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A lot of the time, anime characters will go on and on about the importance of helping others.
This can be long speeches on the importance of friendships, or literally taking bullets for a person they’ve just met, or giving up an arm and a leg for their enemy.
However, some characters are quite the opposite. Self-centered and concerned only about themselves.
This list is dedicated to the most selfish anime characters of all time, and I’m sure none of them want to share the spotlight with anyone else.
15. Ryou Asuka
Anime: Devilman Crybaby
Major spoilers for this one, fair warning.
Ryou has always seemed extremely selfish to me, being that he literally staged a massacre just so Akira could become the devilman.
But man, I could not have predicted how far that rabbit hole went. It’s later revealed that Ryou is Satan, which seems fitting considering that he started a war between the demons and the humans, leading to the destruction of the entire planet.
He even kills his best friend, although he comes to his senses at the last moment and regrets his selfishness… but it’s too late.
14. Hisoka Morow
Anime: Hunter x Hunter (2011)
There’s only one thing Hisoka cares about in this world, and that’s himself.
He just searches for satisfaction and fun in life, treating other people as just means to achieve his goal.
If he feels like killing, he’s going to kill.
If he feels like chilling and playing some dodgeball, he’s going to do precisely that.
Even with Illumi, the closest thing Hisoka has to a friend, it’s obvious that Hisoka would backstab him if it benefitted his interests. But man, do I still love the bastard.
13. Rachel
Anime: Tower of God
Okay, in the grand scheme of things Rachel might seem like a lowball on this list.
But her selfishness made me want to punch the screen, so here she is. Major spoilers ahead.
At the very end of the first season we learn that she was never actually chosen by the Tower, it chose Bam. But being that she just couldn’t get over herself and her own desires, Rachel acts a fool and allows Bam to continuously help and adore her, just so she can backstab him at the very end and claim victory for herself.
This is why people have trust issues, Rachel!
12. Johan Liebert
Anime: Monster
Johan is honestly too complex of a character to give him justice in this segment. But let’s just say that he truly does not care for anyone except for himself.
He claims to care for his sister, and yet murders her foster parents. He claims to care for Tenma, and yet puts him through unbelievable mental agony.
He’s willing to lure children into suicide and to empower serial killers to murder even more than before. All just so he could find the answer to the meaning of his existence.
11. Takumi Ichinose
Anime: Nana
All Takumi craves in life is power and control, and he’s not afraid to stomp on quite a few toes to achieve his goal.
He’ll force tough decisions onto people, make them question their own reasoning and their loved ones, slowly isolating them until they’re a puppet in his hands.
The dude is not a villain or anything. But his selfish nature tends to shine in the darkest and most despicable ways.
He’s the man every straight girl’s father fears most.
10. The Watanukis
Anime: Servamp
That’s right, these people don’t even have a name, and they still managed to piss me off enough to put them on this list.
There’s no doubt that there are some pretty awful parents out there. But the Watanukis are probably at the very top.
These bastards literally made their daughter commit suicide to collect the insurance. Then they made her brother lie about what happened for years, only to make him commit suicide as well a few years later.
And we wonder why their now-vampire son doesn’t like humans all that much?
9. Shou Tucker
Anime: Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Speaking of people who literally never should have procreated… we have Shou Tucker.
In an anime that literally has a character called “Greed”, I’d say Shou Tucker still managed to stand out as the most selfish.
In short: this dude was a researcher on the decline who feared that his licence would be taken away if he didn’t show any results in creating a chimera.
So he used his own daughter in an experiment just so that his precious position as an alchemist wouldn’t be endangered. I hate this guy.
8. Sasuke Uchiha
Anime: Naruto Shippuden
I know I’m going to trigger a few people with this one, but let’s face it: prior to Boruto, Sasuke was one of the most selfish characters ever.
He was driven entirely by his need for revenge, and didn’t care what happened to anyone else.
Former comrades? Who cares about their feelings, they’re in the way.
Current comrades? They won’t mind getting pierced by lightning, it’ll ensure that I win!
What’s that, I was a national threat that attacked leaders from different villages and deserted my own people? I think I should be Hokage. Geez, get a grip Sasuke.
7. Katsuki Bakugo
Anime: My Hero Academia
Although Bakugo is nowhere near Sasuke’s level, he still has quite the way to go in terms of being a hero.
This is because he wants to be the all-powerful hero who doesn’t need anyone to help him, and who can beat any foe.
This leads him to constantly refuse help from others and go in solo, even when that endangers the mission.
For Bakugo it’s all about his own ego and the maintenance of his ego.
He’s getting a bit better, especially after his fight with Deku. But his violent and selfish past is still quite noticeable in his character.
6. Isabella
Anime: The Promised Neverland
Usually having a strong will to live is a good thing.
However that’s not really the case with Isabella.
I can kind of understand her, as she knows just how deadly and grim it is in the real world. But I can’t say that excuses what she does.
She oversees these children. Children that truly love her. And then calmly walks them over to a butcher.
Even her own son is not spared of this treatment. And once the kids find out her secret, she goes even further – breaking a child’s leg just so she can ensure her own safety.
5. Haruhi Suzumiya
Anime: The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
The show’s entire plot centers around Haruhi’s selfishness.
Whenever she doesn’t think that something is perfect, everyone else has to suffer the consequences.
However, she doesn’t know about her powers. So this can be excused to some extent. That is, until you see her basically assaulting Mikuru to get something that she wants.
The other castmates don’t get off much easier, making Haruhi the most troublesome god since Zeus himself.
4. Makoto Itou
Anime: School Days
Makoto is one of those believable characters that makes you lose hope in humanity.
He’s a walking erection that only cares about getting with as many girls as humanly possible, even when he’s in a relationship.
Pregnancy scares don’t affect him much either, as he isn’t the one giving birth or going through with an abortion. So he just carries on with his day.
The show is arguably trash, but man was I honestly glad to see that ending for the morbid justice.
3. Tsukasa Shishiou
Anime: Dr. Stone
Respecting your elders and helping the weak were two concepts that Tsukasa never really understood, obviously.
When Senku discovers the elixir that could save all humanity, Tsukasa decides to play god and to only bring back those who he deems worthy, while smashing the rest to pieces.
His conviction is so strong that he even tries to kill Senku, the man that brought him back to life, and humanity’s only hope to restore the modern era.
2. Dio Brando
Anime: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
When it comes to selfish villains, Dio is a classic.
Even if you invite him into your loving home, he’ll still try to steal your girl and humiliate you whenever he possibly can.
Once he gains power, he doesn’t think about helping anyone. Even though the dude could probably enforce world peace if he wanted to…
But he’d rather just chill out, strive towards immortality, and murder anyone he doesn’t particularly like.
1. Griffith
Anime: Berserk
I know manga readers are quick to debate this one, but if you’re an anime-only fan, this is a no-brainer.
The man initially seems like a stand up dude who’s always there for his comrades.
But what does he do when his dreams fly away from him? He sacrifices everyone he has ever held dear.
Not only does he sacrifice the people who looked up to him as a true leader, but he even assaults a girl who had loved him. Then he makes her new lover, his friend and rival, watch the whole thing.
