The Boys' third season culminated in a heartbreaking finale, chock full of heartbreak, violence and betrayal. Indeed, betrayal has been a significant plot point used for character development over thousands of years of storytelling. The twist of character betrayals has always engaged audiences as a way to up the storytelling ante. So how does anime as a medium fare with betrayal?
Thanks to Ranker, voters have compiled a list of the 10 greatest betrayals in anime history. From those who betrayed friends and family for the sake of power to those who believed it was necessary in order to achieve their goals.
Note: Ranker lists are fan-voted, live, and continue to accrue votes, so some rankings may have changed after this publishing.
Sailor Neptune And Sailor Uranus Betray Sailor Moon in Sailor Moon
Sailor Moon is one of the most influential shojo anime/mangas to date for its colorful designs and wonderful characters. But there is one thing has become groundbreaking in of progress and that is the relationship between Michiru and Haruka. The bond between Sailor Neptune and Uranus respectively could be seen as nothing more than a loving relationship despite what certain censors try to say. Neptune and Uranus walked so Korra and Asami could run.
Progress aside, the other well-known feat of these beloved character is their betrayal of Sailor Moon herself, damaging albeit for somewhat altruistic purposes.Leaving the main heroine out of the loop is more detrimental than they would have originally hoped, and it breaks the trust and bond the three heroes had once shared.
Itachi Perpetrates The Uchiha Massacre in Naruto
Itachi Uchiha might single-handedly be the most complex character in the Naruto franchise, and that is never shown more clearly than through his sole-massacre of the Uchiha clan. The genocide of the Uchiha clan is one of the most impactful events that the series would constantly harken back to throughout.
This single event is what ultimately makes Itachi's younger brother, Sasuke, into what he is at the beginning of the story. Although the act itself was done out of mercy and as a way to keep his brother out of harms way, it still was a horrifying event from which even the young prodigy Itachi himself could never psychologically heal.
Grell Kills Madam Red in Black Butler
With a Victorian-era backdrop, Black Butler utilizes its setting every chance it gets. One of the best examples is how it imbues the Jack the Ripper killings that plagued London at the time. Ciel and Sebastian set out to discover the perpetrator of these vicious killings to devastating results.
Enter Madame Red, aka Angelina Dalles, the sister of Ciel's mother. It is revealed that, through her grief of being unable to have children, she and her butler, Grell, engaged in a killing spree and effectively became "Jack the Ripper." Once confronted by Ciel and Sebastian, she finds herself unable to kill her nephew. Seeing this, Grell ultimately deems her emotionally weak and impales her with his scythe, ending their partnership.
Kyubey's Deceit in Puella Magi Madoka Magica
For a magical girl series, Puella Magi Madoka Magica takes the cake for being the darkest entry within the genre. And that is in a large part thanks to the ever so adorable yet mischievous Kyubey. From a "certain point of view," Kyubey's act of betrayal isn't necessarily betrayal but more an act of misleading young girls for their own twisted entertainment.
By luring young girls to enter into "contracts" that grant them the powers of magical girls but they have to defeat witches. What's left out is that when those who receive their powers were to fall into despair at one point, then they themselves would become witches. When it is revealed that this is the case, Kyubey simply shrugs it off as it was something that they were "never asked."
Archer Betrays His Younger Self in Fate/Stay Night
Fate/Stay Night is an anime in which the premise gets more complicated as it moves on, but once the action kicks in, it becomes hard for anyone to take their eyes off of it. It follows the traumatized Shirou Emiya as he seeks out the Holy Grail in hopes to prevent disasters like the one that had taken his family.
In the way of his quest is the cynical Archer, who belittles Shirou for the purpose of his mission every chance he gets. The shocking twist: Archer is in fact Shirou from a different timeline, one in which he has made a pact with their world to kill any who may be involved in extinction level threats, even if their targets are younger versions of themselves.
Walter s Millenium in Hellsing
Walter has been a loyal butler/soldier for the Hellsing organization as well as an apt mentor and confidant for Integra since her childhood, or at least that's what he puts off until it is ultimately discovered that he had betrayed the organization to their sworn enemies, the Nazi group known as Millenium.
Hellsing Unlimited is known for its sea of gore and violence, but the drama is still nonetheless profound. Walter's betrayal hurts on multiple levels, especially considering his friendships with both Integra and Victoria. The unexpectedness of it and how it comes out in the midst of the final battle makes it damaging beyond repair.
Aizen Betrays Soul Society in Bleach
Out of all three of the aptly named "Big Three" anime, Bleach is still the most dropped, whether that be because of filler or interest is debatable. But what cannot be debated is 5th Division Captain Sosuke Aizen's act of betrayal being one of the best villain reveals in anime history.
Through a thick veil of deceit, Aizen played the humble and generous captain of Soul Society's 5th Division. Once the veil is lifted, he becomes a Machiavellian character who will commit any heinous act to accomplish his goals. His attemp to murder his naive lieutenant, Momo, may go down as one of the most despicable acts in anime history.
Rachel Shoves Bam Off The Tower in Tower of God
One of the few Webtoons to be adapted into an anime, Tower of God has earned a great deal of popularity among the anime community. Bam, the story's headstrong and naive protagonist. climbs the tower to find Rachel, the only friend who comforted him in the darkness below.
Through perseverance and willpower, Bam makes it through all the difficult and near impossible tasks set before him until he eventually meets up with Rachel, then helps her ascend the tower. Ever so close to reaching their goal upon seeing literal stars above, Bam reaches out for Rachel's hand, stating he had fulfilled his promise to her. Without warning, Rachel suddenly pushes Bam off the platform into the chasm below. It's a heartbreaking moment that's made more so when it's revealed Rachel never saw Bam in the same light and only selfishly desired to become a "star" herself.
Griffith Sacrifices The Band Of The Hawk in Berserk
Kentaro Miura's manga, the anime adaptations to follow not so much. But the one to get it the closest was the 1997 adaptation of the "Golden Age" arc. Anyone who has only watched that certain anime are in for one bleak ending.
The anime ends with Griffith activating his beherit, entrapping his friends and himself in the astral realm with the God-Hand and countless hungry Apostles. In exchange for his lifelong "dream", serves up his comrades to the surrounding Apostles. With his newfound powers he then proceeds to violate Casca in front of an enraged Guts. This moment would forever go down as one of the darkest betrayals to be collected into pop culture.
Reiner and Bertholdt Reveal Their True Identities in Attack on Titan
Attack on Titan is a series that was built upon having twists and turns at every corner. But the one twist that many anime-only fans could not have anticipated was that Annie wasn't the only Titan-shifter to infiltrate Paradis: Reiner and Bertholdt were too.
Since their military training days, Reiner was looked upon to be a big brother figure to the main cast. Thus, when he states matter-of-factly that he is the Armored Titan, it's not only earth-shattering but heartbreaking. To add more fire to the flame, he even outs Bertholdt as the Colossal Titan. It's a monumental betrayal, and it reveals only a sliver of what the heroes have to face going forward.