Highlights

• In darker anime, gothic fashion is commonly seen, with characters sporting gothic lolita clothes and alternative styles.
• These goth anime characters have their own unique personalities, stories, and motives, making them interesting and fun to watch.
• Goth anime characters like Misa Amane from Death Note and Nana Osaki from Nana have become iconic with their alternative styles and captivating storylines.

Anime is full of cute characters who dress in colorful outfits and have bright pastel hair. However, there also are anime characters that sport a darker style, creating a stark contrast against their fellow cutesy companions. In darker anime, such as Death Note or Vampire Knight, it's more common to find characters that dabble in the darker side of fashion, and with gothic lolita being a popular style in Japan, it's no wonder that it's also commonly seen throughout anime.

While certain characters may not necessarily be goth, they definitely fit into the gothic aesthetic, and some are even part of the alternative scene themselves. The characters in Nana are even involved in the punk music scene, making them relatable to those within the alternative sphere in real life, too.

Updated on March 13, 2024, by Mara Cowley: Goth fashion has always been injected into anime, decking out characters in the most amazing and cool outfits to help cement them as iconic, especially seeing as most anime is littered with characters that opt more for pastel color palettes and tooth-achingly cute outfits. The goth subculture has become a hot topic in recent years, with new waves of fans discovering the music scene and buying their first black eyeliner pencil. And those gothlings who are also part of the otaku scene will undoubtedly be thrilled to see themselves represented, with this article including some of the best goth anime characters of all time.

17 Arachne Gorgon (Soul Eater)

A Spider-Themed Villain Whose Name Comes From Greek Mythology

In this supernatural action anime, meisters are trained to transform into weapons capable of stopping evil creatures from becoming kishin. Once the main antagonist, Medusa, is dealt with, her sister, Arachne Gorgon, the head of an organization fittingly called Arachnophobia, enters the scene.

With her spider-like appearance and her name, which is a reference to two different figures from Greek mythology, Arachne is as gothic as they come in terms of her overall aesthetic.

16 D (Vampire Hunter D)

The Ultimate Vampire Hunter

Vampires and goths go hand in hand, as many vampires favor the color black and Victorian aesthetics, along with their undead status being innately goth in itself. In the gritty and dark world of Vampire Hunter D, vampires are cruel and callous beings who hold significant power, which makes them terrifying entities as they will only use those powers for evil.

Enter D, a dhampir hunter possessing the powers of vampires and barely any of their weaknesses. Being of a vampire lineage alone could make him an honorary goth, but his all-black attire and his wide-brimmed hat cement his status as a certified anime goth.

15 Queen Nehelenia (Sailor Moon)

The One Dark Character in a Pastel Magical Girls Show

Many viewers would not expect to see a gothic character in a magical girl show like Sailor Moon, but this assumption would be wrong. One of the primary villains in the show is the beautiful, graceful, and dark Queen Nehelenia, the leader of the Dead Moon Circus.

Her flowing dark navy locks and her dark green and purple ensemble are as goth as it gets in a show like Sailor Moon. Queen Nehelenia's villainous ways and her quest for eternal youth only serve to make her all the more gothic.

14 Dracula (Castlevania)

A Figure from Classic Gothic Literature

Another vampire, but this time one that is full-blooded. Dracula has come far from the pages of a classic horror story published back in the late 1800s, becoming the main antagonist of Konami's Castlevania game series and the subsequent anime. His villainous origins are rooted in understandable circumstances, as his healer wife is accused of witchcraft and burned at the stake, leading Dracula to swear bloody vengeance upon the land.

His aristocratic features and garb make him look like a Victorian goth, as that sub-style of the genre mimics looking like nobility from the 1900s with cravat ties, capes, and plenty of classic black suits, all of which Dracula wears. Also, his dark and brooding castle helps to solidify his status as one of the most gothic characters to emerge from anime.

13 Anju Maaka (Karin)

Dresses in Gothic Lolita and is Friends with a Serial Killer

In this anime all about vampires and romance, Karin Maaka is something of a reverse vampire, suffering from a condition that causes her to create a surplus of blood she must inject into another, or she will have an explosive bloody nose that renders her unconscious. The clutzy, scatterbrained Karin is the antithesis of her younger sister, Anju.

