Updated May 11, 2024 by testing

The age-old concept of a goody-two-shoes protagonist who is always trying to spread smiles across people is considered rusty nowadays. A saint-like protagonist doesn’t exist in real life because humans tend to be grey in terms of personality. People prefer to see realistic portrayals of human emotions in any form of media.

Such is the case with the anime community. The old glorified main character is no longer the center of attention because the creators are trying to create new characters which have complex emotions.

These cold MCs are the center of attention among anime fans. The main character’s cold personality leads to unforeseen events in the anime, which creates hype among audiences.

Today, we are going to list 25 anime where the MC is Emotionless/Cold. So, without any further ado, let’s begin our list.

Anime where MC is Cold Hearted

 

25. Assassin’s Pride

Cold MC	Character Writing	Plot	Animation	Total
3/10	3/10	3/10	5/10	14/40

The emergence of mysterious monsters called Lycanthropes drifted the world and humanity towards destruction. Several cities, guarded by glass domes, were built by using Mana in an attempt to protect mankind from annihilation.

Kufa Vampir was a young individual with a cold personality. He was a member of an underground guild called Guild Jack Raven. Kufa was trained to become a ruthless assassin and was an expert in undercover missions.

He was ordered by his guild to assassinate Melida Angel, a young girl from the noble family of Angel with no mana abilities. Kufa decided to abort his mission after witnessing the determination and struggle of Melida.

He ends up becoming her instructor. However, corrupt nobles were not happy with this situation. (These rich nobles are never happy, to be honest). This grave situation may force Kufa to reveal his real identity and lineage as he wants to protect his beloved ones.

 

24. To the Abandoned Sacred Beasts

Cold MC	Character Writing	Plot	Animation	Total
3/10	4/10	3/10	5/10	15/40

The war between Northern Empire and Southern Empire led to many casualties. The military might of the Southern Empire quickly turned things in their favor (They were probably using some hacks). The Northern Empire began to search for ways to overturn this grave situation.

The desperate research of the Northern Empire led to the discovery of hybrid beast soldiers. The overwhelming strength and ability of these soldiers earned them the title of Incarnates. Ultimately, a peace treaty was formed between the two nations.

Hank was the captain of the Incarnate squad during the war. Now, Incarnates have lost their human side and are rampaging throughout the nation.

Hank ends up preserving his human consciousness and decides to be the one to put his friends to rest that were once humans. He must take on the path of an emotionless killer and fulfill promises made to his comrades.

 

23. Mars Red

Cold MC	Character Writing	Plot	Animation	Total
4/10	6/10	4/10	4/10	18/40

The Vampire race that was living in shadows among humans ended up surfacing due to unknown reasons, which resulted in an increased population of Vampires in Japan. A special unit of vampire soldiers called Code Zero was formed to exterminate hostile Vampires.

Yoshinobu Maeda was the Lt.Colonel of the Japanese Imperial Army. He was tasked to take command of Code Zero and use it to normalize the situation in Japan.

The members of Code Zero were untrained people who recently became vampires. Yoshinobu must subject them to merciless training to make full use of their vampire abilities.

However, this task may not be easy because anarchy was building up behind the scenes. The very existence of these vampire soldiers was in question by the noble authorities.

 

22. Arifureta: From Commonplace to World’s Strongest

Cold MC	Character Writing	Plot	Animation	Total
4/10	5/10	4/10	5/10	18/40

The daily life of an average high school student took a turn for better or worse when his entire class ended up being transported into another world full of magic and wonders. The students gain superhuman abilities and are tasked to save this world from various monsters.

Hajime Nagumo was an introvert who got summoned to another world. He gained an inferior ability, Transmutation while the rest of the class gained powerful abilities. He was betrayed by his classmate during a labyrinth mission and ended up falling into a pit. (Guess you can say he had a little PIT STOP).

On the verge of death, Hajime’s hatred for this world and his friends gave him the push to survive the deadly beasts. He gained the abilities of monsters by eating their flesh. Hajime’s entire personality changed as he became an overpowered killer.

Now, Hajime must use his newly found powers to find a way home while killing people without any regrets along the way.

