Top 10 Anime Betrayals That Changed the Story

Betrayals in anime are pivotal moments that shift the story’s direction and deeply affect characters. They often involve trusted allies acting against the protagonist, causing shock and emotional turmoil. These acts reveal hidden motives and add complexity to characters. Betrayals force heroes to face harsh realities and adjust their goals. They heighten narrative tension and engage viewers emotionally. Overall, betrayals make anime stories more memorable and impactful.

Sasuke Leaves Konoha (Naruto)

[{"selector":"#anim-d61f832f-e1b0-46dd-9c71-5ffbc479c256","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.14196%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-08a9f739-1843-4c78-9839-5ada81d9fbb2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b8d29e27-b2d0-4b80-b898-462c6575a48a","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8589903f-cc53-40b3-a5c7-222a526cd01a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(120.13201%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4f2748b7-d7e9-4b9a-a0d3-c0730a1724e9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bffc81ba-422b-41bf-9174-b295a8f8d4a2","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-eef0c625-73bc-4aa2-9f12-3b11b6199be6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(32.1994883561079%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Anime - Naruto

Rachel Pushes Bam (Tower of God)

[{"selector":"#anim-84dc3ac6-c4d5-4b38-9eb6-bbbe42de9738","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.14196%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d450c508-f5eb-4d05-91f9-a790786d84a9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f8e3fdee-0fb0-485f-9eaf-64d6b285c595","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2e168d76-e267-46e9-a2a7-2977167d7668","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(120.13201%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-667ed341-68f9-4981-9bfa-f3cf9a1ea5af","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-261c3cfc-ccaa-4690-83be-222e3401db73","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ec70bb94-9d92-4c74-9a32-5898c90f3a7a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(34.193749904088286%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Anime - Tower of God

Griffith’s Eclipse Betrayal (Berserk)

[{"selector":"#anim-f7433868-0b47-4dc6-aa44-9e57c31e79f1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.14196%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2328289e-139b-429e-8850-678d7dcf62ce","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9bb6a9df-4aa6-41ed-be59-5e2754eb1d4d","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-36c0f266-ea2f-4de3-a835-2ce68166ac2d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(120.13201%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c059d303-0661-4032-8c68-a982c061c400","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3c3a908e-a8ea-4cf3-825c-d535b4751164","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dcfb0a59-0a10-4c2e-b3c1-b386ae8c6429 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(35.937499914669296%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Betrays: The Band of the Hawk. Impact: Considered one of anime’s darkest and most traumatic betrayals, this event permanently scars Guts (the protagonist) and fundamentally alters the course of the story for all surviving characters. It is highly influential and notorious among anime fans. Anime - Berserk

Aizen Reveals His True Identity (Bleach)

[{"selector":"#anim-2e0b3511-56b0-4572-9526-5817387fa168","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.14196%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a873e721-57d2-4a4b-9c6d-8da896d6a344","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-37f7d802-d605-4759-8c78-91d26076ddb4","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ba383b51-aad5-4301-b39a-25ddb5495757","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(120.13201%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cbf42abb-cfa6-4983-827d-af4c1fac56e7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-38171708-4e66-4ec5-b5f0-8483f9ff4ef9","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-35bd7979-707c-4c55-97b6-29d1fa668c1b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(17.993567285179946%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Anime - Bleach

Itachi Slaughters the Uchiha Clan (Naruto)

[{"selector":"#anim-72a81057-94ed-4adf-9f8e-422863b35a2a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.14196%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-52d065aa-c6e9-4356-9ed3-c2e6af78094f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fc4a027b-f73f-49f6-9564-2d2dec92b95c","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2f37fec7-f470-46d7-8ac4-910219535051","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(120.13201%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fc6375e8-a90e-42e8-a06d-1088f7ba931b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-369926b0-6203-498c-89d3-b772fd29eeed","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ee9cf5d9-d7c3-4666-a042-deea5452e83d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(25.745054350256563%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Anime - Naruto

Annie Is the Female Titan (Attack on Titan)

[{"selector":"#anim-bbb57f23-a707-40f7-9f87-5751f64ef027","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.14196%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-63ddc06d-7de2-4dd3-8503-74573728796b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6366f5da-579a-4448-80b2-6b5ba9ac51f1","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7bc5df98-2fb3-41c8-b6e2-96b4b9b0bad6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(120.13201%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e344eb88-b4b5-4512-a824-40651768653a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3094746f-612d-4a7e-8628-d7399ef7d5ed","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2d1192f3-c639-42ae-9e63-67d65dd4007e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(40.016480452015095%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Betrays: Her friends in the Survey Corps. Impact: Annie’s reveal shatters the trust among the main cast and escalates the Titan conflict, leading to longstanding consequences for the story’s direction. Anime - Attack on Titan

