Ever wondered what it’s like to have a frequent flyer pass between the land of the living and the great beyond? Well, these anime characters could probably write a guidebook on it! Let’s dive into the wild world of anime’s most resilient (or unlucky) characters who just can’t seem to stay dead.
Note: This list is in no particular order. Spoilers ahead!
1. Dragon Ball Z’ – Krillin’s Repeated Revivals via the Dragon Balls
Ah, Krillin. The poster boy for “death is just a minor inconvenience.” This guy has died so many times, he probably has a loyalty card for the afterlife. First, he gets offed by Tambourine. Then, Frieza decides to turn him into human fireworks. And let’s not forget his run-in with Majin Buu, where he gets turned into chocolate and eaten. Talk about a sweet death!
But here’s the kicker: thanks to those handy-dandy Dragon Balls, Krillin keeps bouncing back like a bald, noseless boomerang. At this point, death for Krillin is less of a tragedy and more of a running gag. He’s practically the Kenny of Dragon Ball Z, minus the orange parka. One has to wonder if the Dragon Balls have a “Resurrect Krillin… Again” shortcut by now.
2. Chainsaw Man’ – Denji’s Blood-Fueled Resurrections
Move over, vampires! Denji from Chainsaw Man has found a new way to make blood cool again. This guy’s got a deal with his devil dog Pochita that’s better than any life insurance policy. As long as he’s got some blood to spare (and let’s face it, in his line of work, there’s plenty), Denji can keep coming back for more chainsaw-wielding action.
It’s like he’s got a “respawn” button, but instead of pressing X, he just needs to marinate in a bit of the red stuff. Denji turns death into a mild inconvenience, like stubbing your toe or running out of milk. “Oh no, I died again. Let me just take a blood bath and I’ll be right with you!” It’s enough to make other anime protagonists green with envy… or is that just the blood loss talking?
3. Re:ZERO’ – Subaru Natsuki’s Journey of Repeated Suffering
If Groundhog Day had a sadistic, anime cousin, it would be Subaru Natsuki’s life in Re:ZERO. This poor guy’s got a “Return by Death” ability that sounds cool on paper, until you realize it’s less “neat time travel trick” and more “endless loop of torment.”
Subaru dies more often than most people change their socks. Stabbed? Rewind. Mauled by a beast? Take two! Frozen to death? Let’s try this again! It’s like the world’s most morbid video game, where the respawn point is always juuuust before things go horribly wrong.
But hey, at least he’s got job security as the series’ protagonist, right? After all, it’s hard to write someone out of the story when they’ve got more lives than a cat sanctuary. Subaru’s not just dying – he’s revolutionizing the art of the do-over, one gruesome death at a time!
4. The Seven Deadly Sins’ – Elizabeth Liones’ 107 Lives of Reincarnation
Talk about relationship goals! While some couples struggle to make it past seven years, Elizabeth and Meliodas have been keeping their love alive for, oh, just a casual 3,000 years. But here’s the twist: Elizabeth’s been playing a game of supernatural hot potato, bouncing between 107 different lives.
It’s like she’s got a punch card for reincarnation, and boy, has she filled it up! Born, live, die, repeat – Elizabeth’s life cycle is more reliable than your average shonen anime’s filler arc schedule. And each time she kicks the bucket, she gets a whole new body and a fresh start. It’s like extreme makeover: afterlife edition!
The kicker? She always falls for the same guy. Talk about being a creature of habit! Meliodas must have some killer pickup lines to keep her coming back lifetime after lifetime. Or maybe it’s just that demon charm. Either way, Elizabeth’s giving new meaning to the phrase “till death do us part” – because apparently, even death can’t keep these lovebirds apart!
5. KonoSuba’ – Kazuma Satou’s Absurd Cycle of Life and Death
If there was an award for “Most Ridiculous Deaths in Anime,” Kazuma Satou would be a strong contender for the crown. This guy’s afterlife frequent flyer miles must be through the roof! First, he kicks the bucket by… wait for it… thinking he saved someone from being hit by a tractor. Plot twist: it was actually a slow-moving tractor, and the “victim” was fine. Talk about dying of embarrassment!
But that’s just the beginning of Kazuma’s comedy of errors. He’s been offed by everything from winter shogun to giant toads. It’s like Final Destination meets a slapstick comedy. And each time he dies, he gets to have an awkward chat with the goddess Aqua. It’s probably the most dysfunctional relationship in the afterlife since Hades and Persephone.
