Top 20 Best Assassin Anime That Will Make You Want To Be An Assassin
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Exploring the World of Assassin Anime
Today, we’re diving into the realm of the best assassin anime. The assassin archetype has deep roots, evolving through history and shaped by culture. Originally, assassins were members of an Islamic sect engaged in strategic battles during the Crusades. Over time, this identity transformed, coming to represent someone who eliminates others for political or ideological reasons.
Today, the term “assassin” often overlaps with the roles of hitmen, mercenaries, and spies. Anime, with its unique storytelling, has brought depth to this complex character type, adding layers and backstories that reveal a darker side of society. Through this list, we’ll explore some of the best assassin-themed anime, each bringing a unique twist to the genre.
20. Coyote Ragtime Show
In this thrilling sci-fi adventure, “coyote” and space fugitive Mister escapes jail just ten days before his release, aided by his old partners Bishop and Katana. He is on a mission to protect Franka, the daughter of a deceased comrade, while also on a quest for her father’s hidden treasure. Hunted by federal agents and a group of android assassins led by the notorious Madame Marciano’s Twelve Sisters, Mister and Franka are drawn into a high-stakes game of survival and discovery.
With its intense action and gripping plot, Coyote Ragtime Show is a must-watch for fans of assassin anime and action lovers alike.
19. 009-1
Set in a world where the Cold War never ended, Mylene Hoffman, a cyborg spy with the codename “009-1,” navigates a political divide between East and West, where conflict is constant. With a team of fellow spies, she is drawn into webs of deceit and espionage, fighting for survival amidst endless power struggles.
Though straightforward, this anime’s high-paced action and cyberpunk vibe make it ideal for fans of sci-fi and spy genres.
18. Madlax
In the war-torn land of Gazth-Sonika, mercenary Madlax demonstrates inhuman fighting prowess. Meanwhile, in the peaceful Nafrece, a girl named Margaret Burton lives an uneventful life. Despite their different lives, the two are bound by a mysterious connection. Together, they’re drawn to an ancient book sought by a sinister organization.
Madlax offers thrilling action scenes and intriguing character interactions, making it a notable addition to our list of top assassin anime.
17. Golgo 13: Queen Bee
The legendary assassin Golgo 13 is hired to eliminate Queen Bee, a deadly leader of a guerilla army. But as Golgo delves deeper, he uncovers a complex web of connections involving his client. Fast-paced and packed with intense action, Golgo 13: Queen Bee still holds its own and is perfect for fans of suspenseful, action-heavy anime.
16. Lupin III: Island of Assassins
Zenigata attends a high-profile event to investigate a fake calling card from Lupin, who soon arrives. But chaos erupts as masked assassins storm the party, leading to Zenigata’s injury and a confrontation with Lupin. The assassins hail from a secretive Island of Assassins, where government officials covertly employ killers.
As Lupin and his friends find themselves entangled in the island’s dark secrets, this action-packed story reveals hidden layers from Lupin’s past.
Noir is the name that strikes fear in those familiar with its history. Once the title of a famous assassin, it is now inherited by two women searching for answers about their pasts. Mireille Bouquet, a skilled French assassin, encounters Kirika, a girl with a hidden yet deadly talent and no memory of her identity.
Together, they journey to uncover their connected past, pursued by an organization known as Les Soldats. Noir captivates viewers with its engaging plot and character-driven mysteries.
14. Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit
In the kingdom of Shin Yogo, facing a devastating drought, ancient legends suggest that killing a water demon will bring salvation. When the emperor’s son, Chagum, is revealed to be possessed by such a demon, he is marked for assassination. Enter Balsa, a spear-wielding mercenary, who vows to protect him, fulfilling a sacred oath.
Through their journey, Moribito explores themes of family, life, and nature, creating an emotional and impactful anime that has earned its place on this list.
13. Chaika – The Coffin Princess
Five years after the fall of the Taboo King, Arthur Gaz, ex-saboteur Tooru Acura struggles to adapt to a world at peace. When he meets Chaika, a white-haired girl carrying a coffin and seeking her father’s remains, he takes on her mission. Meanwhile, Chaika is pursued by government agents determined to prevent her quest.
Filled with action, Chaika – The Coffin Princess blends adventure with mystery as Tooru and Chaika uncover secrets about the empire and themselves.
12. Blade of the Immortal
Cursed with immortality, the swordsman Manji seeks redemption by vowing to kill 1,000 evil men for every innocent life he took. His journey takes a new turn when he meets Rin, a young girl seeking revenge for her slain family. Together, they embark on a path filled with battles, forging bonds as they seek closure.
Blade of the Immortal presents a thought-provoking exploration of vengeance and redemption, enhanced by its unique, gritty animation style.
11. Gunslinger Girl
In Italy, the Social Welfare Agency rescues young girls from hospitals and enhances them with cybernetics, training them as assassins for government missions. Despite their physical strength, these girls remain emotionally vulnerable, yearning for approval and love from their handlers, even if their feelings are artificially induced.
Gunslinger Girl offers a haunting portrayal of innocence lost, as these young operatives navigate life as both children and killers. It’s an anime that tugs at the heartstrings while delivering intense action.