Reiner and Bertholdt Reveal Themselves (Attack on Titan)

[{"selector":"#anim-82a2ae58-b72e-4681-98e0-02ce3c522311","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.14196%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-75fa2790-5c53-46b3-b324-1b2ff6463128","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f5ffc4c6-7460-4caa-bd5d-9205f0faf769","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-150cdec0-6efa-40b1-80d8-c358fc200748","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(120.13201%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6666e802-4a6e-472a-94d3-874e313fde7e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2109c56f-a177-4495-b126-e0af001d741f","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1185d57c-5f4c-49e1-bfda-c2be1d27fbcc [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(47.6755512507629%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Anime - Attack on Titan

Char’s Betrayal of the Zabi Family (Mobile Suit Gundam)

[{"selector":"#anim-291a7d5e-b174-46eb-8121-157eb1008ff3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.14196%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f7d264db-fe6b-4369-8cab-cc914ef5cce1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-50c5665d-11c8-4fec-b11b-02d62345479b","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-aea105af-b2ca-4513-ace6-506aa7dd1c63","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(120.13201%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-eb1668e9-786d-4fa7-bcaf-93a7c8c87fe3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e5fa034a-f3ed-4e15-962d-51fd51bc72b3","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4094e90f-919b-4596-96f7-e340c26a49f6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(43.658088079002134%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Anime - Mobile Suit Gundam

Kaworu’s Betrayal in the Final Moments (Neon Genesis Evangelion)

[{"selector":"#anim-57360cb9-a08e-459c-8181-8459bb979b15","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.8265%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-394ed4a5-5a84-4201-ab42-51e82a0a8c7b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-956c9875-a38c-4e16-8f3d-194b1a2a1c97","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-eba07801-a8fd-4c69-a8b9-c90d77def3cf","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(120.13201%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-edba9c80-ebde-4c41-8b54-ee973c8cca56","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e866750b-2f0e-45ce-88fe-91158b656d4d","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-54927c4f-6c71-4ed1-a6b8-4a26ce97fc12 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(31.012579372208275%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Anime - Neon Genesis Evangelion

Satsuki Betrays Ragyo (Kill la Kill)

[{"selector":"#anim-b3940a96-78ac-4551-a643-fdfcfe1a4140","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.14196%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-968e75b4-4b29-4263-8978-5c50cb3e966f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8ac7c4b4-4551-4393-95e8-d2248e08a71b","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5130e704-d017-4a9f-8680-a7e38f828638","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(120.13201%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3a520a97-ebbc-4f5c-ae90-a9e8ad73937b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-aacf28d3-9108-44d8-8211-93dcf0974e50","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-46a09e4f-4a20-4bd9-92f1-98a3f6436f46 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(45.47408068104506%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Anime - Kill la kill

Sasuke Leaves Konoha (Naruto)

Betrays: Team 7 and the Leaf Village. Impact: Sparks Naruto’s determination to bring him back and major story arcs through much of the series.

Rachel Pushes Bam (Tower of God)

Betrays: Bam, her closest ally. Impact: A harsh, motivator betrayal that is memorable for its cruelty and lasting impact on the protagonist’s journey.

Griffith’s Eclipse Betrayal (Berserk)

Aizen Reveals His True Identity (Bleach)

Betrays: Soul Society. Impact: Aizen’s transformation from trusted captain to mastermind villain upends the entire Soul Society arc and sets the tone for many subsequent events, marking it as a pivotal betrayal in shonen anime.

Itachi Slaughters the Uchiha Clan (Naruto)

Betrays: His entire clan. Impact: The massacre shapes Sasuke’s path for much of the series and adds a long-standing element of mystery and pain to Naruto’s overarching narrative.

Annie Is the Female Titan (Attack on Titan)

Reiner and Bertholdt Reveal Themselves (Attack on Titan)

Betrays: Eren and their comrades. Impact: Their calm confession is one of the most shocking moments in anime, instantly reframing previous events and the nature of the enemy.

Char’s Betrayal of the Zabi Family (Mobile Suit Gundam)

Betrays: His allies to avenge his father. Impact: A classic betrayal in mecha anime, fundamentally affecting the political and emotional landscape of the Gundam universe.

Kaworu’s Betrayal in the Final Moments (Neon Genesis Evangelion)

Betrays: Shinji’s trust. Impact: This act is emotionally devastating and one of the show’s final, most impactful twists, changing Shinji’s psychological state forever.

Satsuki Betrays Ragyo (Kill la Kill)

Betrays: Her mother Ragyo. Impact: The dramatic shift in alliances completely alters the power structure of the series and leads to the final conflict.