10 Best Yandere Anime, Ranked

Daksh Chaudhary
Apr 14
5 min read

Do you love crazy, obsessive characters in anime? The kind who would do anything for love, even if it means killing? Then you’ll love yandere anime. Yanderes start off sweet and loving, but their love turns dark - in fact, very dark. Some become stalkers, some turn violent, and some just lose their minds completely.

In this list, we’ll rank the 10 best yandere anime, from creepy to absolutely terrifying. We’ll talk about their crazy actions, their twisted love, and why we can’t stop watching them. Ready to meet some of anime’s most dangerous lovers? Let’s begin!

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10/10 School Days

At first, Kotonoha looks shy and gentle. She doesn’t even seem like someone who could hurt a fly. But when her love life gets messy, she slowly breaks apart. What happens later in the anime is something you’ll never forget. Seriously, the ending is wild.

Here’s a question: Have you ever seen an anime that left you speechless at the end? School Days might just be that anime. The last episode became so famous that it was even banned from airing on TV at first. It’s not just a love triangle; it’s a full-blown disaster.

Release Year	MAL Rating	Animation Studio	Genre	Watch On
July 2007	5.51	TNK	Drama, Romance	Crunchyroll

9/10 Love Tyrant

This one is for people who want a funny yandere instead of a scary one. Akane is totally obsessed with the main guy, and she’s always carrying around a knife just in case someone flirts with him. But here’s the twist: it’s more romcom than horror.

If you’re tired of dark and serious anime, Love Tyrant is a good break. It’s full of jokes, crazy scenes, and wild characters. Ever wondered what would happen if you mixed a yandere girl with pure comedy? This anime shows you just that.

Release Year	MAL Rating	Animation Studio	Genre	Watch On
April 2017	6.60	EMT Squared	Comedy, Supernatural	Crunchyroll

8/10 Happy Sugar Life

The title is sweet, but the story? Not at all. Satou Matsuzaka looks like a normal high school girl, but she’s hiding a very dark secret. She kidnaps a little girl named Shio and keeps her locked in an apartment, thinking that’s what love is. Isn’t that messed up?

This anime has a soft art style, but the story is super dark. This anime shows how obsession can destroy lives. Satou acts innocent, but her mind is broken. It really makes you think, even while it creeps you out.

Release Year	MAL Rating	Animation Studio	Genre	Watch On
July 2018	6.76	Ezόla	Horror, Suspense	Just Watch

7/10 Deadman Wonderland

A prison where inmates fight to the death sounds fun, right? This 12-episode anime follows Giro, who is framed for murder and sent to Deadman Wonderland. There, he meets Shiro, a mysterious girl who loves him too much. She’s childish but very dangerous when angry.

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The anime was cut short, which is why the story feels incomplete. But Shiro’s mix of innocence and violence makes her a great yandere. Just don’t make her mad - you won’t like what happens next.

Release Year	MAL Rating	Animation Studio	Genre	Watch On
April 2011	7.13	Manglobe	Supernatural, Sci-Fi	Crunchyroll

6/10 Danganronpa: The Animation

Yandere anime Danganronpa: The Animation

Junko is wild, colorful, and totally insane. She's a pure sadist, playing with people’s lives like it’s a game. She’s not in love with just one person, she’s in love with despair itself. That’s what makes her so unique as a yandere.

This anime is based on a video game, and it feels like watching a murder mystery game come to life. Every time you think you understand Junko, she changes again. Ever met a yandere who doesn’t want love, but chaos instead? That’s Junko for you.

Release Year	MAL Rating	Animation Studio	Genre	Watch On
July 2013	7.20	Lerche	Horror Mystery	Crunchyroll

5/10 Higurashi: When They Cry

Rena Ryuugu is cute and always smiling with her catchphrase "I wonder, I wonder?". But don’t let her soft look fool you. She can get violent when she feels scared or jealous. She even carries around a big cleaver. How creepy is that?

The anime has a confusing timeline at first, but that’s part of the fun. It's made by Studio Deen, and it mixes horror with slice-of-life. One fun fact - this anime is based on a visual novel, and each arc shows a different version of the truth. That means you’ll always feel unsure of what’s really going on.

Release Year	MAL Rating	Animation Studio	Genre	Watch On
October 2020	7.20	Arms	Horror, Mystery	Crunchyroll

4/10 Future Diary

The queen of yanderes is here from the best yandere anime is here - Yuno Gasai, who loves Yukiteru so much she’ll kill anyone who gets in her way. She’s pink-haired, cute, and always smiling - until she’s not. When it comes to protecting Yukiteru, her love interest, she can go from sweet to scary real quick.

This anime is full of action, mystery, and lots of intense moments. It’s made by Asread Studio, and their work on the atmosphere is really amazing. If you want to see what a true yandere looks like, Yuno is the best place to start.

Release Year	MAL Rating	Animation Studio	Genre	Watch On
October 2011	7.39	Arms	Action, Supernatural	Crunchyroll

3/10 Guilty Crown

What if a shy boy suddenly gains superpowers? Guilty Crown follows Shu, who gets the ability to pull weapons from people’s hearts. But the real danger? Mana, a girl with a very unhealthy obsession with him. She’s sweet at first, but her love turns deadly soon.

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The anime has amazing animation and music, but Mana’s yandere side shows up late in the story. Still, her creepy devotion makes her the best and most unsettling yandere character in anime. But it's Mana's vibes that make Guilty Crown so hooking.

Release Year	MAL Rating	Animation Studio	Genre	Watch On
October 2011	7.40	Production I.G	Action, Sci-Fi	Crunchyroll

2/10 Elfen Lied

Lucy, also known as Nyu, has two sides. One is cute and innocent, the other is a cold-blooded killer. She has invisible hands that can cut people apart - yes, literally, and she doesn’t hold back. But deep inside, she just wants to be loved, and that's what makes Elfen Lied one of the best yandere anime out there.

This anime is very emotional and violent. The opening song might feel soft, but the story is anything but fun. Elfen Lied is actually one of the reasons why people outside Japan got into anime back in the 2000s. It’s really that powerful.

Release Year	MAL Rating	Animation Studio	Genre	Watch On
July 2004	7.46	Arms	Action, Horror	Crunchyroll

1/10 Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Best yandere anime Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Now this one’s a bit different. Homura doesn’t go around killing people for love, but she’s stuck in a time loop, trying again and again to save her best friend, Madoka. Over time, her love becomes darker, more desperate. However, the show is very emotional.

This anime looks like a cute magical girl show, but it’s actually very deep and sad. Puella Magi Madoka Magica was created by Studio Shaft, known for their unique art style. Homura’s story is a quiet kind of yandere, and more heartbreak than horror.