Anime has become wildly popular lately, with its potential as a mainstream medium growing exponentially, now spanning globally with generations of fans. With popularity and fame comes a lot of controversy. Sometimes, the main focus of these controversies is the anime characters themselves. Anime thrives on complex characters who spark debates, ignite passions, and divide fanbases even as the final credits roll. Through their actions, motivations, or moral ambiguities, these characters become lightning rods for discussion, shaping how viewers interpret their stories.
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From morally gray protagonists to polarizing antagonists. Their controversies stem from a mix of ethical dilemmas, personality traits, or narrative roles that defy conventional expectations of heroism, villainy, or redemption. It could be their questionable decisions, twisted ideologies, the way they reflect uncomfortable truths, or just the way they portray a certain character trait, anything that makes them a bit too difficult to ignore. Which is why this list covers the 10 most controversial anime characters that dominate fan discourse today. Let’s begin!
10) Sung Jinwoo (Solo Leveling)
Sung Jinwoo’s transformation from weak hunter to overpowered anti-hero drives his polarizing identity. The protagonist of Solo Leveling started from the bottom of the chain in Episode 1 as the “weakest hunter.” But by Episode 7, his cold pragmatism, such as killing enemies without hesitation during the dungeon raid, sparked controversy. But beyond even just such actions, there’s even debate over whether Jinwoo has much going in the way of personality at all.
The debate at its core centers on genre expectations. Solo Leveling comes from a manhwa rooted in power fantasy, which itself is a saturated manhwa genre where the readers know what to expect, and Jinwoo’s arc delivers exactly that. But many fans wish to see deeper character exploration, which isn’t what Jinwoo’s arc is about. His journey is about overcoming weakness and societal scorn to become unstoppable, driven by a desire to protect his family. However, his lack of moral struggle, unlike, say, Light Yagami’s ethical descent in Death Note, makes him quite controversial. Fans who enjoy his pragmatism see it as refreshing, while critics argue it flattens his character. His loyalty to family and allies (e.g., saving Jinho in Episode 10) shows growth, but it’s overshadowed by his power escalation.
9) Minoru Mineta (My Hero Academia)
Minoru Mineta is a part of U.A.’s class 1-A and a hero in training. And while it’s still not clear how he actually made it to class 1-A, that’s a topic for another time. His controversial status is due to just one thing: his perverted behavior throughout the series. Mineta’s creepy behavior starts early and keeps going. In Season 1, Episode 8, during the U.A. entrance exam, he makes rude comments about Momo’s outfit, setting him up as the “pervy kid.”
In Season 2, Episode 21, Mineta then tries to spy on the girls’ bath during the training camp arc, climbing a wall to peek. This scene enraged fans a lot, but it doesn’t end here. In Season 3, Episode 14, he drools over the girls in cheerleader outfits, which many viewers found gross, further adding to his reputation. Another issue is how often he does this. In Season 4, Episode 2, he makes more pervy remarks during the cultural festival prep. Fans argue his behavior feels outdated, like old anime tropes that don’t really work today, but it’s a common reality for anime characters of this type that fans won’t likely see disappear anytime soon.
8) Suzaku Kururugi (Code Geass)
Code Geass’s Suzaku Kururugi wants to fix the evil Britannian Empire from the inside, which leaves fans split on how they feel. In Season 1, Episode 17, he betrays his friend Lelouch by turning him over to Britannia, making fans call him naive or a traitor. In Season 2, Episode 25, as the Knight of Zero, he helps Britannia’s cruel rule, upsetting viewers who want him to fight back. He was called a hypocrite by fans, and some also mentioned him as someone who should help bring peace, but instead helps oppressors.
Some fans like his backstory in Season 1, Episode 5, where his dad’s death pushes him to avoid violence. Some admire his dream of change without fighting. But others think he’s foolish for trusting a bad system. Worse, Suzaku doesn’t have a full redemption arc; he sticks to his beliefs, even if they’re flawed. His mix of good intentions and bad choices keeps fans arguing about whether he’s a hero or a sellout.
7) Gabi Braun (Attack on Titan)
Gabi Braun is a young Marleyan soldier in Attack on Titan who infuriated a lot of fans when she killed a fan-favorite character in Season 4, Episode 8. Her blind trust in Marley’s lies, shown in Season 4, Episode 1, makes her seem brainwashed and unlikable. Kind of like a smaller, even more stupid version of Reiner. But in Season 4, Episode 20, she changes, helping stop Eren’s deadly Rumbling plan.
Some fans mentioned Gabi’s arc shows how hate can turn to understanding. Some see her as a kid who learns from her mistakes, like Eren in earlier seasons. Others can’t forgive her early actions. Gabi’s redemption arc, going from a killer to a helper, divides fans and sets up a stage for debate. Her story challenges people to think about hate and forgiveness, keeping her a hot topic in Attack on Titan controversies.
6) Shinji Ikari (Neon Genesis Evangelion)
Shinji Ikari is the pilot of Eva-01 in the most popular mecha anime, Neon Genesis Evangelion. The main reason for putting Shinji in this list is that he frustrates fans with his constant fear and doubt. In Episode 1, he refuses to pilot the Eva, annoying those who want to see a brave hero. In Episode 24, he breaks down after losing his friend Kaworu, which some find whiny.
