The 14 Most Shocking Anime Betrayals

1. Bertolt And Reiner Reveal They Are Titans In Attack On Titan

In Attack on Titan, Titans are creatures that pose a huge threat to humanity. In the year 845, these giant creatures breach a wall meant to keep them away from mankind because of a hole created by two unique Titans, the Colossus and Armored Titans. This results in the passing of many people, including Eren Yeager's mother. A few years later, Eren trains with other humans to fight against the Titan invasion. He befriends Reiner and Bertolt, two guys who also seem to hate Titans.

During a battle to defend humanity, Reiner reveals that he and Bertolt are actually the Colossus and Armored Titans, the very same Titans responsible for the breach at Wall Maria and the tragic passing of his mother. The deception is jaw-dropping and sends Eren into a fit of utter rage.

2. Aizen Betrays Soul Society In Bleach

Sōsuke Aizen is best known for being the main antagonist in Bleach. However, he first appears as a mild-mannered and reserved individual. His sinister nature is shown later in the series when he takes the position of captain in the Soul Society military. He is admired by many of the Shin'O Academy students and highly regarded by officials of the Soul Society, but then he suddenly abandons his position and destroys all perceptions of loyalty to his community. Further, into the timeline, Aizen takes his betrayal a step further when he returns with the army of Arrancar to wage war against the Soul Society.

3. Griffith Sacrifices The Band Of Hawk In Berserk

In the anime Berserk, Griffith leads the Band of the Hawk, a group of mercenaries recruited by the king to fight important battles that swayed the outcome of the Hundred Year War. Their success is cut short when Griffith's affair with the princess results in his imprisonment and torture. The Band of the Hawk suffers, but they eventually recover enough to come to their beloved leader's rescue. However, when they finally reach Griffith, they find is a shell of what he used to be. What's worse, during the rescue, Griffith initiates a shocking act of betrayal when he activates his Crimson Behelit. He sacrifices the Band of the Hawk, so he can be reborn as the God Hand, Femto.

4. Walter Betraying Integra In Hellsing

Walter is an elderly man who takes on the role of butler for Integra Hellsing. Despite his refined appearance, he can still take on vampires with ease, even at his old age. In the series, Walter is captured by the Captain, who puts him through a rejuvenation process that transforms him into a younger, stronger, and more advanced version of himself. Walter makes his return and reveals to his old friends that he is Millenium’s new secret weapon, the Angel of Death. His betrayal comes as a huge shock to Integra, who is stunned by his defiance and newfound loyalty.

5. Itachi Slaughters The Uchiha Clan In Naruto

In Naruto, the village of Konoha was founded as a symbol of peace among the Senju and Uchiha clans. However, as time went on, the Uchiha began to experience isolation, which cultivated a desire to overthrow the heavily Senju-favored Konoha leadership. Itachi, an Uchiha clan member, and a double agent was confronted with a decision: allow the Uchiha to start a war that will end with their extinction, or kill the clan to save his brother and himself. In a great act of betrayal to his community, Itachi slaughters the entire Uchiha clan, except for his little brother, Sasuke, and a member who was away at the time (Tobi).

6. Archer Comes Back To Kill Himself In Fate/Stay Night

In Fate/Stay Night, it is revealed that Archer’s real identity is an older Shirou Emiya from a parallel universe. Archer is a Counter Guardian, a force that is typically summoned to prevent the world from imminent danger. Archer betrays his younger self by making a contract with the world to enter into a timeline to kill himself to prevent such a disastrous timeline from happening.

7. Kyubey Tricks Little Girls In Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Kyubey is the adorable kitten-like creature in Puella Magi Madoka Magica. It comes to young girls with the promise of granting them their biggest wish. In exchange for the wish, the girls must sign a contract where they enlist as magical girls who must protect the world from witches. It all seems very innocent and almost too good to be true.

Well, as the anime continues, you find out that this life as a magical girl comes at quite the cost. Once a girl signs one of Kyubey's contracts, they do become magical girls. However, Kyubey doesn't tell them that when a magical girl falls into despair, they turn into witches to be hunted by other young girls. This results in a tragic, never-ending cycle.