Despite her young age, Anju is very mature, calm, and collected and is always seen sporting gothic lolita clothes and carrying around her creepy doll, Boogie. What makes this doll even more terrifying is that it is said to be possessed by the spirit of a serial killer, a terrifying fact that doesn't bother the gloomy and gothic Anju. Despite her cold exterior, she still cares deeply for her family, especially her older sister.

12 Megumi Shimizu (Shiki)

Nails the Gothic Aesthetic with her Red and Black Color Scheme

Those familiar with vampiric anime will most likely have watched or at the very least heard of Shiki, an anime named after the supernatural reanimated corpses that feed on the blood of the living in the show.

Megumi is shown to be a city girl trapped in a village, who slowly begins to hate the small town she was born into, dreaming of escaping to the city and living out her dreams. Despite her hatred for the village, she is shown to deeply care about her crush, giving her character more depth. Though not all of her outfits are typically gothic in style, with her sporting a few sweet lolita or casual outfits at different points, it is not unusual for her to suit and boot up in darker fashion, and with her being a vampire, she is very goth in spirit.

11 Ame-Warashi (xxxHolic)

Always Wears Victorian Gothic Clothes

Based on the manga of the same name, xxxHolic delves into the world of dark urban fantasy as it follows the tale of the main character Watanuki Kimihiro, a young boy who has the ability to see spirits but wishes to be rid of his curse. He makes a deal with a witch running errands at her shop in exchange for his wish being granted.

One of the spirits Watanuki meets is the gothic Ame-Warashi, a powerful rain sprite who is shown wearing Victorian gothic lolita-style clothing. She displays mostly disdain towards humans with only a few exceptions, though she is a loyal and good friend to Zashiki-Warashi.

10 Ruri Gokou "Kuroneko" (Oreimo)

Holds a Strong Disain for Any and All Things Cute

Ruri is the love interest of Kyousuke in Oreimo, and the two eventually start dating. This angers Kyousuke's sister, Kirino, as she gets easily jealous when it comes to her brother. Ruri is introduced when Kirino and Kyousuke visit Akihabara to take part in the meeting for Otaku Girls Unite.

This is an online community for girls who like anime and participate in otaku culture. Ruri isn't too fond of Kirino and Kyousuke at first, but that's mainly because of her shy personality. She hates cute stuff, thus making her dislike Kirino at the start, as Kirino loves magical girl anime. Her dislike of anything cute is further showcased through her gothic lolita fashion sense.

9 Maria Kurenai (Vampire Knight)

A Vampiric Character Mostly Seen in Black

First introduced as a cruel individual in Vampire Knight, Maria Kurenai is actually an incredibly caring character. During her first few scenes in the show, Maria is possessed by the spirit of Shizuka Hio, her distant relative.

Throughout her time in the anime, it's made clear that she develops feelings for Zero Kiryu due to the resemblance to her past love interest, Ichiru Kiryu, Zero's brother. Maria is a vampire, so she is a member of the Night Class with her fellow vampires, such as Kaname Kuran. Like some of the most iconic anime goths, gothic lolita is her go-to style.

8 Kurumi Tokisaki (Date A Live)

An Intimidating Character Who Favors Gothic Clothing

Spatial quakes seem to happen on a regular basis in the universe of Date A Live. The show starts with Shidou Itsuka, an average high school student, who happens to find himself embroiled in the next spatial quake. When the news breaks out warning citizens to stay safe, he tries his best to reach his little sister, Kotori, in time.

Unfortunately for Shidou, he ends up right in the middle of the spatial quake event and suddenly finds a strange girl at the source of it. He learns that this girl is a "Spirit" and is the cause behind the spatial quake. Kurumi is the third spirit to be introduced to viewers and is noted to be one of the evil ones due to her violent nature. Her gothic style further enhances the fear she can evoke.

7 Ruby Tojo (Rosario + Vampire)

Introduces Witchy Goth Vibes with Her Magic and Gothic Attire

Rosario + Vampire is a supernatural comedy that follows Tsukune Aono's journey at his new high school, Youkai Academy. He's introduced to Moka Akashiya, the most popular girl in school, and soon develops feelings for her.

