Every story is not made equal; they are not all the product of a noble quest where the protagonist can have a “normal” life and a steady progression. Sometimes, life isn’t fair, and certain anime characters decide to do something about it, leading to them having their own revenge arc. This can either be one of the main characters (like Sasuke from Naruto or the titular Afro Samurai ) or even characters going to someone else to get revenge on their behalf (like in Hell Girl: Fourth Twilight ). From action-heavy titles like Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba to high school narratives like Masamune-kun’s Revenge , anime is no stranger to vengeance. In this list, we’ll dive into 10 revenge anime that have stuck with us. Good people turned bad, innocent heroes becoming overpowered antiheroes… let's discover the roots of these revenge quests! May I Ask for One Final Thing? RELATED: 10 Most Satisfying Breakup Reactions in Anime Scarlet’s revenge quest is a slow burn for her and quick opening excitement for us in the first episode of May I Ask for One Final Thing? . After having to accept being treated as less than nothing because of a royal engagement, staying silent for years for the sake of her father’s words, Scarlet was more than happy to finally unleash hell on those who wronged her. She truly enjoys punching everyone in their faces (something she enjoyed doing as a young girl to those she felt deserved it), now she can do it with an immense amount of strength. Something interesting in this quest is that Scarlet actually enacts her revenge pretty early, versus it taking the entirety of the series. This leads her to an even bigger story, as to outsiders, her actions actually feel noble because of how terrible her victims were. She went from being the “Mad Dog Nobleman” to the “Bloodstained Lady,” changing the story from a (not-so) small revenge quest into the overthrowing of an illegal practice looming in the shadows of the kingdom. And if Scarlet can punch people in the way, she will definitely do it with a big smile. Gachiakuta RELATED: Gachiakuta and the Importance of Anger It’s bad enough that Rudo, at the beginning of Gachiakuta , lives in a world that separates the excessively wealthy from the poor in a way that treats them like filth, but then he’s accused of murdering his own father figure and framed for something he didn’t do. Rudo’s story has him seeking revenge against his caretaker’s killer and seeking revenge against a society that throws away people just like it throws away their trash. Luckily, as he was literally tossed away from the Sphere, he didn’t die, and his feelings of hatred built at that moment became his sole motivation. It feels like Rudo survived his fall thanks to this burgeoning revenge quest. We can even see it in some of the later episodes as his rage unlocks a power he didn’t know he had. Even if he’s now a part of the Cleaners, his profound desire to reach the surface and seek revenge for his wrongful accusation sometimes takes over the actual mission at hand. Even if some of the answers he’s looking for are in the Pit, his mind is always somehow focused on the Celestial City. That said, it's clear that being around the Cleaners is giving Rudo something he's always needed, and hopefully, their support can continue to guide him forward. Berserk RELATED: Gachiakuta and the Tropes of Anime Vengeance Whether it’s the original manga series or one of the anime adaptations, Berserk is probably one of the best anime known for its revenge story. The very foundation of Berserk is built upon a monumental and relentless quest for revenge, namely Guts' continuous war against the Apostles and the God Hand. While his drive for vengeance is sparked by the horrific betrayal during the Eclipse, the true "quest" is to hunt down his former friend, Griffith, who sacrificed his entire mercenary band, the Band of the Hawk, to become the fifth member of the God Hand, Femto. This transformation makes Griffith the ultimate target — an entity Guts must destroy not only for revenge but also to protect his loved ones from the monstrous fallout of Griffith's ambition. This endless combat for survival and a shred of peace for his companions is the primary engine of the plot, transforming a simple revenge quest into an epic, brutal odyssey across a dark fantasy world that redefines the scope and emotional weight of a character's single-minded objective. Gankutsuou Gankutsuou , based on Alexandre Dumas’ classic The Count of Monte Cristo , is an underrated gem of an anime that has one of the best revenge quests out there. Taking a truly unique sci-fi approach to the narrative, we see a new take on this literary revenge tale. Here, Albert de Morcerf meets a mysterious nobleman known as The Count of Monte Cristo, but unbeknownst to Albert (and those around him), the Count is a sailor named Edmund Dantes who was betrayed by his friends. After being imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit, Edmund returns to seek revenge against those who wronged him, including Albert’s own father, who is now with the woman Edmund once loved. Gankutsuou highlights the meticulousness of vengeance, where every move the Count makes, no matter how small it is, contributes to his plans. Albert is caught in the middle of it all, leading to some truly heartbreaking moments that you’ll be thinking about for a while. To this day, the phrase “Happy Birthday” brings tears to my eyes (if you know, you know). Skip Beat! Kyoko Mogami is in love with her childhood friend, Shotaro Fuwa. In fact, she’s so in love with him that she drops everything to run off to Tokyo with him as he pursues his music career. She works hard to support him, disregarding her own needs in order to take care of him. In return, he… complains about having such a plain girlfriend. The audacity! Kyoko reacts the way anyone would when they overhear the love of their life badmouthing them: she throws food at him. Honestly, he deserves worse, especially when he remains unbothered by how rightfully upset she is. He goes so far as to say that the only way she’ll get revenge is if she becomes a bigger idol than he is now, something