murder.
| Director | Kazuki Nakashima |
| Release Date | October 4, 2013 |
| Studio | Trigger |
| Cast | Ami Koshimizu, Aya Suzaki, Toshihiko Seki |
| Runtime | 25 minutes |
| Writers | Kazuki Nakashima |
| Rating | TV-MA |
9. An entire series based on betrayal ‘Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo’
The entire anime, The Count of Monte Cristo, revolves around manipulation, revenge, and betrayal. These themes drive the story, and there’s never a dull moment.
Edmond Dantes, a kind-hearted sailor, falls in love with a young woman named Mercedes. On their wedding day, his so-called friends frame him, and he is imprisoned on false charges.
While imprisoned, Edmond allows the demon Gankutsuou to possess him so he can seek revenge against those who wronged him.
The biggest betrayal occurs when Edmond is still in prison, and his beloved Mercedes marries one of the people who conspired against him. He loses everything he cares about because of these betrayals.
Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo
IMDb Animation Drama MysteryAlbert, bored with Parisian life, travels and meets the enigmatic Count of Monte Cristo. Unaware that his father wronged the Count, Albert invites him to Parisian high society, paving the way for the Count’s intricate revenge.
| Director | Mahiro Maeda |
| Release Date | October 5, 2004 |
| Studio | Gonzo |
| Cast | Jôji Nakata, Johnny Yong Bosch, Beau Billingslea |
| Runtime | 24 minutes |
| Writers | Shūichi Kōyama |
| Rating | TV-14 |
8. Anthy backstabs Utena ‘Revolutionary Girl Utena’
One of the most devastating betrayals is when it comes from a friend. In Revolutionary Girl Utena, a shocking twist occurs when Anthy, the only person Utena cares about, betrays her.
In the anime, Utena and Anthy become close friends after Utena wins Anthy, the Rose Bride, in the Ohtori Academy duels.
Anthy hides a secret about her relationship with her power-hungry brother Akio and her identity as a Witch. Later, Akio reveals this secret to Utena, but Utena, trusting Anthy blindly, refuses to believe it.
Despite discovering Akio and Anthy’s dark secrets, Utena continues to fight for her friend and duel Akio. But then, Anthy confirms the truth by stabbing Utena in the back.
Revolutionary Girl Utena
IMDb Animation Drama ComedyA tomboyish schoolgirl finds herself forced into repeated duels for another girl who has a role in a world revolution.
| Director | Yôji Enokido, Shin’ya Hasegawa, Kunihiko Ikuhara |
| Release Date | April 2, 1997 |
| Studio | J.C.Staff |
| Cast | Tomoko Kawakami, Yuriko Fuchizaki, Rachael Lillis |
| Runtime | 24 minutes |
| Writers | Yōji Enokido |
| Rating | TV-14 |
7. Archer betrays his younger self ‘Fate/Stay Night’
Characters from alternate timelines often try to change history, and Archer from Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works is no exception. His methods and motivations are particularly complex.
Archer betrays his master and teams up with Caster, believing she has a better chance of winning the Holy Grail War. However he then killed her, but that isn’t the most shocking part.
He aims to kill his younger self, Shirou. This twist reveals that Archer is a Counter Guardian who made a pact to travel back in time to prevent himself from making what he now sees as mistakes.
This creates one of the most complicated betrayal storylines in anime history. Although Archer fails to eliminate his younger self, it remains a memorable moment in the story.
Fate/Stay Night
IMDb Animation Action AdventureAmateur mage Shirou Emiya gets involved in a fight between mages using mythological heroes.
| Director | Seiji Kishi |
| Release Date | December 31, 2011 |
| Studio | Lerche |
| Cast | Noriaki Sugiyama, Kate Higgins, Kari Wahlgren |
| Runtime | 23 minutes |
| Writers | Makoto Uezu |
| Rating | TV-14 |
6. Griffith sacrifices the Band of the Hawk in ‘Berserk’
Griffith’s journey in Berserk is defined by betrayal, sacrificing even those who trusted him to pursue his ambitious dreams.
He leads the Band of the Hawk, a mercenary group hired by the king to win crucial battles in the Hundred Year War. Their success ends abruptly when Griffith’s affair with the princess leads to his imprisonment and torture.
The Band of the Hawk suffers but eventually regroups to rescue their leader. However, when they find Griffith, he is a mere shadow of himself. To their horror, Griffith uses a mystical artifact called the Crimson Beherit to betray them.
Instead of being grateful for the rescue, he sacrifices the Band of the Hawk to become the God Hand, Femto. This shocking act forever alters their fates and turns Griffith into a tragic figure in the story of Berserk.
Berserk
IMDb Animation Action AdventureGuts, a wandering mercenary, joins the Band of the Hawk after being defeated in a duel by Griffith, the group’s leader and founder. Together, they dominate every battle, but something menacing lurks in the shadows.
| Director | Kentaro Miura |
| Release Date | October 8, 1997 |
| Studio | OLM Team Iguchi |
| Cast | Marc Diraison, Nobutoshi Canna, Carrie Keranen |
| Runtime | 23 minutes |
| Writers | Kentaro Miura, Kouji Mori |
| Rating | TV-MA |
5. Walter’s transformation & loyalty to the Millennium ‘Hellsing’
Jealousy and a desire to surpass someone can lead to shocking betrayals in anime. Likewise, Walter’s betrayal in Hellsing is driven by his wish to surpass Alucard.
Walter is an elderly butler who works at Integra Hellsing. Despite his age, he could easily handle vampires. However, things change when the captain captures him.
The captain subjects Walter to a rejuvenation process, transforming him into a younger, stronger, and more advanced version of himself. When he returns to his friends, he reveals himself as Millennium’s new secret weapon, the Angel of Death.
