Best Anime That Killed Their Lead Character

When a story removes its central hero, it usually signals a major turning point that reshapes everything around it. These anime made that choice part of the narrative plan, using a lead character’s death to complete arcs, shift perspectives, or close the book on a long conflict. Here are notable titles where the protagonist’s death happens on screen or is plainly depicted within the story.

‘Death Note’ (2006–2007)

Light Yagami’s downfall arrives after a sting operation finally exposes his identity. The finale shows the task force cornering him as events from the investigation come full circle. His death ends the battle between Kira and law enforcement and confirms the notebook’s rules remain absolute. The story then closes on a world adjusting to life without Kira’s influence.

‘Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion’ (2006–2008)

Lelouch vi Britannia engineers the Zero Requiem to collapse the cycle of hatred by making himself a final target. His death occurs during a public procession that transfers power and resets global politics. The act cements a plan he set in motion with only a small group aware of the full intent. The empire’s structure changes afterward under the leadership he designates.

‘Attack on Titan’ (2013–2023)

Eren Yeager’s end comes after his transformation destabilizes the world. The Survey Corps confronts him in a final operation that resolves the conflict between nations and titans. His death releases far reaching consequences for the titan power and the island’s future. The remaining cast then navigates a fragile peace born from that outcome.

‘Devilman Crybaby’ (2018)

Akira Fudo dies after a final battle with Ryo Asuka that leaves Earth devastated. The series documents how their friendship unravels alongside a global panic. Akira’s death completes the tragedy that began with his transformation. The last scenes linger on the aftermath as the world sits beyond repair.

‘Cyberpunk: Edgerunners’ (2022)

David Martinez meets his end in a high risk run that ties together the crew’s choices. The attack features cyberware overload and a final stand against corporate forces. His death closes the arc that followed his rise from student to mercenary. The conclusion then follows the survivors as they reckon with Night City’s cost.

‘School Days’ (2007)

Makoto Itou’s death occurs after a breakdown of trust among the main trio. The final episode depicts a confrontation that turns violent and irreversible. The series uses this event to cap the consequences of hidden relationships and lies. The closing images show how the fallout reaches everyone involved.

‘Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans’ (2015–2017)

Mikazuki Augus dies while protecting his comrades during the last operation. The battle concludes the group’s struggle against a larger political system. His death anchors the series theme of paying a price for freedom and identity. The survivors then rebuild their lives under the new balance of power.

‘Chrono Crusade’ (2003–2004)

Rosette Christopher’s life ends alongside Chrono after a time limit established earlier runs out. The series foreshadows their fate through a contract that trades years for power. Her final moments arrive quietly away from the battlefield. The narrative closes on a world saved but marked by that cost.

‘Inuyashiki Last Hero’ (2017)

Ichiro Inuyashiki dies while averting a catastrophic strike on Earth. His actions contrast with the antagonist’s choices throughout the series. The event demonstrates the full potential of his reconstructed body used for rescue rather than destruction. The conclusion shows the city and his family living because of that choice.

‘Grave of the Fireflies’ (1988)

Seita and Setsuko do not survive the conditions caused by wartime deprivation. The film presents their deaths directly and frames the story as a recollection. Their fate highlights the breakdown of support systems during crisis. The final scenes connect their journey to the broader civilian toll.

‘Yu Yu Hakusho’ (1992–1995)

Yusuke Urameshi dies in the opening and returns through supernatural trials. The death sets up his role as a spirit detective and defines the rules of his new work. The series revisits his mortality during later arcs with consequences for humans and demons. His early death remains the foundation for every mission that follows.

‘Dragon Ball Z’ (1989–1996)

Goku dies during key arcs while protecting Earth from major threats. The series depicts his time in the afterlife and the training he completes there. His returns follow established rules about revivals and energy costs. Each death marks the transition to a new phase of the conflict.

