A narrator is one of the key components of any story. While the narrator is not always the protagonist of a show or story, they are usually the same character. Narrators are the storytellers of any show or anime, so it's a given that the audience would blindly trust them. The narrators are performing their function: narrating the events of the story.
In many cases, however, narrators are unreliable and will often divert the audience from the truth. This tactic is executed to establish tension and uneasiness. The unreliable narrator concept does not happen too often in anime, but when it does, it is usually done quite well and successfully. Here are seven anime with unreliable narrators that left viewers on the edge of their seats.
7 School-Live - Yuki Takeya
School-Live, also known as Gakkou Gurashi!, is about Yuki Takeya, a high school student who enjoys attending school and seeing her friends, especially those in the School Living Club. Yuki is a bright girl who attends Megurigaoka Private High School and genuinely cares about her classmates.
Although she may seem happy and enthusiastic, it becomes apparent that there is more to her character. Yuki is actually delusional, and her perspective as the narrator of the series is quite askew and unreliable. She conjures delusions of a normal life at school as a way to cope with the apocalyptic disaster surrounding her.
6 Tomodachi Game - Yuuichi Katagiri
Tomodachi Game was released in April 2022. The anime tells the story of a group of friends who are kidnapped and forced to play a game called the Tomodachi Game in order to settle a debt. The center protagonist, Yuichi, narrates the majority of the storyline. Yuichi is a clever high school student with a close group of friends. He also appears kind and caring toward others, especially his closest friends.
However, as the episodes progress, it’s evident that Yuichi is not who he says he is. He is an unreliable narrator because he is ultimately an excellent liar and manipulator. Though he may seem honest, he is actually always ten steps ahead of everyone.
5 Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 - Mirai Onozawa
Mirai Onozawa is a twelve-year-old moody girl who has frequently been quarreling with her parents and eight-year-old brother, Yuuki. It's apparent that Mirai, the protagonist and narrator of Tokyo Magnitude 8.0, finds her family annoying, as many pre-teens and teens do.
However, everything changes after a catastrophe strikes Tokyo in the form of an earthquake. Mirai and Yuuki end up getting stuck in the damage together and find their parents. As it turns out, the anime's ending reveals that Mirai has hallucinated Yuuki after his death more than halfway through the show.
4 Odd Taxi - Hiroshi Odokawa
Hiroshi Odokawa, the narrator of Odd Taxi, is quite interesting for various reasons. Odokawa is a taxi driver who happens to be a middle-aged walrus. The anime follows his life as he meets interesting characters through his job. As he drives them, Odokawa learns more about the creatures he meets.
Interestingly enough, Odokawa has a troubled past and had suffered emotional trauma at one point in his life. As a result, it is presumed that he is an unreliable narrator who doesn't always convey the events honestly. His trauma is a significant indication of this speculation.
3 Serial Experiments Lain - Lain Iwakura
Lain Iwakura is the narrator of Serial Experiments Lain. She is a young girl who appears to be shy and innocent. Throughout the anime, she discovers The Wired, a virtual reality world where people can play games and communicate with each other. As an outcast, this is something she can use to feel confident, which ultimately does.
Lain is not all that she appears. She frequently experiences hallucinations and delusions, which make her quite unreliable as the protagonist of the series. Lain also appears to have multiple personalities that diverge from her reserved host.
2 Bakemonogatari - Koyomi Araragi
Koyomi Araragi is the protagonist and narrator of Bakemonogatari. Although Koyomi conveys the events of the anime, he isn't always entirely accurate. As a matter of fact, Koyomi often forgets significant details, which ultimately alters the story.
As the narrator, Koyomi also shows the audience how he views the world from his lens. His perception differs quite significantly in comparison to the actual events. It's unknown whether Koyomi is purposefully unreliable or if he is genuine and not intentionally trying to sabotage the way the audience views the occurrences.
1 The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya - Kyon
Kyon is a normal high school student whose real name is never revealed. While the show centers primarily around Haruhi Suzumiya, Kyon is the narrator and protagonist of the anime. Kyon is quite pessimistic and intelligent. He also doesn't possess any kind of abilities like the other members of the SOS Brigade, a club created by Haruhi at school.
Despite being the narrator, Kyon is not exactly the most reliable character. He frequently leaves out information to leave the viewers in anticipation. Additionally, he often tries convincing himself of details by lying to himself. Kyon is a fascinating character because he is essential to the story as the narrator, and yet, he is quite unreliable.