 

21. Angels of Death

Cold MC	Character Writing	Plot	Animation	Total
6/10	3/10	6/10	5/10	20/40

The personality and nature of people are greatly influenced by their past. The people with a tragic background were gathered and given a place in a secret underground building by an eccentric man who titled them “Angels”.

Issac Foster was a young merciless killer living in a secret building as a floor manager. He was an orphan who suffered a lot because of his cruel caretakers. Due to his past, Isaac had the tendency of killing everything in his sight.

Issac was known by his nickname Zack. He met Rachel Gardner, a young girl who got kidnapped to his secret building by an unknown person. Zack was going to kill her the moment he met her, but the dead eyes of Rachel stopped him from doing so.

How will this encounter affect Zack? Is Rachel the key to some of the answers Zack has been looking for?

 

20. Black Cat

Cold MC	Character Writing	Plot	Animation	Total
5/10	5/10	5/10	6/10	21/40

In the bright city of Tokyo, exists a secret organization famous for producing assassins with the ultimate success rate. The organization has its assassins all over the city that don’t hesitate to take the lives of targets.

Train Heartnet was a young assassin working in a secret organization called Chronos. He was renowned as the ultimate assassin of Chronos, earning him the nickname Black Cat. (He is only capable of causing a cat–astrophe).

The coldness of Train’s heart could be felt with his emotionless expressions while he’s murdering someone.

However, a fateful encounter with Saya Minatsuki, a girl working as a bounty hunter, caused a change of heart in Train as he began to think about his life as a ruthless assassin.

The higher-ups of Chronos might not be happy with this sudden change of heart in Train. The price to leave this path may be more than one can imagine.

 

19. Kiznaiver

Cold MC	Character Writing	Plot	Animation	Total
5/10	6/10	5/10	6/10	22/40

In the technically advanced city of Japan lives a boy who has lost the ability to sense pain and emotions because of a past tragedy. Even though the city seems a quiet and cheerful place, the history of Sugomori City might be connected with the past of this young individual.

Katsuhira Agata was a young high school student living in the city of Sugomori. His daily life of being bullied by his class-fellows means nothing to him as he is deprived of feeling pain and emotions. Katsuhira was regarded as a cold individual by the people.

He met Noriko Sonozaki, a beautiful lady working as a manager for an organization. She forced Katsuhira and his friends to join a revolutionary system called the Kizuna System that connects the feelings of different people.

Although Katsuhira and his friends joined this system, will the complexities of this system expose the inner selves that they wish to hide from everyone?

 

18. Goblin Slayer

Cold MC	Character Writing	Plot	Animation	Total
6/10	5/10	5/10	7/10	23/40

Set in the dark fantasy world where adventurers use their skills and abilities to complete various quests that involve killing various monsters. There lives a man who accepts quests only related to goblins even though goblins are considered the weakest monsters.

Goblin Slayer was a silver-rank adventurer who only took goblin-related quests. His cold personality was shown by the fact he even eliminated the innocent children of goblins (ok I am starting to doubt that this character is actually the MC).

Goblin Slayer met Onna Shinkan, a young girl who was new in the adventurers guild. He saved her from a bunch of goblins during a quest. This girl may understand the threat posed by the goblins by working alongside the one and only Goblin Slayer.

 

17. Guilty Crown

Cold MC	Character Writing	Plot	Animation	Total
6/10	6/10	6/10	6/10	24/40

The order in Japan fell into chaos when an apocalypse virus struck the world out of nowhere. Now, the people live under the fear and command of a powerful military organization called GHQ. However, a rebellious group called Funeral Parlor strives to overthrow the order of GHQ.

Shuu Ouma was a normal high schooler who prefers to stay away from people because he’s an introvert. He ended up acquiring the power of the void genome that enables him to craft weapons by drawing out the void of people.

He meets Inori Yuzuriha, a kind girl working in a Funeral Parlor. Shuu’s encounter with Inori reveals the true power of the void genome. He ends up working with Inori in Funeral Parlor to free Japan from the cruel rule of GHQ.

However, the power of the kings might corrupt the kind soul of Shuu, turning him into an emotionless King.

 

16. The Legend of the Legendary Heroes

Cold MC	Character Writing	Plot	Animation	Total
5/10	7/10	6/10	7/10	25/40

Set in a fantasy world where the corrupt nobles are disturbing the peace of the kingdom. The Empire of Roland may be under the rule of a just king, but the evils of the world are still out there planning their next move.