8. Grell Kills Madam Red In Black Butler

To the ordinary person, Grell is nothing more than a butler for Angelina Dalles, a Phantomhive aristocrat. Yet both Grell and Dalles harbor a dark secret: they are actually the murderers behind the Jack the Ripper attacks in Black Butler. Angelina, also known as Madam Red, and Grell, a Grim Reaper, and collector of souls, benefit greatly from their relationship. However, things turn sour when their identity is uncovered by fellow Phantomhive members Ciel and Sebastian.

9. Sailor Neptune And Sailor Uranus Betray Sailor Moon

Sailor Neptune and Uranus are notorious for running off on their own and using alternative methods when fighting villains. In Sailor Moon Sailor Stars, the two end up committing the ultimate act of betrayal by joining Sailor Galaxia in her quest for stealing Star Seeds and defeating Sailor Moon. What Sailor Moon didn't know was that the two Sailor Senshi did this to get closer to Galaxia to steal her Star Seed. While Sailor Neptune and Sailor Uranus ultimately acted in what they thought was the best interest of the Sailor Scouts, their choice to leave Sailor Moon out of the loop as they betrayed her resulted in lots of heartbreak and shock.

10. Villetta Kills Kaname Ohgi In Code Geass

Villetta Nu is a Knightmare Frame pilot in the Britannian Military tasked with taking down the resistance in the Holy Britannian Empire. During her mission, she begins to track down Lelouch, unaware of his true identity. In her pursuit, she is shot and loses all memory of who she is, but is rescued by resistance member Kaname Ohgi. With none of her memories intact, she falls in love and even marries Kaname. However, during an attack, her memories return. Villetta quickly realizes the type of people her husband is affiliated with goes against everything she stands for. In the most shocking act of betrayal, she turns on Kaname and kills him.

11. Satsuki Betrays Ragyō In Kill La Kill

Satsuki Kiryuin is a huge authority figure in Kill la Kill because she is the president of the student council at Honnoji Academy. For the first part of the anime, Satsuki is the main antagonist. However, it is later revealed that she is the daughter of Ragyo Kiryuin, wife of the CEO of Revocs Corporation. It is revealed that Satsuki failed to fuse with Life Fibers at a young age and that because of this, her mother sees her as a disappointment. Later, Ragyo's evil plan to sacrifice the city to the Life Fibers is revealed. In a shocking twist, Satsuki chooses to betray her mother by siding with her peers.

12. Everything Is About Betrayal In Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo

Manipulation, revenge, and betrayal - Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo is all about these three themes. Before he dedicated his life to revenge, Edmond Dantes was a kind-hearted sailor who often fell victim to the people around him. After falling in love with a young woman named Mercedes, he is framed and imprisoned on false charges by his so-called friends on the day of his wedding. During his imprisonment, he allows the demon Gankutsuou to possess him, so he can seek his revenge against the people who wronged him. The biggest betrayal of all is when the Count discovers that Mercedes eventually went on to marry one of his conspirators while he was imprisoned.

13. Anthy Backstabs Utena In Revolutionary Girl Utena

Loyalty is a trait that often goes unrewarded, which is definitely the case for Anthy and Utena in Revolutionary Girl Utena. Anthy is the Rose Bride, a reward given to winning duelists at Ohtori Academy. Utena wins Anthy and from that point forward, the two become good friends. In the series, it's revealed that Anthy is in a romantic relationship with her brother, Akio, and holds the Sword of Dios within her.

Akio is a power-hungry individual who manipulates his younger sister and eventually pits the two girls against each other. When Akio reveals Anthy's identity as a Witch, Utena refuses to believe him and the two engage in a duel. In a shocking act of betrayal, Anthy reveals her true nature by stabbing Utena in the back.

14. Arashi Leaves The Dragons Of Heaven In X/1999

The Dragons of Heaven and the Dragons of Earth are two groups destined to face each other in an epic battle that will ultimately determine the outcome of humanity on Earth. Arashi Kishu is a Dragon of Heaven member who falls in love with another member, Sorata Arisugawa. During a heated battle, Sorata nearly kills himself as he tries to defend her. Arashi realizes she loves Sorata deeply and understands that he would sacrifice himself to save her.

To prevent such self-sacrifice, Arashi betrays the Dragons of Heaven and joins the Dragons of Earth. Unfortunately, it is her actions that result in Sorata's death, as he defends her again in a later battle.