The Most Terrifying Sharks in Anime & Manga That Will Send Chills Down Your Spine

While Jaws popularized the monster shark concept, anime and manga feature some of the most terrifying sharks. Despite statistics showing that these carnivorous fish pose considerably less threat to humans than depicted in popular culture, they continue to instill instant fear. The emergence of an evil shark from the depths heightens the intensity of any battle scene.

Not limited to real sharks, anime and manga also showcase characters who emulate sharks to showcase their ruthlessness and power in combat. Regardless, the shark's cold gaze, formidable teeth, and reputation as the ultimate predator of the ocean create a truly impactful image.

10 Mutant Shark - Gyo

As terrifying as sharks may be, individuals in reality can find solace in the fact that these creatures are confined to the ocean. However, the shark depicted in Junji Ito's manga Gyo and its adaptations defies this notion entirely. With its elongated, spiky legs, it prowls the streets of Okinawa, tirelessly seeking out individuals to infect. Its vacant eyes and mechanized noises (GASHUNK GASHUNK) make it more akin to a colossal, lifeless body being propelled by the mechanisms beneath its belly. Relentlessly relentless, it hunts down its prey, demolishing doors and walls in its pursuit. What is even more horrifying is that its intentions extend beyond mere consumption: as the bearer of Death Stench, it mutates everything it ensnares, subjecting them to a fate far worse than death.

9 Zombie Shark - Zom 100: Bucket List Of The Dead

A combination of great white sharks and bloodthirsty zombies is a truly terrifying concept. While most survivors of a zombie apocalypse would opt to run from such a threat, Akira Tendo takes a different approach. He dons a superhero costume and fearlessly confronts the beast in a battle for survival. The dimly lit aquarium adds to the eerie spectacle, with the zombie shark appearing even more menacing. Its eyes glow ominously in the shadows, and its massive mouth remains perpetually open, hungry for human flesh. Taking inspiration from Gyo's infamous shark, this zombified creature chases its prey on stubby legs.

8 Clash - JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure

7 Tier Harribel - Bleach

This Stand ability in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is undeniably one of the most terrifying. Clash, the killer fish, proves that even a small shark can be more horrifying than a giant one. Squalo, the user, slyly slips it into his victims' drinks, causing them to be torn apart from within. However, to prevent any suspicion, Squalo's partner Tiziano employs his Stand, Talking Head, to manipulate anyone who might notice the danger, forcing them to reassure that everything is fine. And if their trickery fails, Clash can quickly grow to life-size, as witnessed by Team Bucciarati when it chases them through the waterways of Venice.

Unlike their real-life counterparts, sharks in the Hollow world do not exhibit much concern for each other. They devour their weaker siblings even before birth and abandon their young after birth. However, Tier Harribel stands out from the rest by defying the sink-or-swim nature of sharks and Hollows alike. She goes above and beyond to protect the other Hollows under her command. Despite her acts of kindness, it would be a grave mistake to perceive her as weak. With her zanpakutou Tiburón (which means "shark" in Spanish), she can effortlessly cut through anything that comes her way. Harribel, one of the most intellectually inclined Espada in Bleach, rules with a cold and logical mindset. While she doesn't derive joy from taking lives, she will carry out brutal and decisive killings when necessary. Rather than sacrificing others to bolster her own strength, Harribel always chooses to sacrifice herself in order to protect those for whom she bears responsibility.

6 Sharpedo - Pokémon

The "Brutal Pokémon" is a shark-like creature that homes in on its prey with incredible speed. According to its Pokédex data, its teeth regenerate if damaged or lost, and it possesses a keen sense of smell for blood, akin to a real shark. In addition, it boasts the ability to swim up to 75 miles per hour and easily tear apart both other Pokémon and the sturdy iron hulls of ships.

These remarkable traits are vividly portrayed whenever a Sharpedo appears in the anime. In the episode titled "Sharpedo Attack," a swarm of Sharpedo assaults the boat carrying Ash and his friends, leaving them stranded in the vast ocean. Furthermore, when Mega Evolving, it sprouts saw-like spines from its face, which it skillfully uses to carve through its adversaries.

