Anime is filled with all sorts of supernatural beings, and demons are undoubtedly some of the most popular in the medium. Anime demons come in a variety of forms and often possess an impressive array of powers. They're usually portrayed as morally gray, though they can be good or evil, depending on the situation.
Despite their otherworldly abilities and fearsome appearances, demons in anime often display a lot of human attributes, making them feel more relatable and likable. For these reasons and more, anime demons remain some of the most beloved characters of all time, and many of them have become iconic parts of anime history.
Updated on September 16th, 2023 by Chelsea Steele: Anime demons are some of the coolest characters out there, coming in a variety of forms with an assortment of powers and abilities that make them larger than life. With so many demon anime characters out there, it's hard to choose the best of the best. This list features many fan favorites from throughout anime history that have remained popular even years later.
20 Natsu Dragneel (Fairy Tail)
Fairy Tail's Natsu Dragneel was not originally a demon. However, when he was revived 400 years after his death, he gained a new form, transforming then into the demon known as "E.N.D.". With this newfound identity, Natsu becomes part-demon and gains an impressive new set of abilities.
As one of Zeref's most powerful demon creations, few are a match for Natsu in strength. His demonic side grants him multiple power-ups, making him one of the strongest anime demons out there. as his powers are constantly evolving.
19 Hiei (Yu Yu Hakusho)
Hiei is one of many demon anime characters featured within the classic series Yu Yu Hakusho. Though there are many others like him, he's definitely one of the strongest demons of the series, with powers very few can match.
A cold-blooded killer, Hiei appears to have very little regard for human life early on in the series. At the start of Yu Yu Hakusho, he acts as an antagonist and even almost kills Yusuke. However,after a change of heart, Hiei becomes a vital member of the team and as time passes, he begins to truly care for his companions. By the series' end, Hiei is a loyal friend, willing to risk it all to save his teammates.
18 Rem (Re:Zero − Starting Life In Another World)
Re:Zero's Rem is probably one of the cutest anime demons in history. However, fans shouldn't let her innocent looks fool them. Though she's small and looks rather delicate, Rem has incredible power.
Not only does Rem have an impressive array of magic skills and abilities, but thanks to her demon bloodline, she has an unstoppable Oni form. In this form, Rem manifests a long, curved horn made of pink energy that gives her frightful strength and ferocity. She's able to take on even the strongest opponents in this state, making her a dangerous force to be reckoned with.
17 Yuji Itadori (Jujutsu Kaisen)
Yuji Itadori is the main protagonist of the hit series Jujutsu Kaisen, as well as one of the most popular anime demon characters in recent years. But though he's a demon now, he wasn't always. At the start of the series, Yuji was a normal human, until a chance encounter transformed him into the vessel for Sukuna, an Imaginary Demon of terrifying power.
Now with this demonic entity living within him, Yuji has become a human-demon hybrid and has adopted Sukuna's incredible powers. Unlike his demonic side, Yuji is fair and just hero, valuing all other life as equals.
16 Power (Chainsaw Man)
The Devils of Chainsaw Man are some of the most unique demons in modern anime. Among them is Power, a fan-favorite character known as a Fiend, a Devil that has taken over a lifeless corpse. Fiends have considerably less power than their Devil counterparts, but despite this fact, they can be just as bloodthirsty and dangerous.
Violent, rude, and selfish, Power is a walking disaster of an anime demon. However, her many flaws and quirks only serve to make her more endearing, as fans can't help but fall in love with her spunk. From her impressive fighting skills to her outgoing personality, there's just something very charming about Power that fans can't resist.
15 Meliodas (Seven Deadly Sins)
Meliodas is the main protagonist of Seven Deadly Sins and though he may not look like a traditional anime demon, he has all the power of one. As the Sin of Wrath, he's one of the most formidable of the Seven Deadly Sins, with strength and abilities that none can match.
However, it isn't just his swordsmanship that makes him such a force to be reckoned with. As a member of the Demon Clan, he has powers far beyond those of the other Sins. His demonic energy gives him an extra boost in battle, making him a tough opponent for anyone to take down.
