In the wacky world ofanime, viewers often stumble upon characters sporting a divine ego, and guess what? They usually land a prime spot in the villain’s lineup. Picture this: theydream of divine promotion, shouting, “I’m the supreme overlord!” or gunning for a gig as the cosmic babysitter because they think they’ve got the celestial resume.
Meanwhile, anime heroes are cool cats with morals and values, creating a whimsical clash between virtuous vibes and god complexes. Here are some of the characters that bring some egoistic drama to their personalities.
10Father - Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood
Born from alchemical essence at the Gate of Truth, the Dwarf in the Flask exploited his tie to Van Hohenheim, manipulating him into creating a physical form using the souls of Xerxes. After this macabre act, Hohenheim distanced himself, and the Dwarf, now Father, ventured eastward, spreading Alchemy.
Father Literally Devoured God
InFullmetal Alchemist’stale, Father not only birthed Amestris but also plotted another nationwide Philosopher’s Stone. Orchestrating it during an eclipse, Father aimed to absorb God, surpassing divinity. Successfully achieving this, he became nearly invincible. There is no surprise that he got that god complex, since he literally devoured God. However, this doesn’t last long when God frees itself from the Father.
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9Light Yagami - Death Note
When high schooler Light Yagami stumbles upon the Death Note in the anime bearing his name, he adopts the alter ego Kira, using it to kill the criminals. The world’s supposed savior becomes the target of L, hailed as its greatest detective. While theDeath Notenarrative largely orbits their cat-and-mouse dynamics, it’s Light’s spiral into megalomania that defines his god complex.
A Manipulative Schemer
Firmly convinced he’s the future god of a crime-free world, Light ruthlessly manipulates others, orchestrating schemes to evade the police, often at others’ expense. He really has a messed-up mentality that he is ending crime while killing others all the while himself. His overestimation of the Death Note’s power proves fatal, eventually culminating in his downfall.
Stream on Netflix
8Sosuke Aizen - Bleach
Inthe realm ofBleach, Sosuke Aizen boldly declares his superiority, claiming the ability to “stand in Heaven” and surpass even the gods. His grand scheme involves toppling the Soul King, the quasi-deity ruling Seireitei, to seize the throne in the Royal Realm.
Betrayal and Immortality
In the last arc, Yhwach tries to recruit Aizen, but Aizen betrays him, possibly due to his Shinigami pride and reluctance to be subservient to a Quincy, who are considered rivals despite Yhwach technically freeing him. Aizen eventually attains immortality, regardless of Ichigo’s intervention. This solidifies him as a character consumed by the “I am god-like and better than everyone” complex.
7Griffith - Berserk
Driven by an insatiable ambition to ascend beyond all limits, Griffith went to extreme lengths. He shed his humanity to become Femto of the God Hand – a manifestation of the idea of Evil and humanity’s collective will. Now, as Griffith, he amasses power in the Physical Word, celebrated as the destine Falcon of Light.
His Motivations Are Up for Interpretation
Blurring the boundaries between Physical and Astral Worlds, he shapes the Interstice of Fantasia, a realm infested with fantastical monsters. While his god complex is unmistakable, Griffith’s true motivations, influenced by his astral and God Hand status, leave his actions open to interpretation.
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Related:10 Anime Antagonists Who Were Masters of Manipulation
6SEELE - Neon Genesis Evangelion
WithinNeon Genesis Evangelion, protagonist Shinji Ikari and the Evangelions, deployed by NERV to defend Earth from Angels, unwittingly serve SEELE, their covert backer, with a global conspiracy. Concealed behind governments, SEELE’s support for the Angel conflict veils a hidden agenda: the Human Instrumentality Project.
A Dark, Evil Project
This project aims to meld humanity’s souls within Lilith’s Egg through Evangelion Unit-01, forging a collective consciousness. SEELE’s evil goal was to forcibly unite mankind through this human project. Beyond this ominous fate, additional media hints at darker motives.Neon Genesis Evangelion2implies SEELE’s exclusive transformation within the Evangelion, evolving into a superior being.
5Donquixote Doflamingo - One Piece
Donquixote Doflamingo’s god complex is rooted in hisorigins as a Celestial Dragon. They are a class of individuals considered godlike, given their authority to rule over ordinary citizens with the freedom to own slaves, arbitrarily take lives, and even command the Marine Admirals.
The Heavenly Demon
Doflamingo, following his father’s departure from the Celestial Dragons, intensifies this mindset by degrading those around him. Embracing the title “Heavenly Demon,” he derives pleasure from exerting physical control over others like a puppet master. His actions and epithet emphasize the depth of his belief in his superiority and entitlement to dominate others.
4Kaguya Otsutsuki - Naruto
Upon Kaguya and Isshin Otsutsuki’s arrival in theNarutoworld to cultivate it into a Chakra Tree, Kaguya disrupts the plan by consuming the Chakra Fruit. Becoming the world’s inaugural chakra user, she seizes absolute control, suppressing human conflict.
A Tyrannical Reign
Soon, Kaguya’s reign turns tyrannical, driven by an insatiable desire to possess all chakra, even that of her children. Despite being sealed by her sons, Kaguya plots her return over millennia. Resurrected during the Fourth Great Ninja War, she becomes disillusioned that she is the only one who can wield chakra wisely and become humanity’s salvation. However, in the end, Kaguya eventually gets permanently sealed away.
Stream on Prime Video
Related:10 Best Anime Anthology Series
3Zamasu - Dragon Ball Super
InDragon Ball, Zamasu emerged as one of the most megalomaniacal figures. As a near-immortal Core Person, Zamasu is technically a “god” among the beings introduced inDragon Ball Super. His resentment towards indifferent gods intensifies when he witnesses Goku’s pursuit of godlike powers without divine intervention.
Greed and Jealousy Fuel His Ego
Convinced that eradicating evil mortals is the only solution, Zamasu descends into madness, ultimately possessing Goku to combine his godlike abilities with Goku’s vast potential. Even though Zamasu is already a god, but his greed to attain more powers and jealousy of Goku lead him to the destruction of others.
2Tetsuo Shima - Akira
Following World War III’s aftermath in Neo-Tokyo,Akira’s dystopian landscape witnesses a surge in biker gangs competing for control over the criminal realm. Tetsuo Shima, once a member-led by childhood friend Shotaro Kaneda, undergoes a life-altering event when a collision with Esper unlocks his psychic potential.
His Powers Spiral Out of Control
Tetsuo’s formidable powers, comparable to Akira’s, exacerbate his aggressive tendencies, leading him to rampage through Neo-Tokyo with an unwavering belief in his invincibility. His aggressive tendencies worsen as he perceives his abilities as unmatched, reinforcing a god complex. However, the unbridled abilities spiral out of control, reducing Tetsuo’s body to a grotesque mass.
1Izaya - Durarara!!
Izaya, a beloved anime villain, embraces his charm as a master manipulator, skillfully influencing others while maintaining a distance to shield himself. The essence of his character lies in this dichotomy. Crafting a unique board game melding chess, checkers, shogi, and Othello, Izaya engages in solitary matches within his apartment.
A Superior Intellect
Izaya can manipulate people like pawns on a chessboard. His penchant for orchestrating events and observing their consequences demonstrates a belief in his own superior intellect and control over the world around him. Additionally, Izaya’s deliberate distance from forming genuine connections may showcase his egoist character.