The best part? Kazuma treats death like most of us treat a bad hair day – inconvenient, slightly embarrassing, but ultimately just another Tuesday. At this point, he probably greets the Grim Reaper with a casual “Oh, it’s you again. Give me a minute, I’ll grab my coat.”
6. Gintama’ – Utsuro’s Multiple Personalities: A Coping Mechanism for Endless Rebirth
Imagine being so done with dying that you develop multiple personalities just to cope. That’s Utsuro for you – the guy who took “reinventing yourself” to a whole new level. This immortal baddie from Gintama has been around the block so many times, he’s practically worn a groove in the space-time continuum.
Utsuro’s solution to the monotony of eternal life? Spice things up with a few alter egos! It’s like he’s running his own one-man show of “Who Wants to Be a Different Person?” He’s been a government official, a rebel leader, and even the lovable(?) Shoyo-sensei. Talk about range!
But let’s be real, this is less “finding yourself” and more “losing yourself in a maze of your own making.” Utsuro’s personality carousel is spinning so fast, it’s a wonder he doesn’t get dizzy. Or maybe he does, and that’s why he’s so cranky all the time. Either way, he’s proof that even immortals need a good therapist… or maybe just a really long nap.
7. Yu Yu Hakusho’ – Yusuke Urameshi’s Tenacious Grip on Life
Yusuke Urameshi: the guy who turned “too cool for school” into “too stubborn for death.” This delinquent-turned-spirit detective kicked off his series by dying… and then immediately deciding that the whole “being dead” thing just wasn’t for him. Talk about a rebellious streak!
But here’s the kicker: Yusuke’s first death was just the warm-up act. Throughout the series, he makes kicking the bucket look like an extreme sport.
You’ve got to hand it to him, though. Most people see the light at the end of the tunnel and think “afterlife.” Yusuke sees it and thinks “exit sign.” He’s not just cheating death; he’s giving it a wedgie and running away laughing. At this point, the Grim Reaper probably has a restraining order against him!
8. To Your Eternity’ – Fushi: The Undying Shapeshifter
Fushi from ‘To Your Eternity’ takes the concept of “walk a mile in someone’s shoes” to a whole new level. This immortal shapeshifter doesn’t just imitate life; he becomes it, dies as it, and then comes back for more. It’s like the ultimate cosmic cosplay!
But let’s be real, Fushi’s resurrections are less “miracle of life” and more “supernatural Groundhog Day.” He’s died as a wolf, a boy, a girl, and probably a few rocks along the way. At this point, he’s less of a character and more of a supernatural portfolio of “Lives I Have Lived (And Died As).”
The best part? Each death is just a pitstop on Fushi’s eternal road trip through existence. He’s collecting deaths like some people collect postcards. “Been there, died as that!” You’ve got to wonder if he ever gets confused about which life he’s living. “Am I the wolf today, or the rock? Eh, I’ll figure it out when I die again.”
9. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’ – Diavolo’s Curse of Infinite Death Loops
If you thought your Monday mornings were bad, spare a thought for Diavolo from ‘JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure.’ This guy isn’t just dying; he’s stuck in the world’s worst “choose your own adventure” book, where every choice leads to “You Died. Try Again?”
Thanks to Giorno Giovanna’s Gold Experience Requiem, Diavolo is trapped in an infinite loop of deaths, each one more creative than the last. It’s like Final Destination met Groundhog Day, had a baby, and that baby grew up to be a sadistic screenwriter.
One minute he’s being run over by a car, the next he’s drowning, then he’s being dissected by overzealous medical students. It’s the ultimate karmic payback, served with a side of “be careful what you wish for.” Diavolo wanted to erase time, and now he’s got all the time in the world… to die, over and over again. Talk about irony with a capital “Ouch”!
10. Angel Beats’ – Noda’s Mortality in the Afterlife
Just when you thought dying once was enough, along comes Noda from ‘Angel Beats’ to show us that even in the afterlife, you can’t escape the Grim Reaper’s sense of humor. This guy has turned post-mortem dying into an art form, with a side of halberd-swinging bravado.
Noda’s got a knack for getting himself “killed” in the most spectacularly stupid ways possible. It’s like he’s auditioning for “1000 Ways to Die: Afterlife Edition.” Whether he’s charging headfirst into battle or just standing in the wrong place at the wrong time, Noda’s always ready to take one (or several) for the team.
The best part? In this purgatory high school, death is about as permanent as a detention slip. Noda pops back to life faster than you can say “respawn,” ready to die all over again. It’s like he’s stuck in a cosmic game of whack-a-mole, and he’s the mole that just won’t stay whacked!
