Shonen Anime Scenes That Went Too Far

Even for those that have only watched a handful of anime shows, most of us can probably recall a scene that outrageously stood out. One subgenre of anime that goes the whole hog is shonen, which refers to its target audience — teenage boys. It's arguably one of Japan's most popular types of animation, with streaming giants such as Crunchyroll cashing in on the action. Iconic franchises such as "My Hero Academia" and "Naruto" fall under this umbrella, speaking to the global audience's hunger for superpowers, evil forces, and long-running formats.

Though shows such as "Fullmetal Alchemist" and "Death Note" are considered by fans to be some of the best shonen anime series of all time, there are often instances when scenes feel a little too close for comfort. While most are based on an original manga, some shows choose to use their source material as a launchpad for scenes that are more grizzly, brutal, and emotionally challenging than they were first depicted. From violent torture to traumatic childhoods, lots of our favorite programs aren't afraid to go there. Here are some unforgettable shonen anime scenes that definitely went too far. Spoilers ahead.

First airing in 2019, "The Promised Neverland" kicks off its story with a bang. The series focuses on a group of orphaned children who plan their escape from their orphanage, leading them to the dark truth that exists behind it. It's a strong idea about something that seems near-impossible — yet one particular moment in Season 2 managed to make the show a sinking ship. Shelter B06-32 is an underground shelter in the demon world used by children who had escaped from nearby farms and when the Grace Field kids find it, things start to go downhill.

Considering the children find the secret bunker so quickly, there's arguably little point in the "The Promised Neverland" story continuing. Though there is a turning point that reveals previous escapee Yugo had been kidnapped, the plot feels half-baked and a far cry from the thrilling mystery we'd seen in Season 1. It seems the series creators might have agreed, condensing over 100 chapters of the original manga source material into the rest of the season. The knock-on effects of the scene being aired were obvious, completely missing out on individual character arcs, as well as eventually knocking together what fans deemed a less-than-satisfactory ending.

Most people probably wouldn't guess that an anime following an octopus-looking creature teaching a class of kids how to be assassins is heartbreaking, but the ending of "Assassination Classroom" is possibly too much for emotions to bear. From the moment the gang begins their training in Season 1, they are well aware of their final objective — to kill teacher Koro-Sensei, who is planning to destroy Earth. While many of the wannabe assassins are keen to keep their distance from their teacher, there's ultimately a camaraderie that builds up between the predators and the prey and when the time comes to get the job done, the goodbyes are anything but easy.

The optimistic viewer might think that the outcome can be resolved in another way, yet the killing of Koro-Sensei was pretty much inevitable. However, the choice made of how to do it clearly emotionally impacts the kids, with the tears of viewers not too far behind. It's perhaps a scene that is specifically designed to provoke a strong reaction, even though Koro-Sensei makes clear that he means the class no ill whatsoever. Perhaps it's wishful thinking to consider that the teacher of "Assassination Classroom" could have had a personality u-turn, but the certainty of what's going to happen doesn't make the show's fallout any easier to deal with.

When we think of messed-up, scary anime shows, "Happy Sugar Life" is likely to be at the top of the list. With its overall premise focused on Satou befriending a mysterious girl called Shio, the pair agree to live together while protecting the other whatever the cost. Someone who quickly threatens this dynamic is Shouko, who discovers the relationship that Satou and Shio are having. Not feeling as though she can trust her, Satou kills Shouko by stabbing her in the throat.

Given that "Happy Sugar Life" is known for being disturbing, controversial, and genuinely terrifying, having a character die is almost expected to come with the territory. In this particular case, the way Shouko dies arguably takes things a step too far. With the entire screen completely red, Shouko's muffles turn to silence as the life drains out of her, with her body later set on fire. As the only character with clarity in the show — and one of the few who remains devoted to Satou — Shouko's death is as heartbreaking as it is shocking, throwing away the only chance for trust to prevail or amends to be made.

In Season 1, Episode 7 of "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure," antagonist Dio Brando takes human cruelty to an entirely new level. Known for his manipulative and violently domineering character, Dio is a key figure in the show's exploration of his battle against his stepbrother, Jojo, in the hopes of taking control of the Joestar fortune. Viewers instantly recognize him as a rare villain that can simultaneously be charming as well as inhumane, helping him to get away with unspeakable acts. Perhaps the worst instance of this is in "Sorrowful Successor," where he makes a zombified mother eat her own baby.

Though the scene is somewhat more censored onscreen than it appears in the original manga, Dio's actions are beyond horrifying to watch. While some viewers stated that they are unable to watch what happens entirely, others identified with the scene's purpose of showing just how despicable Dio truly is. He's hardly a saint when it comes to his previous abhorrent actions — which include wiring a dog's jaw shut and subjecting Johnathan to psychological horror — but the fact that both a mother and a child are involved here makes things feel even more unsettling. Dio's taste for cruelty gets worse after he becomes a vampire, and the fact that he can coerce others to do the same makes this even more apparent.

Volatile characters make for the best drama — and in the case of "Neon Genesis Evangelion," that honor falls to Asuka. As the designated Second Child of the Evangelion project, Asuka makes up a core part of the squad's overall fight against the monsters who have descended on Earth. Asuka's often abrasive behavior makes her a target for others, but her penchant for deranged decisions makes much more sense when we learn about her upbringing. When Asuka tries to fight the angel Arael, viewers see flashbacks glimpsing into her painful childhood.

Not the typically twisted take on childhood trauma, "Evangelion" takes things one step further as Asuka's mother tries to commit suicide multiple times. She gets to a stage where she no longer recognizes Asuka, resulting in letting her child witness her eventual death. Some Reddit users believe things could have been worse for her than is inferred, adding to the reason she craves such strong independence as an adult. It's a lot to take in and process, even if the information does provide essential context for how Asuka functions within the team.

If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988 or by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255)​.

Not a typical horror anime like many others that have scenes that go too far, "Your Lie In April" hasn't been shy of leaning into psychological warfare. The show is a romantic drama following piano prodigy Kousei losing his hearing after he has a mental breakdown at a recital. He's a young boy who is shrouded in trauma, dedicating the majority of the show to finding a path back to recovery. While most of the drama is light-hearted, funny, and full of romance, Reddit user LightBladeNova questioned the program's ability to show Kousei's loss of hearing in a sensitive light.

According to their criticism — and the extended critiques of fellow anime fans – Kousei's hearing loss is plagued with guilt-tripping and pseudo-bullying from other key members of the cast. Side characters dwell on the fact that Kousei has failed his big performance, rather than honing in on the sensitivity needed to get him through a pretty traumatic ordeal. It's certainly a scene that plays true to life, but it plays into a bigger issue that "Your Lie In April" lives up to its name by lying its way through its premise. Though it could feed into something that anime needs to change as a whole, it's clear that many fans find the show difficult to watch due to this pivotal scene.