Every once in a while, an anime or manga series decides to change the norms of the Shonen genre and introduce a protagonist who defies all the stereotypes. But none of them have been able to reach the level of Light Yagami from Death Note. He may be considered by many as an anti-hero, but still, he managed to make a large impact on the anime community.
The most important aspect that made him different from others was his manipulative powers. He was able to hide his identity as Kira for the longest time by manipulating other characters and events in his favor. As it was a unique concept, fans loved it a lot and hoped for more anime series and their protagonists to be developed like this.
However, Light may not be the only manipulative protagonist in the anime industry. There are a few other series that offer the same mentality within the main character as Light Yagami. Thus, there is a good chance that Death Note fans will absolutely love these series.
1. Code Geass
Already an established name in the anime industry, Code Geass follows the journey of protagonist Lelouch Vi Britannia, who also has anti-hero elements in his personality as he utilizes a unique power known as Geass to control other people’s actions.
Code Geass gained a lot of fame in the early 2000s as it portrayed the rebellion against the rule of the Holy Britannian Empire by Lelouch. Lelouch, just like Light, shows himself as a sophisticated individual, but in reality, he hides his true intentions behind the mask of Zero.
Lelouch’s manipulative skills are on power with Light, but the thing that makes him different is Geass, which allows him to plant commands within a person’s mind and make them obey them at any cost. While this may sound a little bleak, it certainly offers a great thrill to the narrative.
2. Tomodachi Game
Created by Mikoto Yamaguchi and Yuuki Satou, Tomodachi Game got an anime adaptation a few years back, and it quickly earned fame from fans because of its protagonist, Yuuichi Katagiri. The story explores Yuuichi and his friends, who are forced to join the mysterious Tomodachi Game.
During the game, fans and Yuuichi’s friends see a new side of him that makes him look a little menacing as he enjoys the pain of his opponents. Yuuichi might not fall into the category of an anti-hero, but his ability to manipulate people into underestimating him makes him look devious.
Tomodachi Game is an enticing psychological thriller, and Yuuichi fits perfectly as the protagonist of the series. His ruthlessness and deceit make him a unique and interesting character who might not be at the level of Light Yagami but still has decent skills.
3. Monster
Naoki Urasawa’s Monster is one of the most chilling psychological thrillers in the history of anime and manga. Although the story follows the struggles of Dr. Kenzo Tenma, a Japanese surgeon living in Düsseldorf, Germany, the character that snatches the spotlight mostly is Johan Libert.
Although at first sight, Johan might look like a character with a polite, charismatic, and compassionate personality, he actually is a manipulative serial killer. He uses his manipulative skills to persuade others to do his deeds as he goes on a killing spree.
Johan might not be a protagonist, but he is one of the most complex characters, and his actions perfectly define it. He is on par with Light in terms of manipulation and ruthlessness, but the thing that makes him unique is that he does not just kill his victims but makes them suffer until the end.