5 Shark’s Shark Deck - Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL

Mako Tsunami, a character from the original Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters series, is known for his deck consisting of various ocean creatures despite being named after a shark. On the other hand, Reginald "Shark" Kastle, lives up to his nickname as he exclusively uses the Shark series in his duels. This series comprises of intimidating creatures such as Depth Shark, Jawsman, and the peculiar Sharktopus, unrelated to the silly SyFy Channel movie trilogy.

Among these creatures, the most perilous one is Shark's Numbers card, called Shark Drake. Although it is one of Shark's most powerful assets, it was actually given to him as a trap to corrupt him. Shark Drake thrives on the vengefulness and hatred within its user, gradually becoming strong enough to take control. It actively yearns to possess Shark's body, speaking to him and persuading him to relinquish more control.

4 Jiromaru And Saburomaru - Dororo

Hyakkimaru, an abandoned and embittered warrior, had his body given up to demons by his father, Daigo, when he was just a child. Despite this loss, Hyakkimaru grows up adapting to life and combat with artificial limbs and blades, relentlessly defeating one demon after another. Through his unwavering determination, he gradually regains the body that was taken away from him.

Among his targets are the shark brothers, Jiromaru and Saburomaru. Initially, they form a connection with fisherman Shiranui, who sacrifices his right arm to feed them. However, as the brothers grow larger, they require greater amounts of live prey to satisfy their enormous appetite. By the time Dororo and Hyakkimaru encounter them, the shark brothers have escalated to massacring entire villages in order to fulfill their cravings.

3 Shark Fujishiro - My Bride Is A Mermaid

2 Arlong - One Piece

One of Shark's main obsessions is eating, which makes him fit in perfectly with Sun’s dad and the other members of the mermaid mafia. This, however, terrifies Nagasumi since he is very much edible. In order to ensure that Sun's human fiancé remains obedient, Shark takes on the role of a gym teacher at their school. Surprisingly, despite being a sentient shark, Shark possesses the ability to shape-shift into a human form and keep a close watch over Nagasumi and Sun. If he comes into contact with water, he will transform back into a shark, but when hunger strikes, only his head transforms, creating a rather disturbing sight.

2 Arlong - One Piece

Set in the vast ocean, many of the most formidable adversaries in the world of One Piece are depicted as ferocious marine creatures, with sharks being a particularly dominant presence. One standout villain among them is Saw-Tooth Arlong, a Fishman who possesses the distinctive characteristics of a sawshark. His physical attributes, ranging from his blue-gray complexion to his imposing dorsal fin, along with the multitude of razor-sharp, replaceable teeth that adorn his mouth, mirror those typically associated with these formidable predators. Notably, his signature weapon, the Shark Saw sword, not only matches his imposing stature but also embodies the essence of his piscine nature.

Sharks may appear daunting, yet they would never actively seek trouble or engage in a battle they couldn't emerge victorious from. Arlong acquires his formidable reputation (along with an inflated ego) by preying on individuals he knows to be weaker than himself. Throughout eight years, he has subjected, exploited, and devastated villages incapable of withstanding his crew's onslaughts.

1 Kisame Hoshigaki - Naruto

Kisame, a formidable member of Naruto's Akatsuki, stands out as a peculiar fish-like being. Guided by the ruthless mantra of "survival of the fittest," he exudes a terrifying strength that leaves a lasting impression on all who encounter him. Combining his mastery of Water Style jutsu, which takes the form of a shark's shape, with his notorious swordsmanship, Kisame becomes an unrivaled force to be reckoned with. His weapon, Samehada, aptly named after its resemblance to sharkskin, possesses a voracious mouth and a rough texture that inflicts excruciating pain upon contact, tearing apart adversaries and rejecting those it deems unworthy to hold it. Most notably, when fused with Kisame's already fish-like physique, Samehada enables him to fully transform into a formidable bipedal shark.

In order to craft memorable and terrifying foes, numerous anime draw upon the instinctual fear associated with a deadly shark. These malevolent beings and antagonists possess immense strength, insatiable hunger, and a multitude of razor-sharp teeth. While they may not enhance the already tarnished reputation of these creatures in reality, they undoubtedly contribute to some of the most spine-chilling moments within the realm of anime. These anime and manga showcase the utmost ferocity of sharks, making them the epitome of terror.