10 best anime characters like Johan Liebert from Monster

Fans of psychological thrillers are often drawn to anime characters like Johan Liebert due to the character's complex psychologies and captivating presence. Johan, the chilling antagonist from Naoki Urasawa's acclaimed psychological thriller anime Monster, exerts an unsettling psychological hold over viewers and characters alike.

Johan's gentle facade hides a ruthless mind, enabling him to manipulate others and orchestrate disasters. His combination of emotional disconnectedness, belying intense philosophizing along with his obscure origins and mystique cement his reputation as one of anime's greatest and most disturbing villains.

The following anime characters like Johan Liebert possess terrifying magnetism arising from their complex psychologies, amorality hidden behind innocent facades, and talent for influencing events through masterful scheming.

10 brilliantly twisted anime characters like Johan Liebert

1. Light Yagami (Death Note)

Light Yagami, the protagonist of the supernatural thriller Death Note, is one of the anime characters like Johan Liebert. Light discovers the lethal Death Note, which grants its user the power to kill anyone just by writing their name.

With ambitions of cleansing the world of evil by serving as judge, jury, and executioner, Light adopts the alias 'Kira' and rapidly develops a god complex thanks to the Death Note's corruptive influence. Like Johan, Light hides a ruthless intellect and towering ego behind an innocent face.

Light shares Johan's flair for philosophical monologues as he regularly debates moral philosophy with the enigmatic detective L who opposes him. He also exerts a disturbing charm that catalyzes a cult following among fans both within and outside the series.

2. Shogo Makishima (Psycho-Pass)

Shogo Makishima (Image via Production I.G)

The compelling main antagonist of the dystopian anime Psycho-Pass, Shogo Makishima, is another one of the anime characters like Johan Liebert. He is a mysterious criminal mastermind who exposes flaws within the oppressive Sybil system that governs society.

Shogo possesses a penetrating intellect and multifaceted philosophies about human nature, which he leverages to manipulate individuals and institutions toward his cryptic agenda. Like Johan, Shogo's magnetism draws rivals like Kogami into battles of wits and ideology.

With his scholarly appearance and mannerisms masking utter ruthlessness, Shogo resembles Johan as an unexpectedly dangerous hidden adversary who brilliantly orchestrates scenarios according to his logic.

3. Lelouch vi Britannia (Code Geass)

Lelouch vi Britannia (Image via Sunrise)

Exiled Prince Lelouch, one of the anime characters like Johan Liebert, gains a powerful ability called Geass, which lets him issue irresistible commands. Using this supernatural power and his brilliant strategic mind, Lelouch leads a revolt against the oppressive Holy Britannian Empire under the persona Zero to create a better world for his sister.

While Lelouch is not as amoral as Johan, he does display a certain ruthlessness and ends-justify-means mentality. He uses manipulation and subterfuge to rally followers to his cause like Johan does. Lelouch's complex motives and shifting moral alignments make him an intriguing antihero.

4. Rei Ayanami (Neon Genesis Evangelion)

The mysterious Rei Ayanami, another of the anime characters like Johan Liebert, serves as the pilot of the powerful Evangelion biomech suit. She plays a pivotal role in the events of the acclaimed anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion.

Like Johan's enigmatic presence, Rei exerts an inexplicable fascination over other Eva characters, especially the protagonist Shinji. Her obscure origins, motives, and subservient personality hide explosive secrets that drive the series' apocalyptic climax.

While not outright villainous, Rei shares similarities with Johan as an enigmatic character with hidden depths whose existence catalyzes earth-shaking events. The ambiguity surrounding her character drives much of Evangelion's intensity.

5. Hisoka Morow (Hunter x Hunter)

Hisoka Morow, one of the anime characters like Johan Liebert (Image via Madhouse)

Hisoka is a powerful, deadly, and highly unpredictable antagonist from the action fantasy series Hunter x Hunter. Like Johan, Hisoka possesses style, panache, and flamboyance in everything he does, accentuating his wild and dangerous personality.