Ryner Lute was a young knight who excelled at magic. He possessed the rare eyes of destruction known as Alpha Stigma. However, Ryner dislikes his ability as it causes him to destroy everything in his sight.

He met Ferris Erie, a young beautiful swordswoman, tasked with collecting ancient artifacts with Ryner. They must discover the hidden ancient artifacts that can aid the empire in various ways.

However, this journey of Ryner with Ferris might not be easy as the emotionless demon hiding inside Ryner may go berserk any moment.

 

15. Tokyo Ghoul

Cold MC	Character Writing	Plot	Animation	Total
5/10	7/10	7/10	7/10	26/40

The vast bright city of Tokyo seems like a peaceful place, but unfortunately, that is not true as mysterious flesh-eating beings called Ghouls are lurking within the city. An organization called CCG (Commission of Ghoul Counter) was formed to eliminate the existence of Ghouls.

Ken Kaneki was a young individual living his university life. He only had one friend named Hideyoshi Nagachika. He had an obsession with literature and books. Kaneki was living a dull life, but he was happy with it.

He met Rize Kamishiro, a beautiful lady with a charming aura. Kaneki ended up developing a close relationship with her. However, the reality of Rize’s true identity left Kaneki in utter despair as he ended up becoming a hybrid Ghoul. (Don’t you just hate it when your crush tries to eat you alive?)

Now, Kaneki must adapt to his new life, or else he will be devoured by his tragic fate.

 

14. 91 Days

Cold MC	Character Writing	Plot	Animation	Total
7/10	7/10	7/10	7/10	28/40

Set in a town where mafia families rule everything. The life of every person is in the grasp of mafia families who can end them whenever they like. In such a miserable town, nothing but blood flows through every corner.

Angelo Lagusa was a young man with an emotionless personality. He had lost his precious family at the hands of the cruel mafia family of Vanetti. Somehow he ends up surviving the merciless slaughter only to be a man with only one purpose in mind一revenge.

He returned to his town, Lawless, after several years to exact his revenge upon the Vanetti family. Angelo, with his fake identity (Avilio Bruno), started making moves to execute his plan of revenge. However, the path of vengeance only leads to the depths of Hell.

 

13. Classroom of the Elite

Cold MC	Character Writing	Plot	Animation	Total
7/10	7/10	7/10	8/10	29/40

In Japan lies a high school with a revolutionary system that allows the students to have each facility at the tip of their fingers. However, only a few manage to achieve such freedom because a judicial system in the form of classes is in place to evaluate every student.

Kiyotaka Ayanokouji was a young individual with an aloof personality. He got admission to the famous Koudo Ikusei Senior High School by attaining 50% marks in every subject. He was assigned Class D, the lowest rank class mocked by the entire school.

He met Suzune Horikita, a beautiful girl with a rude attitude who thinks she should be in class A instead of D. Through a series of events, Ayanokouji ends up helping her and class D to reach the top class A.

However, behind the emotionless eyes of Ayanokouji lies his real goal and identity that may be far more selfish than one can imagine.

 

12. Phantom: Requiem for the Phantom

Cold MC	Character Writing	Plot	Animation	Total
8/10	7/10	8/10	7/10	30/40

In the streets of America, frequent assassinations by mafia gangs and organizations have become a normal thing. The war between mafia organizations has engulfed the lives of countless people.

Reiji Azuma was exploring the streets of America as a Japanese tourist. In a series of events, he ends up becoming the puppet of a powerful mafia organization called Inferno.

A scientist at Inferno discovered a hidden talent for assassinations in Reiji, thus he brainwashed him, turning him into a lifeless Phantom (Zwei) whose only purpose is to exterminate the targets.

Now, Reiji must walk the tragic path of an Assassin to survive which leads to nothing but despair.

 

11. Darker than Black

Cold MC	Character Writing	Plot	Animation	Total
8/10	8/10	8/10	7/10	31/40

Set in a world where the emergence of gates (Heaven and Hell Gates) has influenced and changed the very ways of living, lives people known as contractors who had sold their humanity in exchange for supernatural powers.

Hei was a young man who became a contractor after the death of his sister (Bai). He became an undercover agent for the infamous Syndicate Organization. The daily life of Hei is filled with various deadly missions that he must fulfill to survive.