His choices in End of Evangelion, like starting the Third Impact, spark big debates. Some fans say Shinji depicts a lot of realism, as in what depression looks and feels like. Some just call him annoying to a fault. Some fans love how the show explores his mental health, making him relatable. Others want a stronger lead. Shinji’s story is about struggling, not fixing himself. Still, Shinji’s emotional mess keeps fans arguing over whether he’s deep or just weak.
5) Light Yagami (Death Note)
Light Yagami is the main character in Death Note, who starts as a smart teen using a blank notebook called “Death Note” to kill criminals. In Episode 1, he thinks he’s making the world better, but in Episode 7, he kills an innocent man on TV, showing a darker side to his calm persona. By Episode 25, he’s a manipulative villain using others for power and having killed thousands of criminals and innocents alike. Fans are forced to ask themselves whether Light is a hero or a monster.
Some fans love his clever plans, big ideas about justice, and the pure high-IQ mind games he played with L. Others hate his ego and cruel actions. To divide audiences even further, Light doesn’t seek redemption; he believes he’s right until the end. His story asks tough questions about right and wrong, making him a huge topic in anime debates.
4) Endeavor (My Hero Academia)
Endeavor is the No. 1 hero in My Hero Academia after succeeding All Might. But he is also a controversial anime character because, despite being No. 2 and then No. 1 hero in Japan, he was a bad father and an even worse husband. In Season 4, Episode 25, we learn that he abused his son, Shoto Todoroki, and the rest of his family for his ambition of succeeding All Might. Worse was the reveal that he married his ice-quirked wife, Rei Todoroki, only to produce the ultimate offspring, a child able to control both fire and ice.
In Season 5, Episode 15, he tries to be a better dad by training Shoto, but some fans don’t buy it. In Season 6, Episode 17, he fights bravely against All For One, showing heroism. Many fans respect his heroic “endeavours,” but some still can’t let go of the way he abused his family. Endeavor’s redemption arc, trying to fix his mistakes, splits fans. Some see him as a man growing better; others think his past is too awful to be atoned for by any action.
3) Eren Yeager (Attack on Titan)
Eren Yeager is the firebrand-turned-anti-hero of Attack on Titan, who shocked fans with his sudden character change, even if he telegraphed the eventual abandonment of his humanity from even early on. In Season 1, Episode 11, he’s a fiery kid fighting for freedom. But in Season 4, Episode 21, he starts the Rumbling, a plan to wipe out most of the world, upsetting many. With the sudden change in character, Eren became a worldwide topic of debate that still goes on today.
Some fans think his extreme actions make sense for his goal to save Paradis. Others hate his violence since a great number of innocents were sacrificed for his plan that, as pointed out by his best friend Armin in the series’s last season, was unlikely to even be effective long-term. And despite ultimately willingly dying to Mikasa and letting the Rumbling fail before it could obliterate all life on Earth, Eren doesn’t get a true redemption arc. His shift from hero to villain sparked big arguments about whether he’s right or wrong.
2) Griffith (Berserk)
Griffith, the leader of Berserk’s Band of the Hawk, is beloved until he betrays everyone. In Episode 24 of the 1997 anime, he sacrifices his friends during the Eclipse to gain power, becoming a demon called Femto. His charm in Episode 10, leading his team, makes this betrayal even worse.
Some viewers even call Griffith the worst villain in anime and a character that exemplifies pure evil. On the contrary, others call him tragic because of his big dreams and how he didn’t really ever have a choice. Griffith was a chosen one right from the anime’s beginning, and once he was tortured and in a vulnerable position, The Hand of God manipulated him to agree to their demands. Nevertheless, he doesn’t seek redemption; his arc is about falling into darkness, fueling debate over whether he’s a complex villain or just cruel.
1) Rudeus Greyrat (Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation)
Rudeus Greyrat is the main character of the anime Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation. Among the characters of this list, he is probably the most embroiled in controversy, despite the anime and light novel franchise being an especially acclaimed isekai series. This stems from his status as a perverted, shut-in 34-year-old NEET adult trapped inside a child’s body after reincarnation and his resulting actions, which clash with his adult mind. In Season 1, Episode 3, Rudeus overhears his parents, Zenith and Paul, being intimate and reacts with inappropriate excitement, which comes from his perverse past life as a shut-in. This moment was brief but adds to his controversial portrayal, as it highlights his perverted tendencies, which many fans find disturbing, given his childlike appearance.
Also in Season 1, Episode 4, Rudeus steals his teacher Roxy’s underwear and treats it as a “sacred relic.” This scene was played for comedy but was widely criticized and still comes off as cringeworthy. This act, coupled with his obsession with panties, amplifies his creepy behavior. While being a pervert would have been almost an excusable quirk given the medium, his adult mind clashing with his child’s body makes everything look worse. This is especially the case given his tangible relationships with young girls, several of whom he develops a sexual relationship with and marries, alienating viewers and establishing him as Rudeus of the most controversial isekai anime characters ever.
Which of these characters do you think is the most controversial? Do you agree with this list? Let us know in the comments below!
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