Anime characters can have some of the scariest smiles; a few include Sukuna, Dimple, Tomura Shigaraki, and Ryuk from Death Note.
There is something for everyone in anime, which ranges from action to romance and everything in between.
Animators can express their characters’ emotions in interesting and bold ways because of the medium’s animation-based nature. There are plenty of memorable characters in Hunter x Hunter and Jujutsu Kaisen.
Smiles are often viewed as pleasant gestures, but they can be fear-inducing. Usually, villains or evil characters sport scary and horrific smiles, but occasionally a beloved character does.
Anime Characters With Scary Smiles
Scary smiles in anime are often associated with mentally unstable characters or possess a dark and sinister nature.
These chilling grins can send chills down the viewer’s spine as they exhibit a lack of empathy and hint at potential violence.
They may appear charming and charismatic on the surface, but their true nature is revealed through their frightening expressions.
These smiles demonstrate the complex layers within a character’s psyche, adding to the tension and suspense of the story. So remember, when faced with a scary smile in anime – run.
Here, I’ll go over a few characters I feel have the scariest smiles.
12Nnoitra – Bleach
Notable alias: Nnoitra Jiruga
Creator: Tite Kubo
The most dangerous member of the Espada was Nnoitra, the fifth member. When he conspired with Szayel to cast Nelliel into the unforgiving desert, he enjoyed inflicting misfortune on others.
It was common for the villain to wear a wide and condescending grin during his fight with Ichigo Kurosaki. Kenpachi, however, managed to punch through his resilient Hierro and defeat him, which caused him to lose his smile. The shinigami would ultimately kill him as a result of the provocative actions of Nnoitra.
11Sukuna – Jujutsu Kaisen
Alias: King of Curses
The cursed spirit Sukuna is of a special grade. Sukuna is the most powerful cursed spirit in the series, possessing vast amounts of cursed energy. As soon as Sukuna awakened, he could be felt throughout Shibuya.
One moment continuously pumps up viewers in Shonen series like Jujutsu Kaisen is when a character exudes unrelenting confidence and smiles as he heads into an impossible fight.
It’s frightening that Yuji Itadori isn’t likely to smile in Jujutsu Kaisen when he’s fighting.
The legendary cursed spirit Sukuuna resides within Yuji and wears a smile from ear to ear. Witnesses to Sukuna’s smile probably didn’t live long enough to describe how terrifying it was.
10Dimple – Mob Psycho 100
Despite Dimple’s role as a cult leader in Mob Psycho 100, many fans don’t remember how creepy he was as a human. A dead hollow smile adorned the masks of his followers. As well as the rosy red cheeks on his face, his mask also included red circles around the cheeks.
He smiles like someone exposed to the Joker’s laughing gas from a randomly picked Batman comic book. Cult leaders are often charismatic and likable, but his smile looks like someone exposed to the Joker’s laughing gas.
Luckily, he rarely displays the smile that helped him develop a cult following after he dies and instead becomes a floating green ball of mist.
9Ryuk – Death Note
Creators: Takeshi Obata, Tsugumi Ohba
I know a lot of fans think Ryuk should be at the top, as with most of my lists, I don’t usually rank them. The ranking is usually left up to the writer’s interpretation.
Death Note introduces viewers to Ryuk, a deadly god creature often referred to as a Shinigami. Indirectly, he is responsible for the journey of Light with the death note and is the catalyst for the anime. Typical Dragon Ball hair can be found on Ryuk, a large greyish-blue entity.
Seeing his eyes is uncomfortable, which isn’t helped by the fact that his mouth is always half smiling with razor-sharp teeth. This is similar to someone half smiling across the room when they are shy and want to appear friendly.
There’s only one difference this time: the demon looks seven feet tall.
8Haumea – Fire Force
One of the most optimistic members of the White Clad, Haumea leads numerous missions against Tokyo’s defenders. As she imposes her will on her enemies with her ignition power, her cruel rictus widens, and she almost always smiles.
