Top 10 Anime Characters Who Died Standing

“Baki” (2018-20)

Given that he’s 146 years old, Kaku Kaiou seems an unlikely contender to survive a match against the world’s strongest creature, Hanma Yuujirou. Spoiler alert - he doesn’t. The ancient Chinese martial artist puts up a surprisingly great fight against Yuujirou, redirecting his powerful attacks. But that’s still not enough to overcome Yuujirou’s ridiculously overwhelming strength. Just when Kaku’s monstrous opponent is ready to deliver the final blow, he stops - Kaku is already dead on his feet. This leaves the match without a conclusion, and Yuujirou is incredibly frustrated. However, it turns out that Kaku stopped his own heart temporarily. You can’t lose if you’re already dead! “Baki” logic at its finest!

“Toriko” (2011-14)

When Toriko enters a colosseum match against a Battle Wolf, he’s initially excited to go up against such a legendary creature. He decides to hold off on hunting and eating her though - after all, she’s ready to give birth. Instead, Toriko defends the pregnant beast, until she gives birth to a pup, whom Toriko dubs Terry Cloth. However, when an enraged Devil Serpent attacks them, Terry’s mom leaps into action, despite her exhaustion, to protect her child. While she defeats the Serpent, a villainous GT Robo fatally wounds her. The Battle Wolf spends her last moments grooming Terry and imparting her love, before dying on her feet, er, paws. That’s a mother’s love for you!

“Kinnikuman Perfect Origin Arc” (2024-)

The wrestling match between Atlantis and Marlinman is quite the spectacle, given that it’s set in a ring over the water - and sometimes in it. The Akuma Chojin’s signature moves are countered, and he takes several near-fatal wounds from Marlinman’s spear-like nose. However, the lone cheers of a young fan in the audience push Atlantis to fight on. He ultimately uses his rival Robin Mask’s signature move, the Tower Bridge, to break Marlinman’s back and kill him. Although Atlantis stands triumphant, he dies while still upright, which leads to the match being declared a draw. He may have been a villainous Akuma Chojin, but Atlantis went out like a hero!

“Devilman: The Demon Bird” (1990)

Even demons have people they care about. The harpy-like Sirene ruthlessly pursues “Devilman” protagonist Fudo Akira, blaming him for fusing with the demon Amon, the demon realm’s greatest hero. Sirene engages Devilman in a lengthy battle that ultimately results in her taking her own attack and being badly injured. Willing to do anything to achieve her revenge, she fuses with her devoted ally Kaim, using her new power to overwhelm Akira, leaving him for dead. Although Akira survives, he awakens the next morning and discovers that Sirene died while standing before she could finish him off. Sirene may not have achieved her victory, but she died believing she had.

“Jujutsu Kaisen” (2020-)

He may not have cursed energy, but Toji is an absolute beast! Blessed with superhuman strength, the vicious mercenary is powerful enough to nearly kill Gojo Satoru, the strongest Jujutsu sorcerer in the world! However, the near-death experience ultimately ends up giving Gojo the flash of insight he needs to learn how to regenerate. After Gojo returns for a rematch, his new strength overwhelms Toji, particularly with his final attack - Hollow Purple. Toji loses nearly half his torso, yet continues to not only stand, but also talk! After effectively telling Gojo to look after his son, Toji dies on his feet. He may have been a jackass, but he went out like a badass!

“Bleach” (2004-12; 2022-)

Given that he’s the leader of Soul Society’s military, fans eagerly awaited seeing Captain-Commander Yamamoto unleash his full strength. And we finally got our wish when the wizened Shinigami commander used his Bankai against the Quincy leader, Yhwach. Yamamoto’s blazing Bankai scorches everything in its path, and seemingly overcomes even Yhwach. However, Yamamoto discovers too late that he’s been fighting an imposter. The real Yhwach shows up, steals Yamamoto’s Bankai, and slices him in half! And despite being in that state, Yamamoto’s legs remain standing, and his arm grabs hold of Yhwach’s cloak. Yhwach may call him pathetic, but Yamamoto’s “fire” still burning after death is awesome in our books!

“Record of Ragnarok” (2021-)

The father of humanity, Adam, is pitted against Zeus, father of the Greek gods, in this death match tournament to decide his children’s fate. With nothing but a knuckle duster and his fists, Adam lays into Zeus. Even after losing his eyes, which let him copy any technique, Adam continues punching until Zeus kneels in defeat. However, it turns out that Adam is already dead, which means Zeus wins, by technicality. Adam may have died, yet he continued to stand and even fight to protect his descendants! The first man was all that is man!

“Vinland Saga” (2019-)

He may be a pacifist, but Thors still takes up a sword to defend his son and his friends after they’re attacked by Vikings. After engaging the Vikings’ leader, Askeladd, in a duel, Thors dominates his opponent, leaving the formidable fighter at his mercy. However, when Thors’ son Thorfinn is held captive, he surrenders to protect the boy. After securing Askeladd’s promise to set his son and friends free, Thors is shot by many arrows. Even receiving that many wounds isn’t enough to drive the “Troll” to his knees, and he remains on his feet as he dies. If any warrior is worthy of Valhalla, it’s Thors!

“Fist of the North Star” (1984-88)


While dying while upright is kind of a tradition in this anime, the greatest instance of it undoubtedly occurs here. Main antagonist Raoh faces off against his adopted brother and the series’ hero Kenshiro in a final battle. Despite his prowess, Raoh can’t overcome Kenshiro and he concedes defeat to his sibling. After bidding farewell to his brother, Raoh decides to reach the afterlife on his own terms. He gathers his own lifeforce together and releases it into the sky - clearing the clouds and essentially punching his way into heaven! Raoh dies standing, his fist raised high. What an impossibly badass way to go out!

“One Piece” (1999-)


The only thing more epic than the life of the Pirate King’s greatest rival is his death! Whitebeard suffers many wounds during the battle at Marineford. However, it’s his confrontation with his traitorous ex-subordinate Blackbeard that fatally wounds him. With his life fading, Whitebeard uses his last breath to declare that the One Piece does exist, which acts as a last bit of revenge against the World Government and inspiration for a whole new generation of pirates. The strongest man in the world fondly recalls his dream of having a family, and his body refuses to fall, even in death! To top it all off, the narrator lists out his many wounds, none of which were on his back! What an absolute legend!


Is there an anime character who died upright that we forgot? Make your stand in the comments!