‘Cowboy Bebop’ (1998–1999)

Spike Spiegel’s fate is shown after a final assault on the Red Dragon Syndicate. The closing scene presents his collapse following the confrontation with Vicious. The series leaves no continuation for his story within the original canon. The ending frames his past catching up at last.

‘Akame ga Kill!’ (2014)

Tatsumi dies during the capital showdown after pushing his Teigu beyond safe limits. The series tracks his path from village recruit to key Night Raid fighter and shows the cost of facing imperial weapons. His death triggers the final moves that dismantle the corrupt regime. The epilogue follows how his comrades and hometown live with that outcome.

‘Assassination Classroom’ (2015–2016)

Koro sensei is executed by Class 3 E after the final exam that decides Earth’s fate. The students carry out the plan they trained for across the school year and follow strict conditions set earlier. His death resolves the threat that began with the classroom deal and a destroyed moon. The finale then shows where each student goes as they apply what they learned.

‘Banana Fish’ (2018)

Ash Lynx dies in the series end after a gang conflict that extends from New York to overseas interests. The story builds his ties to Eiji and the data around a mind altering drug. His death closes the struggle against syndicates and military contractors who sought that research. The last scenes show the city moving on while the surviving cast preserves his legacy.

‘Texhnolyze’ (2003)

Ichise dies in the collapse of Lux when rival factions and outside forces converge. The series documents his connection to texhnolyzation and the city’s dying systems. His final moments come after the last resistance to the Enders fades. The closing images confirm the city’s fate and the end of its social order.

‘Basilisk’ (2005)

Gennosuke Kouga and Oboro Iga both die as the feud between their clans reaches its conclusion. The series follows a list of matchups that whittle down fighters on both sides. Their deaths end the succession trial and settle the shogunate’s wager. The record of the conflict then becomes the only trace of their attempt at peace.

‘Terror in Resonance’ (2014)

Nine dies after revealing the truth behind a secret program while Twelve is killed earlier in the standoff. The pair exposes experiments that created child prodigies used for national projects. Their deaths lead to a broadcast that forces public recognition of the plan. The final report outlines accountability and the fate of remaining subjects.

‘Darling in the Franxx’ (2018)

Hiro and Zero Two die in the space battle that removes the alien threat. Their plan separates the enemy from the planet and prevents a second invasion. The series shows how their sacrifice allows the colony survivors to rebuild. The ending suggests their souls return in a later era through a quiet reunion.

‘Wolf’s Rain’ (2003)

Kiba and the core pack die at the end of the journey to Paradise. The world collapses as they reach the flower maiden and complete the cycle tied to lunar flowers. Their deaths reset the setting and begin a new turn of the world. The final montage places familiar faces in new lives that echo the old ones.

‘Akudama Drive’ (2020)

The Swindler dies on a public street after creating a diversion that lets the children escape the city. The group’s mission exposes the split between Kansai authorities and the truth about the cargo. Her death sparks unrest as citizens see the broadcast she planned. The survivors complete the delivery that fulfills the original promise.

‘Plastic Memories’ (2015)

Isla reaches her end of service date and shuts down after spending her final days with Tsukasa. The series explains how Giftia lifespans are fixed and what retrieval teams do. Her last outing is arranged to make the goodbye gentle and calm. The story then follows how the department handles the next cases with that memory in mind.

‘Puella Magi Madoka Magica’ (2011)

Madoka Kaname erases herself from the timeline to rewrite the rules of witches and magical girls. The new law she creates removes the witch transformation and replaces it with a different fate. Her disappearance changes how every contract works from that point forward. The city keeps traces of her through those who remember the previous world.

‘Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack’ (1988)

Amuro Ray dies while stopping the Axis colony drop with the help of fellow pilots. The film shows how his Nu Gundam’s psychoframe reacts in the final push. His death ends the long rivalry with Char Aznable and averts a global winter. The military then records the event as a turning point in space and Earth relations.