Occasionally, she extends her tongue out for a silly and frightening gesture in addition to her usual grin. Consequently, she remains one of her organization’s most memorable and deadly characters.
7Caster – Fate/Zero
Occupation: Servant of Ryuunosuke Uryuu
Several stories are told in the Fate series, which is a vast and complex narrative universe. Fate/Zero introduces audiences to the Caster class of the Fourth Holy Grail War. Ryuunosuke Uryuu’s master, Gilles de Rais, was a serial killer whose innate need for violence perfectly matched his own.
Caster’s facial expressions, including his smile, are often discussed among the fandom due to their off-putting nature. Instead, it’s the type of thrill someone feels when they catch prey rather than the joy they make when they welcome another.
6Tomura Shigaraki – My Hero Academia
The villain known as Tomura Shigaraki has always come across as creepy since his introduction in My Hero Academia. However, his once cringy smile has changed into a scary signature as he grows in maturity and power.
His decaying face contributes to his horrific smile. Despite his tendency to cover his face with a hand, his smile is so iconic that it’s evident as day. Whenever he smiles, everyone knows he has nothing else on his mind except to cause harm to anyone he chooses.
5Doflamingo – One Piece
Notable aliases: Don Quixote Doflamingo, Donquixote Pirates, Joker
First anime appearance: 100 Million Man: World’s Greatest Power and Pirate Blackbeard
There was good reason for Doflamingo to smile frequently. The king of Dressrosa was also a celestial dragon, a member of the Seven Warlords, and a celestial dragon.
It was delightful for the villain to gloat over his enemies’ misfortunes. The grin on his face could not have been more significant as he forced King Riku to rob and butcher his people. The only thing that rivals Doflamingo’s massive smile is his bitter scowl when one of his plans is disrupted by Luffy or Law.
4Smiling Titan – Attack On Titan
Episode: To You, in 2000 Years: The Fall of Shiganshina, Part 1
Anime movie: Attack on Titan Part 1: Guren no Yumiya
Please be aware that this entry contains spoilers for Attack on Titan. Titans are terrifying giant creatures. There are many times in the anime when a smile is nothing short of terrifying.
One of the most notable cases is the Titan called Smiling Titan or Abnormal Titan because of its facial expression.
The Titan was assumed to be a random attacker when it attacked the Jaeger family, and Eren had to watch his mother die.
The Titan in question was Eren’s father’s first wife, who was charged with treason and turned into a Titan. In Attack on Titan, everything is interconnected in an emotionally draining way.
3Nanika – Hunter x Hunter
Affiliation: Alluka Zoldyck (Host)
Each character in Killua’s life played a role in the Zoldyck family. Alluka Zoldyck is Killua’s possessed younger sister. Hunter x Hunter’s 2011 final arc introduces the most interesting of the bunch, but most aren’t good people.
She has an entity inside her called Nanika, which acts as a blessing and a curse. Nanika’s emotionless dead smile is terrifying and anxiety-inducing, as anyone familiar with horror knows that children can be very creepy.
2Marik- Yu-Gi-Oh!
Marik Ishtar, known as Marik in the anime and manga series Yu-Gi-Oh!
As an orphan, Marik’s adoptive older brother was raised to believe Marik was inferior to him.
Taking control of his body, Marik becomes the leader of the Rare Hunters, a group that steals rare Duel Monster cards.
Marik also possesses an ancient Egyptian artifact known as the Millennium Rod, which allows him to control people through mind control via their “weakest point.” He uses this power to manipulate several characters throughout the arc, including Seto Kaiba and Mokuba.
1Mad Pierrot – Cowboy Bebop
Since it managed to navigate between serious and lighter tones, Cowboy Bebop is considered a gold-tier anime.
No way anyone could have predicted that the “Pierrot le Fou” episode would feature a nightmare-inducing entertainer turned laboratory experiment.
With his straight smile, he appears trapped in his skin. Creating a scarier smile has a lot to do with a character’s eyes, and Mad Pierrot’s glaring red eyes never blink, as he’s caught in an endless stare.