What are the staple motivator and driving force that gives rise to the hellish flame of hatred inside a person’s heart? The act of vengeance or revenge would be the right answer for it and there is no doubt that this element alone is the root cause of some of the most entertaining and breathtaking stories. No matter what the era was, revenge anime has always been a part of the industry.

When we talk about anime there are several aspects to discuss; fights, animation sequences, direction, screenplay, and many more. But, what provides the best viewing experience is the thrilling stories of vengeance. This may not be the most popular genre of Japanese animation, but all of these anime with revenge themes have spawned multiple memorable characters and backstories.

And, in today’s article, we’ll take a look at some of the best revenge anime about betrayal and vengeance that pushed the characters to extreme measures. So, without any further ado let’s get started.

15. Blade Of The Immortal

Blade of the Immortal is set in Japan during the mid-Tokugawa Shogunate period and follows the cursed samurai Manji who has to kill 1000 evil men in order to regain his mortality. On this journey, he comes across a young girl named Rin who seeks her own vengeance against a sword school that killed her entire family, making them a family of outcasts.

A girl driven by revenge with a long list of enemies, and a man who needs a varying number of evil men to kill in order to finally die; with this partnership set in stone, the two embark on a perilous journey of bloodshed, vengeance, and redemption, each to fulfill their own life’s cause.

14. Seraph Of The End

Seraph of the End is a post-apocalyptic-themed dark fantasy anime with revenge story produced by WIT Studio. The series is written by Takaya Kagami and is set in a world that allegedly comes to an end at the hands of a “human-made” virus, ravaging the global populace and leaving only children under the age of thirteen untouched.

It is at this time that vampires emerge from the recesses of the earth, likely followed by age-old horrors of the dark thought only to be a myth. A young man named Yūichirō Hyakuya joins a vampire extermination unit to avenge the deaths of his orphaned family and reclaim his childhood best friend Mikaela from the vampires.

13. Gungrave

Gungrave tells the tale of betrayal and the all-consuming need for revenge, but with an organized crime bend to it. The series opens thirteen years after Brandon Heat is betrayed and killed by his best friend Harry MacDowell. He is reborn through the use of necrolyzation as Beyond The Grave and begins a quest for revenge against the crime syndicate.

The anime then backtracks to Brandon’s youth and follows him and Harry as they grow up on the streets together and rise through the criminal underworld, detailing the circumstances that led to their eventual falling out. Gungrave is certainly a must-watch anime with revenge story for enthusiastic fans out there.

12. Claymore

The number of good anime with a female cast is pretty low and the count drops significantly when it comes to shows with a female lead however, Claymore breaks this stereotype by featuring an amazing female protagonist like Clare. Her journey is pretty inspiring as she starts at the very bottom and is considered a failure, but gets stronger throughout her life.

Claymore is a series about one woman’s journey for revenge. The story is set in a world where monsters known as Yoma can blend among the human society by taking human appearance and feeding on them. However, there exists Claymores who are meant to stop demons. Even though it’s the women dominating in most of the series, the interesting dynamic between both genders is a treat to watch.

11. Redo Of Healer

Redo of Healer is a mix of revenge anime combined with hentai. The story revolves around Keyaru, a kind, and gentle boy, who gets excited after discovering that he is one of the Heroes who would save the world. However, as he didn’t belong to the kingdom, Keyaru is treated like an animal by Flare the Magic Hero. He is imprisoned, drugged, tortured, and raped by several people.

After years of torture at the hands of his “allies”, he manages to break free from the shackles and get the Philosopher’s Stone. He then uses the item to go back four years in time to exact revenge against the people who tortured him. Thus begins the vengeance of Keyaru which brings forth a heavy amount of vulgarity and nudity in the series.

10. Rurouni Kenshin

During the violent era known as the Bakumatsu, there was an Ishin assassin known only as the Hitokiri Battousai, whose skill and brutality became near legendary in the age of Restoration he helped to build. However, as the time of fighting drew to a close, he vanished without a trace, only to resurface eleven years later as a wandering swordsman, Himura Kenshin.

Now staying at a kenjutsu dojo maintained by a fiery-tempered woman named Kamiya Kaoru, and surrounded by newfound friends, Himura seeks to carry out his vow to protect the weak without killing in order to atone for the lives he’s taken. It’s not long, though, before this vow is put to the test, and the shadows of his past return to haunt him and everyone he holds dear.

9. Black Butler

Dark shonen manga, Black Butler is one of the most popular revenge anime by a female mangaka. The clean and classy character designs of the series make the art appealing to the audience. Furthermore, the anime adaptation of the manga is also very well-received by the viewers, especially the female geeks.

The series follows a 12-year-old orphan boy, Ciel Phantomhive who sets on a journey, with Demonic butler Sebastian, to find the real culprits behind his parent’s death. Black Butler anime has all sorts of things to entertain its fans however, it doesn’t put much effort into following the manga, which many fans can find frustrating.