Walter joins Millennium to gain the power needed to defeat Alucard but ultimately fails. His actions lead to Millennium’s destruction, including killing Doc to prevent more vampires from being created.
Hellsing
IMDb Animation Action FantasyThe vampire Alucard, his master Sir Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing, and his newly sired ward Seras Victoria try to protect England from a war-crazed SS-Major who seeks to start an eternal war with his vampire army.
| Director | Kohta Hirano |
| Release Date | October 11, 2001 |
| Studio | Gonzi |
| Cast | Katie Gray, Crispin Freeman, Victoria Harwood |
| Runtime | 50 minutes |
| Writers | Chiaki J. Konaka |
| Rating | – |
4. Aizen Betrays Soul Society In ‘Bleach’
When a trusted character betrays fans, it takes a long time to forget. Likewise, Aizen from Bleach was hardworking, polite, and had a knack for finding a solution for everything type of character.
Before, he was admired by many Shin’O Academy students and highly regarded by officials of the Soul Society. However, when he became a captain in the Soul Society military, his true evil nature emerged.
Then, out of the blue, he abandoned his position and shattered everyone’s trust. Further, in the series, he takes his betrayal to a new step, returning with the army of Arrancar to wage war against the Soul Society.
Bleach
IMDb Animation Action AdventureHigh school student Ichigo Kurosaki, who has the ability to see ghosts, gains soul reaper powers from Rukia Kuchiki and sets out to save the world from “Hollows.”
| Director | Tite Kubo |
| Release Date | October 5, 2004 |
| Studio | Pierrot |
| Cast | Johnny Yong Bosch, Michelle Ruff, Stephanie Sheh |
| Runtime | 24 minutes |
| Writers | Masashi Sogo, Tsuyoshi Kida |
| Rating | TV-14 |
3. Itachi slaughters the Uchiha Clan in ‘Naruto Shippuden’
Betrayal can sometimes make people feel sympathy, like in Naruto with Itachi’s actions against his clan. In Naruto, Konoha was created to bring peace between the Senju and Uchiha clans.
However, the Uchiha felt left out and wanted to overthrow the Senju-led leadership. Itachi, who was working secretly for both sides, had to choose between letting the Uchiha start a war or annihilating his entire clan to prevent a coup and protect Konoha.
Although he loved his community, Itachi decided to assassinate the entire Uchiha clan, sparing only his brother, Sasuke. He also had to abandon his village and brother, becoming a rogue ninja to join a criminal organization, Akatsuki.
Many fans understand that Itachi’s actions, although terrible, were driven by his duty to protect the village and his brother. This sad betrayal shows the sacrifices made for the greater good.
Naruto Shippuden
IMDb Animation Action AdventureNaruto Uzumaki, is a loud, hyperactive, adolescent ninja who constantly searches for approval and recognition, as well as to become Hokage, who is acknowledged as the leader and strongest of all ninja in the village.
| Director | Masashi Kishimoto |
| Release Date | February 15, 2007 |
| Studio | Pierrot |
| Cast | Alexandre Crepet, Junko Takeuchi, Maile Flanagan |
| Runtime | 24 minutes |
| Writers | Masashi Kishimoto |
| Rating | TV-PG |
2. Rachel Pushes Bam In ‘Tower of God’
In Tower of God, Rachel’s jealousy and ambition lead her to betray her unique friendship with Bam in a way that cuts deep. Bam and Rachel had always been best friends.
Moreover, Bam loved Rachel so much that he risked his life to climb the Tower of God to find her. The Tower was full of dangerous tests, but Bam was determined to see her again.
This makes Rachel’s betrayal particularly unforgivable. As they are about to reach the next stage of the Tower, Rachel, driven by jealousy over Bam’s unique abilities and a desire to advance herself, betrays him in a shocking way.
She pushes Bam off the Tower, leaving him to fall to his apparent death. For Bam, who risked everything for Rachel, not only did his trust shatter, but he also had to face the painful realization that someone he loved and trusted could commit such a cruel act.
Tower of God
IMDb Animation Action AdventureReach the top, and everything will be yours. At the top of the tower exists everything in this world, and all of it can be yours.
| Director | Takashi Sano |
| Release Date | April 1, 2020 |
| Studio | Telecom Animation Film |
| Cast | Taichi Ichikawa, Nobuhiko Okamoto, Kenta Miyake |
| Runtime | 23 minutes |
| Writers | Yoshida-san |
| Rating | TV-14 |
1. Bertholdt and Reiner reveal they are Titans in ‘Attack On Titan’
One of the early betrayals in Attack on Titan is a shocking twist. The series’ main protagonist, Eren, has endured immense suffering, from witnessing his mother’s death by a Titan to surviving numerous brutal battles.
He trusts his comrades, Reiner and Bertholdt, only to discover they are the Armored Titan and Colossal Titan. This revelation hits hard, as these two were responsible for the attack that killed his mother.
Despite their friendship, Reiner and Bertholdt ruthlessly follow their own agenda. Moreover, Reiner reveals their true identities during a battle, shocking both Eren and the fans.
This betrayal deeply affects Eren, as they ate together, fought together, and lived together, adding more complexity and pain to his journey.
Attack On Titan
IMDb Animation Action AdventureAfter his hometown is destroyed, young Eren Jaeger vows to cleanse the earth of the giant humanoid Titans that have brought humanity to the brink of extinction.
| Director | Tetsurō Araki, Masashi Koizuka |
| Release Date | April 7, 2013 |
| Studio | Wit Studio, MAPPA |
| Cast | Jessie James Grelle, Bryce Papenbrook, Trina Nishimura |
| Runtime | 24 minutes |
| Writers | Yasuko Kobayashi, Hiroshi Seko |
| Rating | TV-MA |