he wouldn’t have been able to accomplish without her taking care of him. While Skip Beat! is a much more lighthearted take on a revenge tale, it is, perhaps, one of the most relatable. Having someone you care about disregard your kindness is horrible, so watching Kyoko better herself throughout the series is quite rewarding, not just for the sake of revenge, but for the sake of self-care and healing. Bonus? The manga is still going! VINLAND SAGA RELATED: The VINLAND SAGA Staff on Cultivating the Foundation of Season 2 Thorfinn’s quest to avenge his father is the heart of VINLAND SAGA ’s first season, from when he was 5-6 years old to his early 20s. The young Viking is motivated by sheer hatred toward Askeladd, the pirate who gave the order to kill his father. In joining Askeladd’s army, this motivation becomes a double-edged sword: on one hand, this makes Thorfinn stronger, but on the other hand, it makes him easier to manipulate. Thorfinn’s quest for revenge reaches a very unexpected end as the conclusion of the first season sees Askeladd die in Thorfinn's hands. While it should be satisfying, Askeladd remarks that the young boy has never thought about what he would do once his revenge was accomplished. VINLAND SAGA Season 2 takes the story in a refreshing direction, as it goes into detail about the effect of Thorfinn’s youth being full of hatred and the toll it had on his mind. Seeing his development after the fact is truly what makes this anime stand out. Moriarty the Patriot Why settle for one revenge tale when you can have several in one anime series? Such is the case with Moriarty the Patriot , a unique take on Sherlock Holmes that puts us in the point of view of his greatest nemesis, Moriarty. In the case of this particular anime, Moriarty (full name William James Moriarty) secretly works to help common people get revenge against the cruel upper class who do unspeakable things to them. This ranges from parents losing their children to sickness because their boss won’t give them the medical care they need, to certain upper-class citizens literally hunting the lower class, or even murdering poor children for sport. William and his brothers (Albert and Louis) are fed up with the corrupt noblemen who call the shots, but instead of stopping them directly, they’re giving their victims the tools to seek justice. William is willing to play the part of the villain if it means helping those less fortunate and getting rid of the corruption that’s run rampant amongst the British nobles. This catches the attention of Sherlock Holmes, beginning the iconic battle of wits and surprising bond between him and Moriarty. Black Butler RELATED: Black Butler Creator Yana Toboso on Weaving Together Its Darkness and Humor After the sudden murder of his family, Ciel Phantomhive is taken to a cult that tortures him and prepares him for a ceremony where he’ll be sacrificed to a demon. But it's not the cult that catches the demon’s attention; it's Ciel. Determined to live and get revenge against those who did this to him and his family, Ciel makes a pact with the demon, offering his soul in exchange for his services. Thus, the bond between Ciel and Sebastian is formed, leading Ciel down a dark path of no return. While Black Butler has its fair share of comical beats, you’ll find yourself wishing for the lighthearted humor when things get serious. Ciel’s story is one full of sadness, cruelty and death, and what makes it hit even harder is the fact that he knows he signed up for this. The closer he gets to his goal, the harder things get, and with the outcome being Sebastian devouring his soul, it’s hard to see any sort of light at the end of the tunnel. Kill la Kill RELATED: 15 Moments When Anime Characters Snapped The entire central plot of Kill la Kill is kicked off by a straightforward yet highly effective revenge quest: Ryuko Matoi's search for the wielder of the other half of the Scissor Blade, the person who murdered her father. This single objective immediately places her at the hostile Honnouji Academy, forcing her to climb the institution's power hierarchy by defeating opponents in a series of highly formalized duels. Every battle and interaction with the Student Council is a step toward gaining information about her quest, turning the episodic fighting into meaningful progression. The simple goal provides an easily understandable motivation that keeps the series grounded even as the plot explodes into a spectacle of over-the-top action, world-ending stakes and massive revelations. As the song says, “Don’t lose your way.” Attack on Titan RELATED: Attack on Titan Watch Order In modern anime history, no one can mention revenge and not think about Eren Jaeger’s vow to kill all the Titans. The Attack on Titan anime has been full of twists in its 10-year tenure, but it all began with Eren, Mikasa, and Armin witnessing a titan invasion and Eren’s mother being eaten by one of them. From this day forward, Eren made every effort to join the Scout Regiment and work to kill these creatures. Of course, it becomes a different story when Eren’s quest, early on, seems to reach a disappointing end when he is eaten by a Titan. Much to everyone’s shock, Eren actually becomes a Titan, making his revenge quest much more possible with this new strength. The plot twists keep coming after that, ranging from finding out that there are others who can transform into Titans to discovering that there is a world beyond their own. Suddenly, Eren’s revenge quest ends up becoming another mission, in which he is now targeting the rest of the world. MORE ANIME RECOMMENDATIONS Anime to Watch If You Like Overpowered Protagonists 9 Anime We Were Waiting for When Dreamcast Launched on 9/9/99 5 Anime That Tackle Childcare in Fantasy Worlds 10 Anime Characters Who Went From Being Friends to Rivals 10 Anime Characters Not Here to Make Friends Enemies to Lovers Anime on Crunchyroll 10 Anime That Tackle the Exhaustion of Burnout 7 Yakuza Anime That You Should Watch 10 Supernatural Anime That Highlight How Unique the Genre Is So You Want to Get Into Japanese Historical Anime? Here's What to Watch! 6 Cyberpunk Anime to Watch if You Like Metallic Rouge
