Revenge is a dish best served cold, and that frigid pursuit is what makes vengeance such a great catalyst for compelling stories. Vengeance sheds light on the best and worst of human nature.
There's absolutely no shortage of enthralling revenge stories out there, with vengeance being a theme that regularly pops up in film, TV, literature—and, of course, anime.
And anime deals with the theme of revenge surprisingly well for a medium that's often (wrongly) considered childish and immature.
Here are my picks for the best anime series about revenge and vengeance that approached their subject matter with nuance and care, coupled with eye-popping animation.
10. Berserk
Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Horror
Originally aired 2016 to 2017
24 episodes (2 seasons)
A sequel to the classic 90s anime series Berserk, the more recent Berserk (which confusingly has the exact same name) is based on the same iconic manga that inspired its predecessor.
The story follows the same protagonist, Guts, but this time he's on a quest for revenge against his former best friend Griffith.
Knowing that he has joined the God Apostles—who just so happen to be a group of demons that brought about a cataclysmic extinction-level event in the original series—he seeks to find them and his rival so that he can mete out the vengeance they deserve.
9. Dororo
Dororo is one of the most heartfelt anime series about revenge, which isn't exactly a combination you might've expected.
It follows the story of the young ronin Hyakkimaru and his young child sidekick Dororo, who travel together through Japan to fight the demons that have taken Hyakkimaru's body parts.
Based off that description alone, you can already tell that Dororo is an anime series that's dripping with mythology—and you can rest assured that it all leads to an excellent climax.one of the most mythological anime about revenge out there.
Based on the 1968 anime of the same name, Dororo is a worthy successor to a vivid tale about the seeking of revenge.
8. Blade of the Immortal
Action, Adventure, Drama, Supernatural
Originally aired 2019 to 2020
24 episodes (1 season)
In Blade of the Immortal, a man named Manji is turned immortal and told that the only way to break the curse is to assassinate 1,000 evil men. A most arduous task, indeed.
While on his mission to find and kill all those evil men, Manji crosses paths with a young girl named Rin Asano.
Rin is on her own path of revenge, wanting to find and kill the ones who murdered her father and his entire dojo, causing the rest of her family to fall into shame and become outcasts.
Together, Manji and Rin team up to get vengeance, making Blade of the Immortal one of the best buddy revenge anime series out there.
7. Seraph of the End
Seraph of the End doesn't just stand out for its phenomenal title—it's one of the best vampire anime series we've seen.
In Seraph of the End, the world is a place that's now overrun by vampires that were spawned from a man-made virus that swept across Earth.
Yūichirō Hyakuya, a young man whose family was murdered by vampires, joins a group of vampire exterminators to get revenge—as well as to save his best friend.
Thrilling and affecting, Seraph of the End remains one of the best anime series about revenge. Even if you might not normally like vampires, you should definitely check this one out.
6. Rurouni Kenshin
Action, Adventure, Comedy, Romance
Originally aired 1996 to 1998
94 episodes (3 seasons)
Calling Rurouni Kenshin an anime series about revenge might cause you to raise an eyebrow given that the former assassin Kenshin Himura has vowed to never again take another person's life.
Having given up his past life, Kenshin now lives as a wandering samurai who wields a katana with its blade set backwards so that it's far less lethal than it would be normally.
Kenshin seeks to correct the crimes of others, protecting not only Japan but, more specifically, a martial arts school. But how long can he live like this before his newfound ethics are put to the test and he's driven to seek revenge once more?
Offering intriguing perspectives in various facets of morality and the nature of vengeance, Rurouni Kenshin holds up well and is widely considered a must-watch classic anime series for good reason.
5. Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion
Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion is an interesting anime series that presents an alternate history where the real world has gone down a different path with twists on world politics.
The Holy Britannian Empire has grown into an immensely powerful state that has conquered numerous countries. All of this is possible because Britannia has access to giant mecha robots called Knightmares, which they use to seize and maintain control.
Japan, which is now referred to as Area 11, is one of many nations that have fallen under the Empire's control. From Japan rises one man named Lelouch who decides to fight back and exact vengeance for the sufferings of his family, friends, and country.
Known as the Black Prince, Lelouch uses a special dark power that allows him to force people to do his bidding. From that alone, you can tell that Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion is a morally gray series that features one of the most iconic anti-heroes in anime.
4. 91 Days
If 91 Days flew under your radar, you should really swing back and give this short-but-powerful anime series a try. It's one of the most personal and overtly revenge-themed animes ever made.
91 Days is set in 1932 during the tail end of Prohibition in the United States, a time when there was a massive black market for liquor and alcohol—and that black market is dominated by the Italian Mafia.
Seven years ago, Angelo Lagusa's whole family was murdered by the Mafia, leaving him an orphan. Now he's on a path of revenge, specifically against Don Vincent Vanetti of the Lawless District.
Though only one season has been released so far, there's speculation that another will come. We're patiently waiting to see where the story will go from its dramatic season finale!
3. Castlevania
Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Horror
Originally aired 2017 to 2021
32 episodes (4 seasons)
Castlevania is largely underrated in anime communities, snubbed to the point where even sites like MyAnimeList refuse to list it as an anime.
But for us, just because Castlevania is a Netflix production by Western creators doesn't mean it isn't an anime. And truth be told, it's far better than many other anime series of its kind.
Castlevania is perhaps the most macabre telling of a classic tale of vengeance—a man wants revenge for the murder of his wife—but elevated by the fact that the protagonist here is Dracula.
And that's what Castlevania is about: the most famous vampire in history seeks vengeance, and this causes a whole chain of dark, twisted events to unfold through his quest to get it.
2. Attack on Titan
From the moment Attack on Titan dropped in 2013, it changed the landscape of anime forever. For such a brutally violent and horrifically gory anime series to reach mainstream popularity? Unheard of.
Over the years, Attack on Titan went from amassing a cult following to becoming one of the most popular anime series in the world. It's fresh, it's gritty, it's thrilling, it's unpredictable.
And it all centers on the trials and tribulations of Eren Yeager, a young man who lives in a walled city where the last remnants of humanity have holed up after man-eating titans have taken over the world.
One day, the titans breach the walls of his city and devour his mother right before his eyes. From that moment on, he vows that he will never rest until every last titan has been vanquished.
Revenge is a dark theme that's best suited for a dark anime series, and mainstream anime doesn't get much darker than Attack on Titan.
1. Vinland Saga
Action, Adventure, Drama, Historical
Originally aired 2019 to 2023
48 episodes (2 seasons)
If you're looking for the absolute best anime series about revenge, look no further than Vinland Saga.
While Attack on Titan is certainly dark and has a massive fan base, it lacks a certain sense of realness that Vinland Saga has in spades. This anime is portrayed in a way that really makes you feel like you're right there with the characters.
Set during the Viking Age, Vinland Saga is the story of Thorfinn, a young man whose father is killed by a Viking leader named Askeladd. He joins Askeladd's group, biding his time so that he can one day challenge Askeladd to a proper duel and finally avenge his father.
Very few animes evoke the kind of Shakespearean feeling that Vinland Saga does, made all the better by its mesmerizing animation. Needless to say, it makes for a massively engaging watch.
If you ask me, Vinland Saga isn't just the best anime about revenge—it's one of the best animes of the past decade, period.
