Sometimes love makes you crazy, and sometimes makes you want to stab someone right in the middle of their chest. Just as the Japanese term defines it, a “yandere” is a mix between being lovesick and insane in equal parts. This juxtaposition usually leads to abnormal behavior, violence, and, in some cases, mess around with the universe’s primordial laws.
Here in The Yurei, we decided to revisit some characters that embody this definition to a tee that is not the emblematic Yuno Gasai. While not al of them are what we would call “moe” enough to be classified as conventional yandere, we can assure you that their levels of love and obsessions are enough to be included in this list.
7. Yukako Yamagishi – Jojo´s Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable
Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure never shies away from showing blood and violence, so it is a wonder how this yandere did not end up doing something more graphic to poor Koichi. I mean, graphic for Jojo’s standards anyway. Still, her kidnapping him to make him “love her” was not a healthy move. She does get better after Koichi defeats her and their relationship gets more consensual but we still can see some glimpses of her old self once in a while.
6. Kotonoha Katsura and Sekai Saionji –School Days
This one is just as classic option as Yuno Gasai but hear me out: the anime adaptation does not make enough justice to the levels of craziness of these two. While in the anime world, Kotonoha is known to be the most yandere of the pair, in the visual novel both of them have bloody endings that are even more shocking to their animation counterparts. Let’s say that stuff like pushing your love rival in front of a train and carefully planned murder are not off the table.
5.Megumi Shimizu – Shiki
Megumi is an example of how a stalker with a crush can escalate to a full yandere with the right supernatural push. Shiki tells the story of a rural town where unnatural deaths start to happen. Soon we find out that people are becoming vampires one after one. Cute as a button Megumi is one of the first ones to turn into one and soon takes advantage of her new condition by killing her crush’s best friend because, you know, that’s a distraction for him from her.
4. Sato Matsuzaka – Happy Sugar Life
Sato is clearly a yandere. She seems relatively well adjusted at first glance and she is terribly cute. Still, when it comes to protect “her love”, she won’t hesitate to get the job done. Curiously enough, Sato does not hurt her loved one directly as her peers. Shio has no idea of the extent of Sato’s bloody devotion. In fact, everything she does is to protect her beloved from whoever tries to separate them.
3. Griffith- Berserk
Being a woman is not a requirement to be a yandere, and even if that’s the case, we will still add Griffith to this list because he goes apeshit when Guts leaves him. While their relationship was never romantic, at least from both sides, Griffith does not take well this farewell and he makes some questionable choices that end up in his ruin. When is evident he is just a shadow of his old self, he decides to sacrifice everyone in exchange for being powerful again, does awful things to Casca, and seriously injures Guts emotionally and physically. Ah! He also wants to rule the world. How fun.
2. Gendo Ikari – Neon Genesis Evangelion
I know by no means “cute” to be a yandere like other entries in this list, but you have to admit he goes to great lengths in the name of love. Although Gendo looks often stoic and emotionless, even when his son’s life is in stake, his main goal at the end is simply seeing his beloved wife again. I am not talking about conventional resurrection. Nah, that’s too boring. I am talking about making the whole humanity one Tang soup so they can be together. The giant robots, parental neglect, and clones are just a means to an end.
1. Homura Akemi – Madoka Magica
Homura is an interesting, well-intentioned girl going yandere in the name of love. Homura is portrayed from the beginning as an extremist, but she is more jaded than lovesick. However, once the Rebellion movie reaches its climax, she does a dumbfounding face-heel turn and decides to rip Madoka apart from her God status. She knows is a selfish decision and by default it will make her the devil of this new reality, but she does not care. Madoka was not happy and messing up with the laws of the universe is a small price to pay to fix that. Isn’t love the best?
More Anime Reviews
Originating in 1980s Japan, V-cinema was a term that was trademarked by the film giant Toei Company as a general label for their direct-to-video content. With the rise in VHS… China is never the first country you think of when it comes to horror films. Government regulation have all but destroyed most of the creativity in all movie genres, not… This last year of 2022 was a fantastic year for horror – both Asian and Western – however, traditionally horror movies have not been big money earners at the… Here at the Grimoire of Horror, we would like to celebrate Pride Month with some curated selections including LGBTQIA+ characters. As a genre that has always appealed to the underdogs,… In addition to those that played ahead of the main features, the Toronto After Dark Film Festival screened eight more Canadian shorts in a dedicated showcase. From rotoscope animation to… The police are a protective force, but their ineptitude is customary in any horror premise – they’re either unavailable or incapable – an earthly power dethroned. This not only unveils…20 Best Japanese V-Cinema Horror Films – The Beloved Sub-Genre of Straight-to-Video Terror
5 Chinese Horror Movies To Explore
2022’s Top 20 Highest Grossing Asian Horror Movies – Asian Horror Aplenty
LGBTQIA+ in Horror – 20 Best Films to Celebrate Pride Month
TADFF 2023 Canadian Short Film Feature [Toronto After Dark Film Festival]
The Best Detectives in Horror
Hi everyone! I am Javi from the distant land of Santiago, Chile. I grew up watching horror movies on VHS tapes and cable reruns thanks to my cousins. While they kinda moved on from the genre, I am here writing about it almost daily. When I am not doing that, I enjoy reading, drawing, and collecting cute plushies (you have to balance things out. Right?)