6 June is the ‘Day of Horror’ in Japan. The origin is from the number ’666’, which is considered the ‘number of the Beast’ in the Book of Revelation of the New Testament. The number then was picked up by the horror movie ‘Omen’, and like that, it spread in Japan.

The horror theme is also an important element of anime. Some characters have lost their lives in horrendous ways and many fans remember those horrible deaths.

That’s where our friends from Anime! Anime! asked their readers, ‘What anime scene made you think, “I would hate to die this way!?'” 133 readers sent in their answers between 23-31 May 2018. 56% of the participants were male, 44% female. Most participants were 19 years old or younger (50%) or in their 20s (30%).

Top Three

Ranking in the first place is Hayao Kakizaki from The Super Dimension Fortress Macross. He gained roughly 9% of the votes. Hayao is one of the pilots appearing throughout the series and is known for eating a lot and being a kind person, but what he is most known for is his unreasonable death.

In the TV series, he burns to death in his Valkyrie because the Macross’s barrier system overloads, while in the movie he is attacked and killed as he was saying sweet words of love. Some fans said, ‘It is a sudden and shocking death and shows how unreasonable war is.’ He gathered many votes because both of his deaths felt like a waste of a good character.

Coming in second place is Yukari Sakuragi from Another. She gained 6% of the votes. Another is based on a mystery novel by Yukito Ayatsuji. Even though there are many cruel deaths throughout this series, Yukari is the class representative and the first to die so the death leaves a big impact. The way she died was also rather shocking, as she simply slipped on the stairs and fell directly on her umbrella, which pierced her throat and resulted in Yukari drowning in her own blood. ‘How they showed her body convulsing before death made me shiver,’ said one of the fans.

In third place is Kazuma from KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on this Wonderful World! with 5% of the votes. He is the main character in a popular story where he ends up being re-born into another world. He dies because he thought he had been run over by a truck and died from shock. Those who voted for him said, ‘This kind of death is miserable.’ and ‘It’s too embarrassing!’

Fourth place went to Subaru Natsuki from Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World and Mike Zacharias from Attack on Titan. Subaru is the main character on Re:Zero and has the ability to return to a certain point in his life after dying. However him being killed by Rem, who he trusted, got many votes. See the full ranking below!

The Ranking

What anime scene made you think ‘I would hate to die this way!’?

1. Hayao Kakizaki (The Super Dimension Fortress Macross)
2. Yukari Sakuragi (Another)
3. Kazuma (KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on this Wonderful World)
4. Subaru Natsuki (Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another world)
4. Mike Zacharias (Attack on Titan)
6. Makoto Ito (School Days)
6. Orga Itsuka (Mobile Suit Gundam Iron-Blooded Orphans)
6. Mami Tomoe (Puella Magi Madoka Magica)
9. Nanaba (Attack on Titan)
10. Iok Kujan (Mobile Suit Gundam Iron-Blooded Orphans)
10. Carla Jaeger (Attack on Titan)
10. Yoshikage Kira (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventures Diamond is Unbreakable)
10. Rika Furude (Higurashi When They Cry)
10. Portgas D. Ace (One Piece)
10. Marco Bott (Attack on Titan)
10. Rem (Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World)

source: https://animeanime.jp/article/2018/06/06/38025.html