Anime portrays diverse and extraordinary worlds. Despite the presence of positive themes in some anime series, certain worlds would prove exceptionally dangerous for the average human to inhabit. These dangerous worlds are characterized by chaos, peril, and disorder, where even the slightest misstep can swiftly lead to one's demise.
From the blood-soaked battlefields of Attack on Titan to the catastrophic world of Japan Sinks, where the very earth itself is turning against humanity, anime worlds can be incredibly perilous. In such treacherous anime worlds, survival is not guaranteed, and death cannot be any more common, with each day more demanding than some lifetimes.
10 Berserk
Set in a medieval world, Berserk revolves around Guts' journey as he battles his inner demons and struggles against the evil forces surrounding him. His life takes a drastic turn when Griffith's ambitions and desires lead to a catastrophic event known as the Eclipse.
The Eclipse marks a turning point in Guts’ life as it marks the emergence of demonic forces. With the constant presence of demonic forces, the brutality of warfare, the corruption of institutions, and the burden of cursed destinies, the world in Berserk is put on full display. These elements create a dark, violent world full of peril.
9 One Piece
As a staple in the shonen genre, One Piece portrays the story of Monkey D. Luffy as he strives to become the pirate king. As Luffy gathers a crew, he comes across many hardships that stand in his way of becoming the freest man on the seas. However, he overcomes them all with abilities that the ordinary man cannot fathom.
As fans watch Luffy’s journey from a third-person perspective, they understand what makes the One Piece world so dangerous — the numerous pirates. With numbers as large as the skies, even the World Government finds it hard-pressed to stop the pirates from pillaging and taking over countries, taking slaves, and killing civilians.
8 Akudama Drive
Portrayed through the lens of various Akudama (classified criminals), this anime series explores how a ragtag team of "villains" come together to carry out their greatest mission yet: robbing the Shinkansen, a bullet train with so many security features capable of vaporizing humans at the slightest prompt. Such a task makes their blood boil as they set out to achieve the impossible.
In a future version of Japan where society has crumbled and crime reigns, the presence of these individuals instills constant fear in the civilians, who are forced to live in constant apprehension of becoming targets. Undoubtedly, their existence in a society plagued by high crime poses a grave threat to everyone.
7 Attack On Titan
Eren Yeager’s world was suddenly flipped upside down when the Titans attacked. With him witnessing the death of his mother and many more, Eren swore to eradicate the Titans from the face of the earth. This did not change even after he became a Titan himself. However, his ideals were once again flipped when he discovered his true enemies were not the Titans but the whole world.
Filled with man-eating titans and strife, the Attack on Titan anime series is so dangerous that 80% of humanity was wiped out. With a 20% chance of surviving in the world, the odds never looked good for humanity as a whole.
6 Tokyo Ghoul
Kaneki Ken was suddenly hospitalized after being involved in a ghoul accident. To survive, ghouls’ organs were transplanted into him, and he was suddenly thrown into a world of flesh-eating ghouls versus crazy, strong humans. Unfortunately, being a ghoul barely changed his meager chance of survival in the Tokyo Ghoul anime series.
With ghouls about, human lives get extinguished at the flick of a finger. Even being a ghoul does not guarantee survival, as some ghouls eat ghouls. With constant cannibalism and violence, no human or ghoul is safe without sufficient strength and luck, and even that applies only to the chosen.
5 Devilman Crybaby
At the heart of Devilman Crybaby lies Akira Fudo, a compassionate high school student whose life takes a sudden turn when his friend Ryo reveals the existence of demons and their plot to conquer the world. Akira becomes part demon himself, leading to a dangerous conflict between humans and demons.
In Devilman Crybaby, the world becomes highly perilous with the emergence of demons. They possess humans on a large scale, blurring the line between the possessed and the innocent. As demons grow more active, human lives shorten. Ultimately, humanity faces extinction, not at the hands of demons, but due to a former angel.
4 Code Geass
Lelouch vi Britannia, the 11th prince of the Holy Britannian Empire, decided to rebel against his father after the Britannian Empire took over Japan. Fortunately for Lelouch, he gained the power to do so. With the ability of Geass that allows him to control people's minds, Lelouch took on the persona of Zero, a masked vigilante, and started the fight against the Britannian empire.
Unfortunately, the wars had devastating effects. Thousands of civilians who were caught in the crossfire between the army and the revolution were killed. At some point, neither party worked for the good of the people, and their lives became fleeting.
3 Naruto
Naruto is a renowned anime series that follows the journey of Naruto Uzumaki, a young ninja from the Hidden Leaf Village. Born with a powerful and vicious nine-tailed fox spirit sealed within him, Naruto faces rejection and loneliness from his fellow villagers. Determined to prove himself, he embarks on a path to become Hokage, the strongest ninja in his village.
Despite portraying themes of friendship and humor, the world of Naruto is more dangerous than it seems. With numerous conflicts and shinobi warfare, destruction and loss of life can not be any more common.
2 Hellsing Ultimate
Set in a dark and violent world, Hellsing Ultimate follows the Hellsing Organization, a secret British agency tasked with combating supernatural threats. Led by the enigmatic Integra Hellsing, the organization's most formidable weapon is Alucard, the progenitor of vampires.
The world portrayed in Hellsing Ultimate is perilous, plagued by powerful supernatural creatures that prey on the innocent. Meanwhile, the Millennium Organization, armed with advanced technology, unleashes chaos through its own supernatural beings. Moral uncertainty and political maneuvering exacerbate the danger, blurring the boundaries between good and evil and eroding trust.
1 Japan Sinks
Japan Sinks is an anime series that portrays a catastrophic chain of earthquakes leading to Japan sinking into the ocean. The Mutoh family's struggle for survival amid a collapsing society highlights resilience, human bonds, and the will to overcome imminent destruction.
In Japan Sinks, multiple earthquakes sink Japan, causing widespread destruction and chaos. Collapsed infrastructure, aftershocks, landslides, and tsunamis worsen the dangers. As characters face extraordinary challenges in their fight for survival, they also deal with scarce resources like food, water, and medical supplies. This, combined with the breakdown of social order, adds to the dangerousness of the world.