Top 10 Mental Breakdowns in Anime

Top 10 Mental Breakdowns in Anime

Let’s just calm down and settle things in a cool, reasonable manner. Never mind. Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Mental Breakdowns in Anime.

For this list, we’re looking at some of the toughest, most traumatic experiences an Anime character can go through and just how crazy they can be driven as a result. Some of these unfortunate events veer into Spoiler Territory, so you’ve been warned before going forward.

#10: Yomi

“Black Rock Shooter” (2012)
High school can be a pretty rocky ride growing up, especially for the quiet ones like Yomi. She’s a shy girl who wants friends but isn’t good at making them. When she finally makes new friends, her so-called best friend Kagari’s jealousy forces a distance between them.
This soon changes when Kagari suddenly returns to school, makes new friends and gives her the cold shoulder. Her despair seems to implant the idea that “no one needs her” in her head, a fear that is soon solidified when her old bestie tells her she’s moved on…

#9: Matt Engarde

“Ace Attorney” (2016)
Most people in Ace Attorney tend to get a little nuts when they’re revealed as the culprit. What makes Matt Engarde stand out from the rest? He was being defended by Wright himself. The suave actor thought he could avoid getting his hands dirty by hiring a contract killer to eliminate a co-star. When it looks like the truth is closing in, Matt’s assassin, De Killer, decides to turn his attention to his employer. Fearing for his life, Matt confesses and begs to be sent to prison for his own protection.

#8: Sayaka Miki

“Puella Magi Madoka Magica” (2011)
All Sayaka wanted in life we’re two things: To become a Magical Girl and to win the heart of the boy she loves. Sadly, both come with unfortunate consequences. Sayaka becomes a Magical Girl and wishes for her ailing love interest to be healed. Happy ending, right? No. Her love is not returned and, as a result, she begins to fall into a dark pit of depression. It all heads down one inevitable path and confirms a horrifying suspicion: that Magical Girls are destined to become Witches.

#7: Dilandau

“The Vision of Escaflowne” (1996)
As one of the most elite warriors of the Zaibach Empire, Dilandau loves two things: fire and blood. Things change for the rabid wild dog in two separate encounters with Van Fanel. In the first Dilandau’s “perfect” face is cut. But, during the second, when Van unleashes a berserk Escaflowne on Dilandau and his Dragon Slayers, the cold hearted killer is mortified and barely survives. He falls into a deep state of depression, hallucinating and calling out for his poor, departed minions. Oh how the mighty have fallen.

#6: Monkey D. Luffy

“One Piece” (1999-)
For someone so happy go lucky, some might find it surprising to see Monkey D Luffy on this list. On rare occasions, even he can be overcome with sadness. The most prominent of these moments is when Luffy’s brother, Ace, sacrifices himself to save Luffy from a death blow from Admiral Akainu. When the dust settles, Luffy refuses to accept his brothers loss as reality and goes on a rampage, trying to smash the painful memory away. It just goes to prove that even the optimistic of heroes can be shattered in moments.

#5: Subaru

“Re:Zero” (2016)
Subraru goes through a lot over the course of RE:Zero, what with his “returns by death” curse and all. After coming into the company of Rem, Subaru witnesses a few cycles of death and torture he is not prepared for. As he and Rem both suffer at the hands of merciless captors, Subaru can only watch as it all plays out, unable to help her. The psychological scars Subaru receives during these time loops are enough to leave him in a near catatonic state.

#4: Sasuke Uchiha

“Naruto Shippuden” (2007-17)
For years, the brooding Ninja in training, Sasuke, has had one goal: kill his brother Itachi and avenge his family. While he was already pretty messed up believing his brother, Itachi, slaughtered their clan, it was truth that finally broke Sauske down. Turns out he didn’t destroy the clan out of malice, it was all to protect Sasuke following a deal he made with the village. Though he finds out a little too late, as he has already killed his brother…and we see a whole new side to this brooding ninja.

#3: Nina

“Code Geass” (2006-08)
We all have beloved idols in our lives and it sucks when they leave us. Still, we don’t think that there has been nearly as dramatic a reaction as Nina here. After Euphemia, the Princess of Britannia, saves her life, Nina becomes her biggest fan, and even falls in love with her. But when the Princess is gunned down in a massacre, Nina’s mind is broken. Many mourn the loss of poor Euphie in their own way. Nina, however, goes and creates a thermonuclear bomb to take all of Area 11 down...

#2: Shinji Ikari

“Neon Genesis Evangelion” (1995-96)
Shinji is already scarred for life well before he comes to NERV’s doorstep. The continued rejection by his father, and the added weight of the world on his shoulders doesn’t lessen Shinji’s fragile mind. Oh and he lives with the verbally abusive Asuka. Then we get to The End of Evangelion, when EVERYTHING goes to hell. Unable to save his friends and prevent the destruction of NERV, Shinji flat out loses his mind.

Before we reveal our Top Pick, here are a few Honorable Mentions:

Nui Harime
“Kill La Kill” (2013-14)

Vegeta
“Dragon Ball Z” (1989-96)

#1: Light Yagami

“Death Note” (2006-07)
You can only live at the top of the pyramid for so long. So, what happens when you finally lose? For Light Yagami, aka Kira, it results in one of the most amazing freak-outs of all time. The cool and confident Light, unable to talk his way out of being caught, explodes before the eyes of the investigation team. He acts less like the “God of the New World” he’s aspired to be and more like a rabid demon out for blood.