10. Kill la Kill
Following her father’s murder, Ryuuko Matoi roams the land seeking vengeance. Her only clue: the missing half of his invention, the Scissor Blade. This journey leads her to Honnouji Academy, a school governed by the iron-fisted Satsuki Kiryuuin and her powerful lieutenants, known as the Elite Four. Within this fiercely hierarchical academy, students at the top wear “Goku Uniforms,” granting superhuman abilities. After a brutal defeat at the academy, Ryuuko returns home, where she encounters Senketsu, a living “Kamui” or God Clothing. Awakened by her blood, Senketsu grants Ryuuko immense power. With her newfound strength and the Scissor Blade, she faces the Elite Four, determined to confront Satsuki and uncover her father’s killer.
Tokaku Azuma transfers to Myoujou Academy, a prestigious girls’ boarding school with a dark twist: Tokaku and eleven classmates in Class Black are assassins, each with one chance to kill their innocent classmate, Haru Ichinose. The reward for success? The fulfillment of any desire, no matter how impossible. Yet, Tokaku soon feels an unexpected attachment to Haru, her intended target. Rather than taking her life, Tokaku vows to protect Haru from her deadly classmates, confronting her own morals amid the escalating danger.
08. Danganronpa
Hope’s Peak Academy, an elite institution, accepts only the most gifted, assigning each student a unique title that highlights their skills. Among the fifteen selected students, Makoto Naegi is an ordinary individual with the title of “Super High School-Level Luck.” Joyful at first, the students are soon terrorized by Monokuma, the sinister bear headmaster who locks them inside the school. To escape, they must murder a classmate and avoid detection, while any exposed culprit faces execution. As they confront their fates in this dark survival game, a deadly challenge unfolds where only one can survive.
07. Code: Breaker
While riding the bus, Sakurakouji Sakura witnesses people being incinerated by blue flames, with a boy standing unharmed nearby. The next day, she finds no trace of the incident. In class, she’s surprised to meet a new student, Oogami Rei—the same boy she saw. Rei is a “Code Breaker,” a ruthless enforcer of justice who believes in “an eye for an eye.” Determined to change his heart, Sakura challenges Rei’s deadly path, despite the dangerous repercussions.
06. Mirai Nikki
Yukiteru Amano, a lonely high schooler, spends his days writing a diary on his phone and speaking to his imaginary friends Deus Ex Machina, the god of time and space, and Murmur, Deus’s assistant. To Yukiteru’s shock, Deus reveals himself as a true entity and grants Yukiteru a “Future Diary” that predicts future events. Soon, Yukiteru is plunged into a brutal battle royale with 11 others, each possessing a Future Diary. To survive, he must eliminate them all. Partnering with his obsessive stalker Yuno Gasai, Yukiteru fights to survive, unaware of Yuno’s own mysterious motives.
05. Phantom: Requiem for the Phantom
In the shadowed streets of America, the Inferno crime syndicate uses its top assassin, “Phantom,” to carry out hits. A Japanese tourist accidentally witnesses Phantom in action and is captured and brainwashed by Inferno’s leader, Scythe Master. Renamed “Zwei,” this once ordinary traveler is forced into a world of violence, struggling to survive and reclaim his lost memories, hoping one day to escape Inferno’s deadly grip.
04. Black Cat
Train Heartnet, a skilled assassin known as “Black Cat,” works for the secretive organization Chronos, carrying out missions with unyielding precision. However, an encounter with the free-spirited bounty hunter Saya Minatsuki changes him, leading Train to abandon his life as an assassin and instead pursue a more righteous path as a bounty hunter. Yet, Train’s decision doesn’t sit well with Chronos, and his former ally Creed Diskenth vows to stop him by any means. Now, Train must confront his past while forging a new life in the underworld.
Night Raid, an elite assassination squad within the Revolutionary Army, aims to overthrow the Empire’s corrupt Prime Minister, who manipulates the young emperor to serve his own greedy interests. Among their newest recruits is Tatsumi, a naive village boy who joins the fight to aid his impoverished hometown. Akame ga Kill! follows Tatsumi as he learns the harsh realities of rebellion, facing fierce enemies, powerful weapons, and morally challenging battles, all while striving to make a difference for the downtrodden people of the Empire.
02. Darker than Black
A decade after Heaven’s Gate and Hell’s Gate appeared in the world, these mysterious areas defy the laws of physics and bring forth Contractors—beings who sacrifice their humanity for supernatural abilities. In Tokyo, near Hell’s Gate, Chief Misaki Kirihara finds herself entangled with Hei, a notorious Contractor called “Black Reaper.” Employed by a shadowy organization, Hei carries out clandestine missions while uncovering the dark secrets surrounding Contractors and the powers that manipulate them. This sci-fi thriller delves into the morally complex world of Contractors, where loyalty and truth blur in the shadows.
01. Assassination Classroom
When a mysterious creature blasts part of the moon into a crescent, Class 3-E at Kunugigaoka Middle School faces an unexpected task: to kill the powerful being responsible, their new teacher Koro-sensei, before he destroys Earth. Though nearly indestructible and capable of moving at Mach 20, Koro-sensei is a surprisingly supportive teacher, dedicated to helping his students grow. In this high-stakes journey, the students balance honing their assassination skills with facing their own struggles, forming an unusual bond with Koro-sensei, the teacher they must eventually defeat.
Dev King is a passionate fan of manga, manhwa, and webtoons, with a love for Korean, Japanese, and Chinese cartoons. Always exploring new worlds and stories, he finds joy in every unique style and plot twist.
