Top 10 Most Chilling Anime Moments of All Time
Top 10 Anime Moments That Gave You Chills
Top 20 Most Controversial Anime Moments of All Time
Welcome to WatchMojo and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the top 10 anime moments that gave you chills. For this list, we’ll be going over the anime scenes which gave us all shivers down our collective spines, whether it was out of fear, awe, or hype. Since most of these involve major events, there will be spoilers ahead! Seriously. If there’s an anime moment that gives you goosebumps, let us know in the comments.
#10: Eren Manipulates Grisha
Anime Duel: Guts vs Eren Yeager
“Attack on Titan” (2013-22) For most of this monster seinen’s run, everyone assumed that Eren Yeager was the product of his father’s schemes. However, the final season revealed that it’s actually the other way around. One of the Attack Titan’s abilities is to view the future memories of its other users. Through this, Eren was able to manipulate his Grisha into setting into motion the beginnings of what would later become the Rumbling. In doing so, this lay the foundation not only of his own tragic past, but many others as well. It’s a mind-blowing twist that had us all marveling at just how wrong we all were about Eren.
#9: United States of Smash
“My Hero Academia” (2016-) All Might’s confrontation with his nemesis, All For One, was always going to be epic, but their final moments of their clash “smashed” all expectations! With All For One exposing All Might’s weakened body to the world and tampling his spirit, it looked like the Symbol of Peace was on his last legs. And yet, with the whole country cheering him on, All Might succeeds in summoning the last of his strength. After transferring the last embers of his Quirk into the opposing arm, All Might delivered one last American themed blow to All For One’s face! The crescendo of the music, the huge cyclone, and All Might’s sadness at losing his place in the world is just pitch perfect.
#8: Hououin Kyouma Returns
“Steins;Gate 0” (2018) Zero essentially takes place in the “bad” ending of “Steins;Gate.” Our protagonist Okabe Rinatro is depressed, and far less animated than he was in the original series. But that all changes after Okabe asks his friend Itaru/Daru to punch him in the face. Okabe lets out a sinister and familiar laugh – his over-the-top persona, Hououin Kyouma has returned! So much of what made the original “Steins;Gate” fun was the Kyouma affectation, and seeing Okabe do it again was like seeing the sun again after months of night. “El psy congroo” indeed.
#7: Daki & Gyutaro Lose Their Heads
“Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” (2019-) Daki & Gyutaro are two demon siblings who have terrorized the “entertainment” district for decades. Their combination of blood demon arts so barbaric that it pushed Tanjiro and the others to their absolute limits. Unfortunately, neither can be killed unless they’re decapitated at the same time. Seeing all four Demon Slayers go all out to take the demon duo down is a feast for the senses, with gorgeous animation illuminating every savage moment. The hype just ramps up more and more, from Uzui’s comeback to Tanjiro’s forehead mark giving him the strength to push through the pain. Who knew the sight of two heads benign severed could bring so much joy.
#6: Atsushi & Akutagawa Decide to Work Together
“Bungo Stray Dogs” (2016-) Atsushi Nakajima and Ryunosuke Akutagawa can’t stand each other. Which is why, when both find themselves in conflict with Francis Fitzgerald, it brings up a lot of pent up emotions. Also their fists. However, after some further introspection and both lending the other an olive branch, they decide to work together against their common foe. Rivals coming together to face a bigger bad is a cliché, sure, but when it’s done well, we’re reminded why it’s so good, especially when the battle is on this scale, and their foe is that of a maniacal, superpowered version of the Great Gatsby. #
5: Unit 01 Goes Berserk
“Neon Genesis Evangelion” (1995-96) “Evangelion” has many things that distinguish it from other mecha anime. Viewers are given a wake up call about just how different early on in the series. After his mecha Eva, Unit 01, is seemingly defeated by the Angel with no functionality, it wakes back up and moves independently. Unit 01’s terrifying scream and ensuing rampage, which sees it handily destroy the Angel, has haunted dreams for decades whilst serving as an intriguing hook for the show’s greater mysteries.You don’t tend to see Gundams become sentient and start feasting on the corpses of their enemies!
#4: “I Want to Live!”
Top 10 Anime Moments that Live in Our Heads Rent Free
“One Piece” (1999-) There’s no shortage of sea-fairing adventures that left fans weeping, but this one holds a special place in a lot of hearts. Despite Luffy and the Straw Hat Crew coming to rescue her, Robin is still reluctant to go with them. She has been told her whole life that she doesn’t deserve to live, and even now she’s afraid the Straw Hats will betray her in the longrun. To demonstrate how much she means to them, Luffy has Usopp shoot down the World Government’s flag, effectively declaring war on the world for their friend! Robin’s tearful declaration that she finally wants to live and be with them is so well-delivered, that it's no wonder its viewed as a narrative high point
#3: Simon Steps Up
“Gurren Lagann” (2007) The loss of Team Dai-Gurren’s leader, Kamina, leaves several holes behind – most notably in the heart of his “bro,” Simon. His confidence shaken, Simon is nevertheless persistent when he and his friends are captured; eventually digging his way out and managing to rescue Nia. With her belief in him helping him restore his belief in himself, Simon declares his identity to the villains and affirms that he’ll no longer compare himself to Kamina, but instead be his own man. It’s at this moment that Simon goes from plucky sidekick to main character extraordinaire.
#2: “Bang!”
Top 10 Anime That Went Out With A Bang
“Cowboy Bebop” (1998-99) Spike Spiegel is one of the most badass anime protagonists out there, and his final battle against the Syndicate is legendary. After tearing through various goons, Spike gets his long awaited showdown with eternal foe Vicious. Eventually, it comes down to who’s faster on the draw with their chosen weapon. While Spike guns down Vicious, he’s mortally wounded himself. As the various Syndicate members look on, Spike, with nothing left, lets loose one final shot as only the Space Cowboy could. We’re gonna carry that weight.
#1: Edward’s Promise
“Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood” (2009-10) The series sometimes delves into some strange, metaphysical places, but at its core, “Fullmetal Alchemist” is about brothers Alphonse and Edward Elric, who have sacrificed their bodies after trying to play god. We’re reminded of both these aspects of the show when Edward makes a daring escape from Gluttony’s stomach by going to the door of Truth. There, Ed sees his brother’s emaciated body, still waiting for his soul. Ed getting dragged through the other door back to the real world is chilling enough, but then the mad lad breaks back through the door in defiance, promising Al that he’ll return for him soon no matter what.