Why can’t we take our eyes off psychopaths when they’re on the screen?
Psychopathy has always been a very dark but fascinating topic both in real life and in the media. While in real life we all hope to never have to deal with a psychopath, anime ones are usually quite popular among the fans.
Psychopaths are usually associated with serial killers, so we instantly think of an insane-laughing madman covered in blood (extra points for holding a knife) when we hear that word. But is it always about murder and insanity?
The most common traits of psychopaths are manipulativeness and antisocial behavior. They might understand the norms of society, but choose not to adhere to these norms. They also lack empathy and guilt, and often think too much of themselves.
Being a psychopath doesn’t always equal being an antagonist. And it’s even more interesting when one of them is the protagonist of the show. Take, for example, Yagami Light because none of anime conversations about manipulative psychopaths can ignore Death Note. Light is an incredibly intelligent and charismatic character, who can manipulate and overpower probably anyone. His calculating actions are extremely captivating, because, as they say, “smart is the new sexy”, right?
Speaking of not-so-new anime, we must mention Tokyo Ghoul where every other character has psychopathic tendencies. But today we’re going to talk about Tsukiyama Shuu. Wealthy, extremely stylish and handsome, this ghoul possesses such superficial charm that can’t leave anyone indifferent. He’s obsessed with eating Kaneki and is not afraid to use manipulation and tricks to get what he wants.
Sadistic Hisoka (Hunter x Hunter) has also charmed thousands of fans despite being cruel and merciless. He’s powerful and very skilled in combat, and his charisma and flirtatious behavior make him a captivating character.
Being a psychopath is not necessarily a male feature. Yuno Gasai (Future Diary) is an extremely obsessive girl who’ll do anything to protect her love interest, Yukki, even the darkest and sickest things. Kakegurui is also filled with psychopath-like female characters such as the main character, Yumeko, or Midari. They all find joy in gambling and are not afraid to risk their lives. Midari looks exactly like a character that comes to mind when you think of a psychopath: crazy eyes, a gun in her hand, and a maniacal laugh.
So why are we so attracted to psychopaths in anime? As we’ve said, most of them possess an incredible level of intelligence, they’re cunning and smart, they are awfully charismatic, and they exude power and confidence. Their artificial charm makes them even more appealing. And watching them on the screen takes away the main thing that makes such people horrible in real life — the sense of danger. That’s why most of the time we can easily focus only on their achievements and distinguish between fiction and reality.
Why can’t we take our eyes off psychopaths when they’re on the screen?
Psychopathy has always been a very dark but fascinating topic both in real life and in the media. While in real life we all hope to never have to deal with a psychopath, anime ones are usually quite popular among the fans.
Psychopaths are usually associated with serial killers, so we instantly think of an insane-laughing madman covered in blood (extra points for holding a knife) when we hear that word. But is it always about murder and insanity?
The most common traits of psychopaths are manipulativeness and antisocial behavior. They might understand the norms of society, but choose not to adhere to these norms. They also lack empathy and guilt, and often think too much of themselves.
Being a psychopath doesn’t always equal being an antagonist. And it’s even more interesting when one of them is the protagonist of the show. Take, for example, Yagami Light because none of anime conversations about manipulative psychopaths can ignore Death Note. Light is an incredibly intelligent and charismatic character, who can manipulate and overpower probably anyone. His calculating actions are extremely captivating, because, as they say, “smart is the new sexy”, right?
Speaking of not-so-new anime, we must mention Tokyo Ghoul where every other character has psychopathic tendencies. But today we’re going to talk about Tsukiyama Shuu. Wealthy, extremely stylish and handsome, this ghoul possesses such superficial charm that can’t leave anyone indifferent. He’s obsessed with eating Kaneki and is not afraid to use manipulation and tricks to get what he wants.
Sadistic Hisoka (Hunter x Hunter) has also charmed thousands of fans despite being cruel and merciless. He’s powerful and very skilled in combat, and his charisma and flirtatious behavior make him a captivating character.
Being a psychopath is not necessarily a male feature. Yuno Gasai (Future Diary) is an extremely obsessive girl who’ll do anything to protect her love interest, Yukki, even the darkest and sickest things. Kakegurui is also filled with psychopath-like female characters such as the main character, Yumeko, or Midari. They all find joy in gambling and are not afraid to risk their lives. Midari looks exactly like a character that comes to mind when you think of a psychopath: crazy eyes, a gun in her hand, and a maniacal laugh.
So why are we so attracted to psychopaths in anime? As we’ve said, most of them possess an incredible level of intelligence, they’re cunning and smart, they are awfully charismatic, and they exude power and confidence. Their artificial charm makes them even more appealing. And watching them on the screen takes away the main thing that makes such people horrible in real life — the sense of danger. That’s why most of the time we can easily focus only on their achievements and distinguish between fiction and reality.