Like Johan, Hisoka is also completely driven by self-interest and personal desires. His thrilling battle of wits and powers against the protagonist Gon Freecss, whom he alternatively takes an interest in or tries to kill on a whim, mirrors the electrifying conflict between Johan and Dr. Tenma. Hisoka's capriciousness and creepy personality quirks make him a mesmerizing villain.

6. Sosuke Aizen (Bleach)

The primary antagonist for much of the supernatural action anime Bleach, Sosuke Aizen is another of the anime characters like Johan Liebert. He was secretly the mastermind behind much of the events, which is reminiscent of Johan's behind-the-scenes plotting in Monster.

After revealing himself as the series' main villain, Aizen resembles Johan in his intelligence, philosophical monologues with the protagonists, and use of manipulation and deception to further his complex ambitions.

Aizen shares Johan's ability to think many steps ahead of friends and foes thanks to his combination of cold logic and brilliance, making him a formidable adversary. Like Johan, Aizen's mystique and flair elevate him above more commonplace villains into an iconic antagonist.

7. Yuno Gasai (Future Diary)

Yuno Gasai, one of the anime characters like Johan Liebert, seems like a model student and the perfect girl next door. But like Johan hides his true self behind an innocent face, Yuno secretly harbors extreme instability and possesses a dark and bloody history.

Over the course of the survival game anime Future Diary, it is revealed that Yuno can be as amoral, cunning, and ruthless as Johan when it comes to furthering her obsessive interests and ambition, no matter the cost to other people.

Yuno exerts an extremely unsettling mix of innocence, sweetness, manipulation, and violence, giving her a multifaceted magnetism reminiscent of Johan Liebert. Behind her "waifu" façade lies an extremely dangerous and complex psyche.

8. Izaya Orihara (Durarara!!)

A wildly unpredictable info broker and master manipulator in the urban fantasy series Durarara!!, Izaya Orihara is one of the anime characters like Johan Liebert. He resembles Johan in his skill at pushing other people's psychological buttons and orchestrating chaotic scenarios according to his inscrutable whims.

Like Johan, Izaya possesses keen observational skills and an understanding of human psychology, allowing him to influence other characters through mind games and moral dilemmas.

Izaya shares Johan's talent for dropping misleading hints about his origins and motives to intrigue those around him, followed by revolutionary action. Also, like Johan, Izaya also exerts an undeniable magnetism combined with danger that strongly impacts everyone around him while keeping his hand hidden till the end.

9. Griffith (Berserk)

Griffith is the enigmatic and charismatic leader of the legendary Band of the Hawk mercenaries in the dark fantasy seinen manga Berserk. He is one of the anime characters like Johan Liebert, who shares military genius, charisma, and the ability to manipulate others toward his agenda.

Griffith resembles Johan in his profound brilliance, ambition, and capacity for ruthlessness as he doggedly pursues his dream kingdom no matter how many moral lines need crossing, upending the lives of former allies and bystanders alike like Johan does.

His almost supernatural charm and magnetism mask a man of dark secrets and a darker purpose reminiscent of Monster's iconic villain.

10. Kyubey (Puella Magi Madoka Magica)

Kyubey, one of the anime characters like Johan Liebert, resembles Johan Liebert in his amorality, disguising himself under an innocent face.

Throughout most of the landmark dark fantasy anime Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Kyubey appears as an adorable creature that contracts magical powers to young girls so they can become magical girls and fight evil. But his emotionless nature and hidden utilitarian agenda soon lead to tragic revelations for the protagonists.

Like Johan, Kyubey has no empathy and follows his philosophy, making him chilling and compelling even if his end goals seem logical to him. Kyubey shares Johan's talent for concealing sinister purposes under harmless appearances and exerting trauma on impressionable minds.

Conclusion

Johan Liebert is one of anime's greatest villains, thanks to his complex personality that combines supreme intellect, philosophical complexity, obscure motivations, emotional disconnectedness, magnetic charisma, and masterful manipulation.

The anime characters like Johan Liebert explored here reflect different aspects of Johan's multidimensional villainy through their own compelling portrayals. Their memorable qualities echo Johan's iconic characterization, cementing his reputation as a figurative "Monster."

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Edited by Shreya Das