One of the most interesting types of characters in anime is those who contradict themselves. They present information in a certain way and even manage to convince those around them of a specific truth, only to blatantly go against their very same sentiments shortly after.
This makes them extremely interesting, especially when they are forced to account for their paradoxical nature (usually at some point later in the story). By identifying anime’s greatest hypocrites, we gain a better understanding of the ways that their sentiments are logically incoherent and intellectually disingenuous.
10 Akainu Claimed That Pirates Were Liars & Butchers, Only To Lie & Butcher At Marineford (One Piece)
Akainu was one of the most vehement enemies of pirates across the Grand Line. He claimed that all of them must face justice for being inherently despicable and untrustworthy people.
This was in spite of the fact that he used manipulation to turn Squard against Whitebeard at the battle for Marineford. Additionally, the strategies he devised alongside Sengoku would have massacred the enemy forces in a blazing inferno rather than taking them prisoner. In the end, Akainu actively practices the same barbarism he claims is pervasive in his enemies.
9 Heathcliff Wanted To Participate In His Own Game But Simultaneously Stay As A Game Master (Sword Art Online)
Heathcliff was the game designer behind Aincrad who sealed its players away inside the NerveGear. Bizarrely, he sought to serve both as a player in the world he created and as its game master, unable to determine which he desired more.
His indecision allowed Kirito to discover his motives prematurely, prompting a sudden final confrontation. Heathcliff’s willingness to break the rules of his own game in order to fulfill his plans illustrates an appalling double standard.
8 Danzo Claimed He Wanted To Keep The Village Safe But Constantly Put It In Danger (Naruto)
Danzo Shimura claimed that the Foundation and everything he did were all in the service of the Leaf. This was in spite of the fact that Konoha would have been significantly better off without his meddling.
Not only did Danzo delay Naruto from saving the village since he assassinated a messenger frog, he also disgraced them at the Five Kage Summit and was responsible for turning Kabuto into a villain. In the end, the Foundation leader’s sole interest was in advancing his own power despite claims to the contrary.
7 Eren Admitted That He Was No Better Than The Warriors For Attacking Marley (Attack On Titan)
When Eren had a brief and final conversation with Reiner, he told him that he understood the attack on Shiganshina and would have done the same thing given the circumstances. This would have sounded like forgiveness, save for the fact that he promptly unleashed the Attack Titan on Marley.
By destroying his enemies in a pre-emptive massacre, Eren embraced his hypocrisy and became the monster that civilizations across the world feared him to be.
6 Ludociel Claimed That Demons Were The Enemies Of Humanity, Only To Use Them As Pawns For His Own Crusade (Seven Deadly Sins)
When Ludociel and his archangels arrived on Britannia, they convinced the local populace that demons were exclusively monsters and should all be eradicated. Given the rampage of the Ten Commandments, it was easy rhetoric to sell.
What he left out was that the forces of the Supreme Deity weren’t much better. In addition to using Margaret’s body as a vessel to wage his crusade, he cast Fraudulent Light on his detractors in order to secure their allegiance and convert them into pawns willing to die for his cause.
5 Yukako Wanted Koichi To Be A “Perfect Man” Without Being Perfect Herself (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure)
In order to convince Yukako to stop obsessing over him, Koichi deliberately tried to sabotage his self-image. This plan, unfortunately, backfired, prompting the psychotic Stand user to kidnap her love interest and make him into the “perfect man.”
Her routine involved physical torture and put Koichi through significant psychological strain. Ironically, Yukako was unable to see her own flaws and failed to make herself a “perfect woman” before placing such lofty demands on her captive.
4 Killua Claimed That Alluka Was Being Used By Their Family, Only To Use Them Himself (Hunter X Hunter)
Killua may have been a reliable ally for most of the series, but he was a massive hypocrite toward Alluka. The stated reason he liberated her from the Zoldyck household was that their family was using them.
However, he only conceived of his plan since no one else could restore Gon to health. In this regard, he was just as motivated to harness his sibling’s power for personal ends as his father and brothers.
3 Sesshomaru Claimed To Hate Humans Yet Allowed One To Travel With Him (Inuyasha)
As the son of a powerful demon, Sesshomaru claimed to loathe humans. His half-brother’s lineage was one of the greatest sources of their familial strife and became a topic semi-frequently brought up throughout their encounters.
Despite his general misanthropy, he adopted and came to care for an orphaned human girl named Rin. Although Sesshomaru would constantly need to look out for her, she helped him to find the compassion he had been missing for his entire life.
2 Light Claimed To Want Justice For Murderers, Only To Become A Murderer Himself (Death Note)
One of Light’s earliest claims was that he wanted to bring the scum of the Earth to justice. This included predators, burglars, and most relevantly, mass murderers.
In spite of this stated objective, he would use the Death Note in order to kill the investigators sent to identify his whereabouts and even forced a woman to commit suicide against her will. He reached the precipice of his derangement when contemplating whether or not he should kill his own sister in order to keep his identity a secret.
1 Usopp Simultaneously Runs From Battle & Attempts To Take The Most Credit For It (One Piece)
Usopp is one of the most paradoxical members of the Straw Hat pirates. Despite his overwhelming cowardice and tendency to avoid conflict, he adores taking credit for his group’s victories and often embellishes his role in their success.
He has sometimes been as bold as to proclaim himself the ship’s captain and was worshipped as a god in the Dressrosa incident over a complete accident. The sniper’s inability to follow up on his constant lies and bluster are profoundly grating.
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