He was known as Black Reaper because of his cold personality and aura that frightens even the most powerful contractors. All contractors think and move rationally, they feel no emotions making them perfect assassins.

A whole conspiracy lies behind the existence of contractors and the gates that may give birth to more chaos.

 

10. My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU

Cold MC	Character Writing	Plot	Animation	Total
8/10	8/10	8/10	8/10	32/40

Set in the city of Chiba, lives a young boy who considers the joys and thrill of youth nothing but a detestable lie as all this excitement and relationships are temporary, that can end over minor affairs.

Hachiman Hikigaya was a young high school student living the pathetic life of a loner. He believed high school relationships and activities are illusions that fade away with the progress of life, leaving behind nothing but regrets. (Well, he wasn’t entirely wrong…Anyways).

He behaves coldly towards the people who enjoy youth as it is the genuine thing that will stay with them. In a series of events, Hikigaya finds himself in the service club. He meets Yukino Yukinoshita, a beautiful girl who can’t socialize with her classmates. (Can’t believe that I’d relate with an anime girl so much).

She was known as Ice-Queen by the students because of her emotionless nature. Now, these two unusual high school students must cooperate with one and another to run this club.

 

9. Death Parade

Cold MC	Character Writing	Plot	Animation	Total
8/10	8/10	8/10	8/10	32/40

What is beyond death? It is a question that has intrigued many people. (Read that in a Rod Serling voice). This anime formulates a story using this question as a base. According to the story, the dead individual must take the trials held at a bar that will decide his/her fate.

Decim was a man with white hair, working as a judge in a bar. He is the part of the judicial system that decided the fate of the deceased. He is tasked with judging the deceased by making them play a game in which their true desires and self will be revealed.

He had an emotionless personality and aura that helped him evaluate the individuals without any problem. However, his encounter with a black-haired woman (Female Protagonist) changed everything as he could not judge her due to certain reasons.

This fateful encounter may change Decim’s way of thinking and ultimately enables him to question this judicial system.

 

8. 86 (Eighty Six)

Cold MC	Character Writing	Plot	Animation	Total
8/10	8/10	9/10	8/10	33/40

Set in a world where a ceaseless war between two empires has been raging for years. However, one empire uses unmanned autonomous war machines called Legion while the other tragically uses discriminated people (86) using manual machines called Juggernauts.

Shinei Nouzen (Code Name Undertaker) was a young soldier who had survived countless battles against the Legion. He became the commander of Spearhead Squadron, an elite squad famous for crushing countless Legions. His emotionless personality earned him the title of “Reaper” from friends.

Vladilena Milize was a young beautiful lady working in the military department as a handler. She was referred to as Lena by comrades. Lena greatly opposed the discrimination against the Eighty-Six.

Lena ends up becoming the handler of the spearhead squadron. This fateful interaction of Lena with the Eighty-Six soldiers may save these soldiers from inevitable death.

 

7. Dororo

Cold MC	Character Writing	Plot	Animation	Total
8/10	9/10	9/10	8/10	34/40

Lust and Greed are small words that can’t describe the malicious desires of Lord Daigo Kagemistu as he made a pact with powerful demons to prosper his land, in exchange for the body parts of his newly born child.

Hyakkimaru was the son of Lord Daigo Kagemistu. He was born without body parts because of his father’s pact with demons. Hyakkimaru was cast off by his parents, but he ends up surviving because of a mysterious man who gave him prosthetic limbs and weapons for survival.

Now, Hyakkimaru is a young boy with an emotionless personality who can survive on his own. He went on his journey to kill the demons to reclaim his lost body parts. However, killing the 12 powerful demons may not be an easy task as Daigo will not let him do so because his land will be destroyed in return.

 

6. Parasyte: The Maxim

Cold MC	Character Writing	Plot	Animation	Total
8/10	9/10	9/10	9/10	35/40

Set in a world where hostile parasitic aliens invaded the earth and started killing people to gain full control of their bodies. The whole world is not yet aware of the threat which these aliens pose to their existence.

Shinichi Izumi was a normal high school student. He got infected by a parasitic alien, but fortunately, he didn’t let him take control of his brain. The parasyte remained in his right hand and changed his entire personality to a cold-hearted individual. (Who doesn’t love a pet Parasite).

