The battle between good and evil is an eternal struggle and a common theme in anime.
But some protagonists make us question the difference between good and evil itself with their cold nature, while not necessarily being evil or villains, often making us question who should we be cheering for.
So here is our list of what we think are the best anime with a cold-hearted protagonist.
Just remember that this list is made based on our personal opinion and experience.
Table of Contents
18. 91 Days
91 Days is 12 episodes of action, drama, and crimes set during the Prohibition Era.
It follows the steps of Angelo Lagusa, a boy who witnessed the murder of his entire family at the hands of the Vanetti Mafia family.
After the tragic events, he decides to leave the town of Lawless and change his name to Avilio Bruno. Seven years later he receives a letter and realizes that he has the chance to come back to Lawless and finally have his revenge on the Vanetti family.
To do so he decides to infiltrate the Vanetti family by befriending Nero, Don Vincent Vanetti’s son, and then work his way to implement his vengeful plans.
Angelo nurtures his thirst for vengeance and would stop at nothing to get it. 91 Days is for those looking for a gritty tale of revenge within the inner workings of the criminal underworld, with a cold MC that will stop at nothing.
17. The World’s Finest Assassin Gets Reincarnated in Another World as an Aristocrat
The World’s Finest Assassin Gets Reincarnated in Another World as an Aristocrat is a 12-episode anime with a light novel of the same name as its source material.
Lugh Tuatha Dé is a legendary assassin, considered the deadliest in the world. That is until he is killed, and awakens before a goddess who proposes that he be revived in another world as a wealthy aristocrat.
The condition? Killing the hero of that new world.
This anime couples the stereotypes of isekai coupled with a cold and calculating protagonist, which is literally the villain of the events.
It’s a good anime with a lot of action and twists and turns, going for a change in perspective from the classic pure and fair MC isekai.
16. Overlord
Overlord is one of the best post-2000s isekai, released in 13 excellent episodes.
Momonga is the strongest player in Yggdrasil, an online MMORPG that’s about to shut down its servers after years of service.
Momonga decides to log in one last time before saying goodbye to its beloved game, but he’s surprised to find himself trapped in the game world as his avatar.
But instead of panicking, he decides to become the ultimate ruler of this world.
Momonga is exactly what makes this isekai anime unique and worth watching.
He is a cold, evil, and anything but heroic MC, but incredibly badass and charismatic. Trust us, you will love him.
15. Drifters
Drifters is a 12-episode isekai anime adapted from a manga written by the same author of the popular Hellsing.
Its story is about a Sengoku-era samurai named Shimazu Toyohisa who finds himself transported to another world after his death on the battlefield.
In this new world inspired by medieval Europe, Shimazu encounters both humans and fantastical creatures like elves and dragons, as well as famous warriors from other eras with modern weapons who are ready to fight.
What will happen from now on?
Drifters is an incredibly underrated isekai, with a good setting, excellent action scenes, and a cold and honorable protagonist.
Shimazu always follows his strict samurai code, honoring his opponent no matter what, but he does not mind killing if necessary.
14. Saga of Tanya the Evil
Saga of Tanya the Evil is a 12-episode anime based on the light novel of the same name written by Carlo Zen.
The protagonist of the story is a cynical salaryman who is killed by an employee he fired.
God himself speaks to him in his final moments, saying that because of his cynicism, he is punished by being sent to a parallel world at war as Tanya Degurechaff, a little girl in an orphanage.
But instead of being desperate and humbled, he decides to be a cynical and selfish ruler in this world too.
Saga of Tanya the Evil is an excellent isekai that we recommend that to watch if you are a fan of cold and evil protagonists.
Its setting is also excellent, realistic, raw, and richly political in its world-building.
13. Gungrave
This anime is based on a video game and is proof of while most of them turn out mediocre at best, some of them turn out pretty decent. Such is the case with Gungrave.
The protagonist Brandon Heat awakens after a state of oblivion, bewildered and in need of constant care because of his condition, making him an unstoppable and cold killing machine.
He remembers nothing of his past life, let alone who he was before falling into that deep sleep. Indeed, every time he tries to make his way through his memories he falls prey to deep crisis and suffering.
Gungrave is definitely not a masterpiece of writing or directing, but if you are looking for a good series with a cold and silent protagonist and lots of action, we are sure you’ll enjoy it.