14 Sesshomaru (Inuyasha)
While Inuyasha may be all about the titular hero, he's not the only beloved demon in this series. Sesshomaru is Inuyasha's half-brother and a full-blooded demon with unimaginable power. He's one of the strongest demons in the entire series, and his abilities often even surpass Inuyasha's. Coldhearted and proud, Sesshomaru places himself above all other demons and forms of life.
Though he starts out as an antagonist in the story, Sesshomaru's character evolves a lot throughout the series, and he slowly learns how to care for others. Surprisingly, he seems to go through more development than Inuyasha himself, which is probably part of the reason he remains a fan-favorite anime demon.
13 Yoko Kurama (Yu Yu Hakusho)
Yoko Kurama is a silver-haired fox demon who possesses the body of Shuichi Minamino, one of the main characters in the classic series Yu Yu Hakusho. After suffering a life-threatening injury, Kurama seals his spirit away inside a newborn Shuichi. Here, he lays dormant until the young boy grows and unleashes his demonic power.
From then on, Kurama takes control of his young host and even has the ability to switch between his human form and his previous demon form. Since the beginning, Kurama has been one of the series' most beloved characters, and he's easily one of the most recognizable within the cast. Yu Yu Hakusho remains a wildly popular anime today, partly due to Kurama's iconic role in the story.
12 Sadao Maou (The Devil Is A Part-Timer)
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The Devil is a Part-Timer is a very different approach to anime demons than most series. This modern isekai classic stars Sadao Maou, an exiled demon who once reigned as the Demon King Satan himself. However, after a devastating defeat, he's been reduced to a part-time worker at a local Earthly fast food joint.
He may not be much of a threat nowadays, but Sadao is still a demon nonetheless. Though he's lost most of his powers, he can still tap into them somewhat, and he uses them to help him survive his new environment. With his friendly character and optimistic outlook, Sadao is easily one of the most lovable anime demons around.
11 Akira Fudo (Devilman)
At the start of the Devilman series, protagonist Akira Fudo is basically just like any ordinary human. Some could argue he's even a bit of a weakling. However, his cowardly ways come to an end after he gains the demonic power of Amon.
Akira then becomes a fearsome demon hero by the name of Devilman, and in this form, he protects humanity from hoards of bloodthirsty demons. With enhanced strength, speed, and impressive combat skills, Akira takes on his enemies, vowing to save the world from evil.
10 Hyakkimaru (Dororo)
Dororo's Hyakkimaru may not be a demon in the traditional sense, but his story is closely tied to them, and he wouldn't be who he is without that connection. Upon his birth, Hyakkimaru's body is sacrificed to the demons of a nearby shrine, leaving him a shell of a person with no face, limbs, or skin. After his sacrifice, his father quickly abandons him, hoping he'd die from his condition.
However, Hyakkimaru lives on, and when he grows, he journeys to reclaim his body from the demons who stole it. However, with each demon he destroys, he loses a little bit of his humanity, slowly becoming a demon himself.
9 Sebastian (Black Butler)
Black Butler saw incredible popularity during its early years, especially in the 2010s. The series is home to one of the most well-loved anime demon characters, Sebastian Michaelis. With his suave, charming personality and stunning good looks, it's no surprise that he stole the hearts of many fangirls over the years.
Sebastian is a mysterious, handsome demon who's formed a contract with the young protagonist, Ciel Phantomhive. He works tirelessly as Ciel's butler, performing any duty he deems necessary. However, he isn't doing it out of the kindness of his heart. After their deal is done, Sebastian is poised to collect and devour Ciel's soul. In the meantime, however, he's one hell of a butler.
8 Rin Okumura (Blue Exorcist)
Blue Exorcist is one of the most popular demon anime to come out in some time, and though it's been around since the 2010s, it's still a favorite among modern fans. The series' protagonist, Rin Okumura, has become one of the most popular anime demons of all time.
At the start of the series, Rin is just a normal teenage boy. However, his life changes forever after the death of his adoptive father, Shiro. Rin then learns the shocking truth: he's not only a demon, but also the son of Satan himself. However, he refuses to join his biological father's side and vows to take him down and avenge Shiro's death.