‘Gantz’ (2004)

Kei Kurono dies after multiple missions that test the rules of the black sphere. The anime shows how points, revivals, and advanced suits work across escalating hunts. His last stand comes during an urban battle that overwhelms the team. The ending leaves the surviving players facing the next round without him.

‘Legend of the Galactic Heroes’ (1988–1997)

Reinhard von Lohengramm dies from illness after unifying most of the galaxy under the New Empire. The series details his reforms, campaigns, and rivalries with Free Planets commanders. His death triggers succession plans and stabilizes contested regions. The epilogue follows how both sides structure peace while recording the era in official histories.

‘Valvrave the Liberator’ (2013)

Haruto Tokishima dies after expending the runes that keep his body functioning as a Valvrave pilot. The final operation explains how the contracts work and why every transformation shortens his life. His death secures a path forward for Module 77 and ends the conflict with the Magius. The epilogue shows the world that forms in the wake of his choice.

‘Gungrave’ (2003–2004)

Brandon Heat is murdered and later resurrected as Beyond the Grave to confront Millennion. The narrative shows his death at the hands of Harry MacDowell during a power struggle. His final battle ends the syndicate’s control and settles the betrayal that began his transformation. The closing scenes record the collapse of the organization and the fate of its surviving members.

‘Phantom: Requiem for the Phantom’ (2009)

Reiji Azuma and Ein reach the end of their story during an overseas escape. The final episode uses visual cues to confirm a sniper attack that ends their journey. Their deaths close Scythe Master’s experiment and the Inferno conflict tied to the Phantom title. The series then leaves records of their aliases and movements as the only trace.

‘Toward the Terra’ (2007)

Jomy Marquis Shin dies after establishing a system that allows humans and Mu to coexist. The plot follows his rise from a newly awakened Mu to the leader who challenges Superior Dominance. His final act transfers responsibility to Keith Anyan and secures Terra for future generations. The closing narration outlines how both societies continue under the new framework.

‘Air’ (2005)

Yukito Kunisaki disappears after exhausting his strength to save the girl linked to the ancient curse. The story explains his connection to the winged lineage and the price of channeling that power. His end signals the shift to the summer arc that resolves the curse through another viewpoint. The final scenes track the seaside town as echoes of his effort remain.

‘Higurashi: When They Cry’ (2006–2007)

Multiple arcs depict the deaths of the lead cast including Keiichi Maebara during failed loops. Each arc records different causes such as paranoia, disease, and human interference. The later chapters use these outcomes to map the conditions needed to break the cycle. The final solutions arise from knowledge carried across the loops.

‘Devilman’ (1972–1973)

Akira Fudo dies in the apocalyptic battle against Satan after uniting humans and demons in open war. The series charts his transformation and the public panic that follows. The final confrontation ends with the heroes and the planet in ruins. The closing sequence confirms the outcome without reversal.

‘Bokurano’ (2007)

The contract forces each child pilot to die after completing a battle in the giant robot Zearth. The series documents the rotation system that selects the next pilot and the toll on their families. Early episodes center on one viewpoint before later pilots take over. The record of wins and losses becomes a ledger that counts down the roster.

‘Saikano’ (2002)

Chise and Shuji die as the world collapses under escalating weapons programs. The episodes show how Chise’s body changes and why her weapons trigger global failure. The final letters and recordings describe the last moments of their relationship. The narrative closes on the traces left behind in their hometown.

‘Angel Beats!’ (2010)

Yuzuru Otonashi and the remaining students accept departure from the afterlife school once their regrets resolve. The series confirms that the cast arrived after death and needed closure to move on. The final ceremony disbands the group and clears the campus. The coda presents a quiet encounter that implies memory across lives.

‘Planetarian: Hoshi no Hito’ (2016)

The Junker returns to the ruined city as an old man and dies after preserving Hoshino Yumemi’s memory. The film compiles his travels as the storyteller who spreads her message. His death completes the archive of recordings and gifts he leaves to the next caretakers. The final scenes show how the projector and her relics continue to reach new listeners.

Share the titles you would add to this list in the comments.