12. Darker than Black
Darker than Black is an original anime with no source material, created by Studio Bones.
After the appearance of Hell’s Gate, an area where the laws of physics don’t apply, powerful individuals called Contractors started appearing around the world.
The protagonist is Hei, a famous contractor also called Black Reaper, known and feared for his cold and dangerous attitude.
Darker than Black is a good anime, full of mystery and plot twists, all with a good and dark setting.
And Hei’s attitude as a protagonist only contributes to these factors, adding a great touch of coolness and unpredictability.
11. Inuyashiki
Inuyashiki is an 11-episode anime that shares its perspective between two great main characters.
Ichiro Inuyashiki is a 58-year-old man down on his luck after finding out that he has stomach cancer. Ignored by his family when he tries to tell them, he goes to a nearby park with his dog and despairs about his situation.
Hiro Shishigami is an ordinary high school boy who spends his days talking about girls and manga. He also sometimes roams around aimlessly, looking for something missing inside.
Tragedy struck them as they are caught in an accident in the park after being hit by aliens that reconstruct their entire bodies using deadly machinery. What will they do now with their newfound capabilities?
Inuyashiki is an unjustly underrated anime that hides a unique and excellent story.
But the best aspect of this anime is definitely the dualism between the two MCs: Inuyashiki is an old man with nothing to lose, who will use his powers for good to make sense of his empty life.
Hiro, on the other hand, will use them selfishly and sickly, using them to kill for fun and bring chaos to the world, making him an excellent cold MC.
10. Phantom: Requiem for a Phantom
This anime is set in a dystopian version of the United States where the Mafia is a regular occurrence and the main actor is an organization called Inferno that acts behind the scenes thanks to its agents called Phantoms.
One day a Japanese tourist called Reiji accidentally witnesses a Phantom and tries to escape but he is quickly knocked unconscious.
He will wake up in a warehouse where a young woman named Ein will train him and brainwash him to make him the latest puppet in the hands of the organization.
Being held captive forces the boy to choose: immediate death or become an assassin in the organization’s service. And that is how Zwei, an assassin as mysterious as deadly, is born.
Phantom: Requiem for the Phantom is a dark, mysterious, and fascinating anime. It is action-packed, tension-packed moments and features an interesting setting and an increasingly cold MC.
9. Vinland Saga
Vinland Saga is one of the most popular series in recent years, based on an outstanding seinen manga in 2019.
The plot follows the life of the warrior Thorfinn, a boy in a Viking world inspired by real historical events.
Thorfinn is a boy that became a warrior to avenge the death of his father Thors, who was killed by the pirate Askeladd on behalf of King Sweyd because he had deserted years earlier to retire to a quiet life.
You’ll follow his life and vicissitudes in a breathtaking story of revenge and personal acceptance.
Vinland Saga is an outstanding anime that we highly recommend. Its story is full of pathos and plot twists, with beautifully written characters and a wonderful setting.
But the real focus of this anime is definitely the main character Thorfin, a perfectly written cold-hearted MC who will have a huge development during the story.
8. Monster
Monster is a 74-episode anime based on Naoki Urasawa’s seinen manga masterpiece and is considered one of the greatest crime stories ever made.
The protagonist Kenzo Tenma is a renowned surgeon that one day decides to rebel against his boss, saving a child from a fatal wound instead of the mayor of Düsseldorf, the city where the hospital is located.
But time will prove Dr. Tenma wrong as he realizes that the child he saved, Johan Liebert, has become over time a serial killer who continues to claim lives.
Monster is a story full of mystery and plot twists that will keep you glued to the screen from beginning to end, waiting to discover the next mystery. But what makes this story exceptional are its characters, written to perfection.
Tenma is a fantastic MC, who will have a huge evolution during the story, going from a generous and normal man to an increasingly cold person because of the terrible events he will have to experience.
Johan, on the other hand, is considered hands down one of the best-written villains ever.
7. Berserk
Long introductions are unnecessary for Berserk, one of the most iconic series in anime and manga history.
The work conceived by Kentaro Miura still manages to enrapture its readers today thanks to its excellent story, outstanding characters, and one of the best dark fantasy settings ever created.
And one of the main aspects of this iconic series is definitely its protagonist Gatsu, hands down one of the best cold and taciturn protagonists in the history of the medium.