7 Chrono (Chrono Crusade)
Most anime demons are fierce and terrifying, but Chrono Crusade's titular hero is the exact opposite. Unlike the other demons in the series, Chrono is a gentle and kind soul. He's the partner of protagonist Rosette Christopher, who formed a contract with him, binding them both together.
With this contract in place, Rosette offers her soul to Chrono, allowing him to tap into his powers fully. Together, they work for the Order of Magdalene and fight against demons and other supernatural creatures. Though Chrono is a demon himself, he works alongside humans to banish demons from Earth and create peace throughout humanity.
6 Albedo (Overlord)
At the start of Overlord, Albedo is one of the first NPCs fans meet, as well as the first to join Ainz in the new world when Yggdrasil shuts down for good. She's a powerful anime demon and the Overseer of the Guardians of the Tomb of Nazarick.
With her strength and skills, she could easily be a ruler in her own right, but Albedo has instead become a devoted follower of Ainz and has even been programmed to fall madly in love with him. She stands loyally by his side as one of his strongest allies, acting as his right hand.
5 Calcifer (Howl's Moving Castle)
During Sophie Hatter's magical journey through the Wastes in Howl's Moving Castle, she stumbles upon the titular castle itself and discovers its power source. Though the castle appears to be moving on its own, it's actually being powered by Calcifer, a small and surprisingly cute fire demon living in the hearth of the fireplace.
Despite Calcifer's harmless appearance, he is actually a very powerful demon. Years ago, he met a young wizard named Howl, and the two formed a contract together. In exchange for Calcifer's companionship, Howl gave the fire demon his own beating heart. Although Calcifer seems displeased with the arrangement, he cares very much for Howl and sees him as a close friend.
4 Alucard (Hellsing)
The Hellsing franchise categorizes demons into several groups. These include vampires, werekin, and ghouls, among others. These creatures are seen as pure evil by the Vatican, and bounty hunters target them for a hefty price. Among these demons is Alucard, who happens to be one of the most powerful vampires in history.
Though Alucard himself is a vampire, he has become the secret weapon of the Hellsing Organization, a group tasked with hunting down and eliminating vampires and other various demons. Though he's the protagonist of the series, Alucard is far from a hero. He's very cruel in his dealings with enemies and isn't above taking innocent lives.
3 Nezuko (Demon Slayer)
Nezuko Kamado is the female lead of the hit series Demon Slayer, and she's one of the most popular demon anime characters of all time. She was once a normal human girl, and she and her brother Tanjiro lived happily with their family. However, that all changed when the King of Demons, Muzan, slaughtered their parents and siblings.
In the wake of Muzan's destruction, Nezuko was transformed into a demon herself, and her life was never the same. Though she's a demon now, Nezuko is still a sweet and gentle girl. She keeps her demon powers suppressed, normally wearing a bamboo muzzle on her face. Though she has terrifying power, she refuses to harm those she loves, no matter what.
2 Inuyasha (Inuyasha)
To this day, Inuyasha remains one of the most popular demon anime of all time. It was a huge success during the 2000s, and its titular hero has since become an iconic part of anime history. He's the half-demon son of Toga, one of the most powerful demons of feudal Japan.
Though Inuyasha's only a half-demon, he still has an incredible amount of power, and even most full-fledged demons don't stand a chance against him. Hot-headed and sharp-tongued, this dog demon often butts heads with the series' protagonist, Kagome Higurashi. But despite his abrasive nature, Inuyasha has a kind heart and a strong desire to protect those weaker than him.
1 Kurama (Naruto)
Out of all the anime demons out there, there's no doubt that Kurama is one of the most beloved. During the early days of Naruto, he was known only as the fearsome Nine-Tailed Fox demon. Sealed inside Naruto's body, Kurama causes a great deal of havoc at first. Even Naruto himself is afraid of him at the start.
However, when the two finally come to terms with each other and become friends, Kurama becomes one of Naruto's most valuable allies. With seemingly limitless power himself, Kurama gives his host one amazing power-up after the next. Though he may no longer be around in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, he'll always be loved by the fans who've watched him since the beginning.
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