8. Rising Of The Shield Hero

When Naofumi was summoned to a parallel world, he was designated to serve as one of the Four Legendary Heroes, the Shield Hero. No one seemed to take his side on his arrival except the princess of the kingdom, Malty S Melromarc. But, soon, she showed her true colors and betrayed Naofumi by lying about him sexually assaulting her.

After this incident, he was disrespected very badly and everyone begin to hate Naofumi. With a raging storm of agony and mistrust in his heart, Naofumi started his journey to become strong and prove himself innocent. Rising of the Shield Hero is one of its kind and a must-watch anime with revenge story.

7. Dororo

Dororo is set in the Sengoku period of Japan and tells the story of a Rōnin, Hyakkimaru, and a child thief, Dororo. After seeing his kingdom in turmoil, Daigo the ruler makes a deal with 12 demons to prosper his land once again in return for his newborn child. The deal turns out to be very horrendous for the kid as the demons devour all his body parts including the limbs, eyes, and ears.

Somehow, this child survives and is later known as Hyakkimaru. Being accompanied by Dororo, he sets on a mission to take all his body parts back from the demons and turn normal as he was once. The dark theme and smooth visuals of fast-paced fighting scenes make Dororo a perfect revenge anime to watch.

6. 91 Days

The phrase “Revenge is a dish best served cold” fits exactly right with the whole narrative of 91 Days. The story is set in the fictional form of America during the last years of Prohibition in 1932 when there was no law and the Mafias and illegal gangs used to rule the place. It was a dark time when a single death could result in an all-out blood spree and revenge gave birth to new revenge ideals.

91 Days tells the story of a young man named Angelo Lagusa who is hell-bent on taking his revenge after his family is murdered in a Mafia dispute. However, in this dramatic 91-day story, revenge breeds revenge, and killing may yield drastic consequences. And, where the anime will go, no one knows! So make sure to check out this exciting revenge anime.

5. Castlevania

Castlevania is an American anime-influenced dark fantasy action television series by Netflix. The anime is set in a world of vampires, vampire hunters, and magicians. When Count Dracula desires revenge for his dead wife and wreaks havoc, such forces come together to restore balance. What follows is a constant series of violent adventures.

The anime is based on the video game series of the same name by Konami, the first two seasons follow Trevor Belmont, Alucard, and Sypha Belnades as they defend the nation of Wallachia from Dracula and his minions. The rest of the seasons uses characters and plotlines from Castlevania spin-off games like Curse of Darkness. Click here to know anime based on video games.

4. Berserk

Berserk is renowned for being one of the darkest and most despair-inducing stories ever told. The core of Berserk’s story is about surviving death and taking revenge on those who did wrong. The series follows a mercenary named Guts whose entire life is a parade of endless horror. He is branded for death and is fated to be chased down by demons till he meets his death.

Whether it’s the cruelties he suffers at the hands of his adoptive father, the massive betrayal of his former friend Griffith, or the endless series of monsters that are attracted to his brand of sacrifice, nothing is ever easy for Guts. This show’s poignant characterization besides its story and world-building is good enough to keep you coming back.

3. Code Geass

Code Geass is a story of war among three superpowers: the Holy Britannian Empire, the Chinese Federation, and the European Union. In this classic event of political and moral turmoil, Holy Brittanian Empire acts as a villainous force burning the candle at both ends. Lelouch Lamperouge, the exiled prince of Britannia, swore to take revenge on Britannia for destroying his homeland and causing the death of his mother.

After inheriting the power of complete disobedience through his supernatural ability called “Geass”, Lelouch creates a superhero alter-ego to bring down Britannia once and for all. Using high-powered mechs, his mind-controlling Geass power, and his own intelligence, Lelouch does whatever it takes to overcome his opposition.

2. Vinland Saga

Vinland Saga might be your next best revenge anime as the entire plotline revolves around the theme of vengeance and betrayal. Formerly produced by Studio WIT, the series has all it takes to be called the greatest venture story ever told. Well-written characters, background score, gore scenes, breathtaking animation, and several other elements make it an engaging story.

Vinland Saga combines a dramatization of King Cnut the Great’s historical rise to power with a revenge plot centered on the historical explorer Thorfinn, the son of a murdered ex-warrior who serves under a group of mercenaries responsible for the deed. The story progresses through several story arcs beyond this, eventually culminating in an expedition to “Vinland”.

1. Attack On Titan

Ending this article with the final listing and that is, Attack on Titan. Although Attack on Titan is entirely not based on the theme of vengeance still it has a fair share of plot points making it a neat revenge anime. Simply put, the driving force of the major characters in the series shifts often to a parallel side which is basically about taking revenge, for example, Eren’s vow to destroy Marley.

The series is set in a post-apocalyptic time when humanity has been forced to live behind a series of protective walls to protect themselves from the mindless humanoid predators called Titans. The series tackles political and psychological themes exceptionally. Much of the beginning of the series is about a driven need for revenge, but that becomes more muddied as the series goes on.

Which one of the following revenge anime is your favorite? Feel free to comment down your thoughts and make sure to recommend some other anime like the ones listed above, also don’t forget to share this article with your fellow otaku friends.

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