
Anime fans are nothing if not dedicated, and few things inspire more contentious arguments than a character who gets everyone’s blood boiling. Some are bad guys who are cruel enough to make your skin crawl, others are intended heroes who cross too many lines, and a few are just so obnoxious that they’re loathed by all. Admire them or abhor them, these characters left deep impressions on anime fandom—and provoked hours of arguments in the process.

10. Ash Ketchum (Pokémon) — Forever the Almost-Champion
Ash has been the face of Pokémon for over two decades, yet for most of his run, he never truly won. Fans watched him fall just short season after season, with only one real championship out of 25 years. For a character meant to embody determination and hope, this constant cycle of near-misses made him strangely divisive—half inspiring, half infuriating.

9. Satou Matsuzaka (Happy Sugar Life) — Love Turned Horrific
Satou is a study in the way that love can curdle into obsession. Having grown up with twisted relationships, she only gets what she thinks is “true love” and is willing to do anything to save it. That “anything” is manipulating, being violent, and making terrible decisions that make viewers cringe. Some feel for her as a tragic character, but many cannot abide by her extremes.

8. Boruto Uzumaki (Boruto: Naruto Next Generations) — The Whiny Prodigy
Being the son of Naruto was going to be a difficult position to fill, but Boruto hasn’t done himself any favors. Fans perceive him as whiny, always begrudging his father’s burden, while at the same time possessing overpowered and undeservedly gifted abilities. In comparison to Naruto’s earned journey, Boruto appears shallow and privileged—landing him on most “most hated” lists.

7. Kirito (Sword Art Online) — The Overpowered Everyman
To some viewers, Kirito is wish fulfillment: unbeatable in combat, loved by all, and always winning the girl. To others, he’s the poster boy for sloppy writing. His string of perpetual wins leaves no opportunity for improvement, and the way the story bends to his will at every turn makes it difficult to become invested. He’s either your ideal self-insert hero—or your most frustrating character.

6. Lelouch Lamperouge (Code Geass) — Genius or Terrible?
Lelouch is the anime’s greatest antihero and greatest polarizer. His brilliance and charm make him easy to love, but his uncompromising decisions—compromising comrades, employing manipulation, and putting the lives of those around him at risk—are so villainous that it is easier to label him a villain than a hero. Whether you view him as a tragic hero or a ruthless dictator is solely in your interpretation of how to balance his means against his ends.

5. Retsuko (Aggretsuko) — From Relatable to Frustrating
Initially, Retsuko seemed to be the ultimate stand-in for working millennials: worked to the bone, underpaid, and screaming her frustrations through death metal karaoke. But as the seasons progressed, particularly with her romance plot with Haida, fans grew frustrated. The hasty, off-screen development and frustrating resolution left people disappointed by a character who had begun so relatable.

4. Stocking Anarchy (Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt) — Out-of-Nowhere Villain
In perhaps the greatest of anime’s headscratching moments, Stocking is a demon at the very end of the show. The catch? There is no build-up, no hint, and no explanation of whether or not the twist is even canon. To some viewers, it was an ambitious, crazy finale; to others, it was merely a cheap shock that cheapened her character completely.

3. Eren Yeager (Attack on Titan) — Destroyer Turned Hero
Few heroes have changed as profoundly as Eren Yeager. He started as the last hope of humanity, but by the end of the final arc, he committed mass genocide and killed 80% of the world. Whether his intentions were based on desperation and distorted love for his friends, it is difficult to excuse his actions. His change solidified him as one of anime’s most polarizing protagonists of all time.

2. Light Yagami (Death Note) — Justice or Tyranny?
Light begins as an extraordinary student utilizing the Death Note to rid the world of criminals. Initially, his aim appears virtuous—but it soon turns into ego-fueled tyranny. As the series concludes, Light is power-drunk, murdering anyone who dares to challenge his godly domination. He is still one of anime’s most intriguing antiheroes, walking the fine line between justice-seeker and full-fledged villain.

1. Hisoka Morow (Hunter x Hunter) — Charisma Meets Creepy
If there’s one anime character who never fails to make fans uncomfortable, it’s Hisoka. Equal parts flamboyant and terrifying, Hisoka lives for battle—and disturbingly, he’s sexually aroused by the idea of fighting strong opponents, including young Gon and Killua. His mix of charm, menace, and deeply unsettling obsession makes him unforgettable… and utterly hated.

Of course, this is only scratching the surface. Shou Tucker from Fullmetal Alchemist is still notorious for his disgusting experiments. Mineta of My Hero Academia is still one of the most hated characters for his perpetual perversion. Gabi Braun (Attack on Titan), Makoto Itou (School Days), and Nina Einstein (Code Geass) all created their fan firestorms.

Love ’em or hate ’em, these characters show that anime not only entertains—it provokes, infuriates, and at times outright infuriates us. And perhaps that’s half the reason why we keep tuning in.