What Tsukune doesn't realize is that Moka is a vampire, and the other students are also monsters. Ruby Tojo works alongside the board chairman of Youkai Academy and is a witch. She's also part of the Newspaper Club but isn't actually classed as a real student of the high school. Though slightly more colorful, the clothing she wears is still quite gothic.

6 Krul Tepes (Seraph of the End)

Even Her Position of Authority Doesn't Stop Her Dressing Goth

Vampires are starting to take over the world and are working towards taking over the order of Earth. They promise humans that they will protect them, as long as they donate their blood to the vampire population. Due to a virus killing everyone over the age of 13, there is an abundance of orphans who are growing up in this cruel world run by vampires.

One of these orphans is named Yuuichirou, who is now a member of the Demon Army and swears to get revenge on the vampires. Krul Tepes is a fashionably gothic vampire and an important member of the Progenitor Council. She took some of the orphans to the city of Sanguinem.

5 Re-L Mayor (Ergo Proxy)

Takes Inspiration from Evanescence's Lead Singer with her Goth Chic Makeup

Ergo Proxy is an anime set in a post-apocalyptic state of Earth in a city called Romdeau, with humans living alongside androids called AutoReivs. Suddenly, a string of murders begins, leading to Re-L Mayer stepping up as the female inspector of the Citizen Information Bureau.

Re-L and her android, Iggy, work towards solving these murder cases and eventually discover strange creatures called "Proxies." Re-L dislikes the current state of order in Romdeau and doesn't share the ideals of her fellow citizens and colleagues but boasts a pretty unique goth style.

4 Celestia Ludenberg (Danganronpa)

A Devout Goth Lolita

The mysterious character of Celestia Ludenberg is a much-loved character within the Danganronpa community. She wears a gothic lolita dress and styles her hair in curled pigtails. Celestia is one of the students of Hope's Peak Academy and is part of the first Danganronpa anime series and the first entry in the game series.

Celestia tends to make the other students feel uncomfortable, and she keeps her distance most of the time. She even loves to gamble, and her gambling skills even landed her a place at Hope's Peak Academy. Dressing in blacks and reds while sporting an iconic goth-lolita dress, Celestia embodies everything one would expect of a goth.

3 Shinichi Okazaki (Nana)

Plays in a Band and Has Multiple Piercings

Due to the nature of Nana, a lot of the characters are alternative in style. When Shinichi joins the band, Black Stones, he dyes his hair blue and gets multiple piercings. His staple piece of jewelry is his lip chain piercing. He's the youngest member of Black Stones and is their bass player.

Shinichi becomes involved with the vocalist for the band, Trapnest, whose name is Layla. This relationship is frowned upon by viewers and the characters due to the fact that Shinichi is 14-15 and Layla is 23.

2 Nana Osaki (Nana)

Has Multiple Alt Outfits, Tattoos, and Piercings

Nana follows a group of individuals within the music scene and the troubles that they face. Nana Osaki is the vocalist for her band, Black Stones. Her iconic alternative outfits always stand out in the manga and anime, and a tattoo of a lotus flower adorns her shoulder. Her signature makeup look is dark eyes with red lips, two staples in alternative makeup.

Nana looks tough on the outside and sometimes masks her true emotions. However, she's a sweetheart and cares deeply for those around her. Viewers see the softer side of her when she is with her best friend and boyfriend.

1 Misa Amane (Death Note)

A Fashion Forward Goth Who Delights in Being Part of Kira's Plans

When thinking of an anime character with an alternative style, it's hard not to think of Misa Amane from Death Note. The actress, model, and avid Kira supporter, Misa Amane, sports gothic-style outfits throughout the manga and show. Embellished with accessories and some awesome pieces of clothing, she becomes the second Kira and gains the elusive Shinigami Eyes.

Misa falls in love with Light Yagami and eventually decides to dedicate her every living moment to support him and his goals as Kira. She's quite bubbly and can be incredibly impulsive, often shown by the rash decisions she makes during the show.