In a series of events, Shinichi became friends with this alien and named him Migi. Now, both of them must work together to save humanity from these blood-thirsty aliens.

 

5. Hyouka

Cold MC	Character Writing	Plot	Animation	Total
9/10	9/10	8/10	9/10	35/40

Set in a small town of Japan, there lives a teenage high school student with great observation and problem-solving skills but he decided not to utilize these abilities as he considers them to be energy draining as hell.

Houtarou Oreki was a student of Kamiyama High School living a boring life, but he was happy with it because Oreki was too lazy to do anything. Because of his apparent emotionless personality, he had very few friends.

Oreki ends up joining the classic club where he meets Eru Chitanda, a cute young girl obsessed with mystery. This fateful encounter of Oreki with Chitanda may force him to use his neglected abilities to uncover the mystery surrounding their old high school.

 

4. Banana Fish

Cold MC	Character Writing	Plot	Animation	Total
9/10	9/10	9/10	9/10	36/40

Set in the vast city of New York where mafia gangs rule the underground world. The story revolves around a teenage boy who ended up in the hands of the mafia after running away from home.

Aslan Jade Callenreese was a young mafia leader with powerful combat and strategic skills. He was given a new name, Ash Lynx, by Dino Golzine, the boss of the underground mafia.

Since Childhood, Ash has been physically abused by the corrupt folks of his hometown; this incident led him to develop a cold personality. His green eyes burning with hatred caused his enemies to lose their calm. He ends up acquiring a drug called Banana Fish, the same drug that caused his brother (Griffin) to go insane.

Ash met Eiji Okumura, a teenage high school student exploring the streets of New York as an assistant photographer. The rival gang leader kidnapped Eiji and one of Ash’s underlings. Now, Ash must save them while discovering more about the forbidden drug, Banana Fish.

 

3. Berserk

Cold MC	Character Writing	Plot	Animation	Total
9/10	9/10	10/10	10/10	38/40

Set in a world ravaged by demons and war where people struggle to live by any means possible, a young man decided to find his path among chaos by killing the fierce demons in his way.

Guts was an orphan whose parents died in the war between humans and demons. He had a talent for sword fighting since childhood. Guts polished his skills and joined a mercenary group of warriors.

He traveled the kingdom of Midland, slaying demons and enemies with his legendary sword called Dragon Slayer. He developed a cold-hearted personality over time as it was necessary to survive the catastrophic times.

Guts must walk the gruesome path of a warrior to find his reason for living and fighting.

 

2. Death Note

Cold MC	Character Writing	Plot	Animation	Total
10/10	9/10	10/10	10/10	39/40

Gods of Death were considered a myth as there was no proof of their existence. In reality, they do exist. Things begin to take a turn for better or worse when a bored Death God (Ryuk) intentionally drops the Death Note in the human world to witness how a human will use it.

Light Yagami was a talented student, known for his intelligence and strategic skills. He ends up picking up the Death Note. Light was surprised to see that a person dies when his name is written in this notebook.

He decided to use the power of the Death Note to bring peace to this world by eradicating all criminals and evil people from this world. However, things may not be easy for Light as a talented yet unnamed detective is searching for the culprit behind these strange deaths.

 

1. Vinland Saga

Cold MC	Character Writing	Plot	Animation	Total
9/10	10/10	10/10	10/10	39/40

Set in a world where the race of Vikings is on the rise as their deadly power can help any nation claim the land of another. These warriors desire nothing but ravaging war that is the only source of pleasure for them.

Thorfinn was a young warrior whose father was killed by pirate mercenaries; since then, he had lived his days with only revenge in mind. However, he is not yet powerful enough to take on the pirate mercenaries.

Thorfinn must train himself to the core to exact his revenge while searching for a prosperous land called Vinland Saga. During his journey, Thorfinn might understand what it means to be a true warrior in flesh.

 

Conclusion

A mysterious and cold-hearted MC plays a very important role in making the overall story of the anime interesting. His brooding sense of justice (or injustice) can keep the viewer glued to his/her seat till the very end.

Mysterious and Powerful protagonists are getting more and more popular. We have picked the best anime which feature such MCs. We hope you will enjoy watching these anime.