5 Must-watch anime where the protagonist turns into a villain

Time of India

23-07-2025

Source: Crunchyroll
What turns a hero into a villain? In anime, some of the most powerful stories revolve around protagonists who descend into darkness. These transformations explore complex psychological themes such as trauma, identity crisis, moral conflict, and the corrupting nature of power.
Watching a character slowly abandon their values creates gripping tension and forces viewers to examine uncomfortable truths about human behavior. Whether driven by pain, revenge, or distorted ideals, these characters reveal how easily the line between good and evil can fade. If you enjoy anime with intense character development and thought-provoking storytelling, these must-watch titles deserve a spot on your list.
5 Anime with plot twists where the protagonist turns into a villain
Death Note
: Light Yagami's God Complex
Source: Crunchyroll
No list of protagonist-turned-villain anime is complete without Death Note. Light Yagami, a brilliant high school student, finds a mysterious notebook that allows him to kill anyone by writing their name in it. Initially, he uses it to rid the world of criminals, believing he's creating a utopia. But as the series progresses, Light becomes consumed by power, declaring himself the "God of the New World."
His descent is both chilling and fascinating. He manipulates, lies, and kills without hesitation, becoming the very evil he claimed to fight. Light's transformation is not abrupt, it's gradual, logical, and frighteningly human. Death Note forces the viewer to question: If you had the power to change the world, would you remain good?
Code Geass
: Lelouch's dark rebellion
Source: Crunchyroll
Code Geass presents another iconic protagonist-turned-villain in the form of Lelouch Lamperouge, a former prince who gains the power of Geass, the ability to command anyone to do his bidding.
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Driven by a desire to overthrow the tyrannical Britannian Empire and create a peaceful world for his sister, Lelouch becomes a revolutionary leader under the masked identity "Zero."
But in his quest for justice, Lelouch uses manipulation, terrorism, and cold-blooded strategy that results in countless deaths. While his endgame aims for peace, his path is filled with destruction. Is he a hero with a noble cause or a villain masked by ambition? Code Geass explores that moral gray zone with powerful storytelling and one of the most dramatic endings in anime history.
Attack on Titan
: Eren Yeager's fall from grace
Source: Crunchyroll
From a freedom-seeking child to the harbinger of apocalypse, Eren Yeager's character arc in Attack on Titan is one of the most shocking in modern anime. In earlier seasons, Eren is driven by a desire to destroy the Titans and protect humanity. But as the story unfolds, so does the truth about the world, and Eren's response is devastating.
By the final season, Eren wages war on a global scale, leading a genocidal campaign known as "The Rumbling."
Once a symbol of hope, he becomes a mass murderer, justifying his actions as a means to secure his people's future. His transformation is tragic, terrifying, and heartbreakingly complex.
Parasyte: The Maxim
, Shinichi's loss of humanity
Source: Crunchyroll
In Parasyte: The Maxim, Shinichi Izumi starts as a kind, regular teenager until a parasitic alien named Migi invades his body. As the two co-exist, Shinichi gradually loses his empathy and human emotions. While he doesn't become a full-fledged villain, his transformation is unsettling.
He begins to make ruthless decisions, shows little emotion after personal losses, and becomes increasingly detached from human society. Though still fighting other parasites to protect people, Shinichi's changing psychology raises questions: Can one still be called a hero if they've lost their humanity?
Tokyo Ghoul
: Kaneki's monstrous evolution
Source: Crunchyroll
Ken Kaneki in Tokyo Ghoul might have the most painful and layered descent into darkness. A shy, book-loving student, Kaneki turns into a half-ghoul after a transplant surgery gone wrong.
Initially, he struggles to retain his human identity while surviving in the ghoul world. But repeated trauma, torture, and betrayal shatter his innocence. Kaneki evolves from a scared teen into a violent, morally ambiguous warrior who embraces his ghoul side.
He joins dark factions, adopts new identities, and begins to blur the lines between protector and predator. His descent is not about power; it's about survival in a brutal world.
Light Yagami's chilling god complex in Death Note, Eren Yeager's earth-shattering transformation in Attack on Titan, and the gradual loss of humanity in Parasyte: The Maxim are just a few examples of how anime can explore the dark side of its main characters. These stories prove that a protagonist's fall into villainy can be just as gripping as a hero's triumph. Complex character arcs, psychological tension, and blurred moral lines make these anime unforgettable for viewers who crave depth and drama.
Anime with heroes-turned-villains c conventional storytelling and push audiences to rethink ideas of justice, identity, and power. These five titles offer intense emotional journeys and plot twists that stay with you long after the credits roll.
Interested in more anime with morally grey characters or dark themes? Keep this list handy and start your next watch with one of these powerful and thought-provoking series.
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