Gatsu throughout the story will have an incredible evolution, gradually opening up and showing his weak sides to the people he trusts, but always maintaining that aura of mystery and badass that we all love.
We recommend that you watch the 1997 animated version, surely the best of all those available. Although, to be honest, to enjoy the work 100% you should read the manga.
6. Attack on Titan
Attack on Titan is probably the most popular anime of recent years, produced by Studio Wiz and Studio MAPPA and adapted from the manga of the same name written by Hajime Isayama.
Humanity is hunted down by giant heartless humanoid creatures called Titans and has to survive inside walls, exiled from the rest of the planet.
Eren Yeager, a boy who pledged his life to kill all the Titans, discovers he has the power to turn into one and now stands the chance to even the playing field.
Although almost everyone knows nowadays, we can’t say too much this time to avoid spoilers.
But what we can tell you is that Eren’s evolution from being a kind MC ready to help others to one of the best cold MCs ever made is nothing short of exceptional.
That’s all we can say, except that you must watch this series if you haven’t already.
5. Terror in Resonance
Terror in Resonance is a thriller anime released in 2014 with 11 episodes with a fascinating detective component.
Tokyo is under attack by a group calling itself Sphinx, which has begun planting explosive devices around the city and posing riddles via the Internet daring the police to solve them or the bomb will explode.
But who are these Sphinx, why do they act this way, and will the police be able to keep them at bay?
Terror in Resonance is an underrated and outstanding anime with a story full of mystery and twists that will keep you glued to the screen.
The two main characters are cold and charismatic, and their backstories will slowly be revealed, explaining to you why they behave the way they do.
But you have to watch it to discover why, so what’re you waiting for?
4. Fate/Zero
Fate/Zero serves as a prequel to Fate/Stay Night, released in 2011 in 25 episodes.
The Holy Grail War is waged by those seeking to fulfill their wishes by defeating the other participants.
Kiritsugu Emiya, a notorious hitman known as the Magus Killer for his cold methods, is hired by a family seeking to win the war after consecutive losses.
Fate/Zero is one of the many pieces needed to fully understand the huge and beautiful Fate franchise.
If you are interested in watching it, we recommend that you look for a guide online and dive into this beautiful dark fantasy world full of action and twists and turns.
3. Hellsing Ultimate
Hellsing: Ultimate was released in 2006 and was made as an adaptation that was more faithful to the original manga.
The name of the series comes from the homonym secret organization Hellsing, whose duty is to hide the existence of Vampires and to keep the population safe.
The main character Alucard works for Hellsing as a vampire exterminator, being himself a member of the vampire race. He is supported by his new assistant Seras Victoria, a former policewoman who he saved in the past.
But a deep web of mysteries will soon arise.
Hellsing is a hidden gem, and probably the best choice on this list if you’re looking for an anime focused on pure action.
Alucard also is a cold protagonist who has no qualms about killing his victims without any mercy. But even he harbors secrets that you will discover throughout the story.
2. Death Note
Death Note has often been cited as one of the best anime series ever created and has won the Tokyo Anime Awards.
Light Yagami is a young model student who harbors strong disgust and disappointment with the world around him.
His life changes drastically when one day he sees a mysterious notebook, the Death Note, fall from the sky, capable of causing the death of anyone simply by writing his name.
Light’s plans are clear, to use the notebook to kill as many criminals as possible to purge this world of evil.
But soon he will have to deal with L, one of the greatest private investigators, hired to unravel the mystery of the continuing deaths among criminals.
We all know this by now, even those who have not seen Death Note. If we talk about cold MCs who will stop at nothing to achieve their goal, Light Yagami has few rivals.
Throughout the plot, he will commit several betrayals, exploit people close to him, and literally commit mass slaughter.
1. Code Geass
Code Geass is a critically acclaimed anime with no source material and has won several awards including Best Anime TV Series.
Japan became a colony of the empire of Britain and is now known as Area 11, putting the country at war.
Lelouch Lemparouge gets caught in a crossfire and can escape after receiving the Geass from C.C., a mysterious girl. This power allows him to have absolute power over others by direct eye contact.
Lelouch’s use of it will be aimed at his character, which is as charismatic and full of leadership as it’s cold, calculating and charismatic at extreme levels.
Full of intrigue and twists completely driven by Lelouch’s motivations, this anime hits the sweet spot that keeps you glued to the screen, waiting for the next plot twist.
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