Fatherhood in anime isn’t always portrayed as loving or supportive. Some fathers, whether through neglect, obsession, or cruelty, end up hurting the very children they were meant to protect. This is a list of the Top 10 Worst Anime Dads, not to shock, but to understand how these flawed fathers shaped their stories — and we often end up hating them to the core for the pain they leave behind.
#10 – Endeavor
My Hero Academia
Before his redemption arc, Endeavor was the definition of a toxic anime father. He treated his children as tools, not people, all in pursuit of surpassing All Might. While Endeavor eventually seeks redemption, his early actions earn him a place among the worst anime dads.
Worst Dad Moments:
- Forcing Shoto into brutal training from childhood.
- Emotionally abusing his family and ignoring their pain.
- Treating marriage and children as part of an experiment.
#9 – Grisha Yeager
Attack on Titan
Grisha Yeager is a tragic example of a father who let ideology outweigh fatherhood. His obsession with freedom and revolution deeply damaged both of his sons. Grisha’s love was real, but his choices caused generational suffering.
Worst Dad Moments:
- Brainwashing Zeke with political beliefs.
- Placing impossible expectations on his children.
- Passing trauma instead of protection.
#8 – Toji Fushiguro
Jujutsu Kaisen
Toji Fushiguro abandoned his son emotionally and physically, selling Megumi to the Zenin clan without concern for his well-being. Toji’s occasional regret doesn’t erase years of neglect.
Worst Dad Moments:
- Selling his own child for money.
- Having zero involvement in Megumi’s upbringing.
- Treating fatherhood as a burden.
#7 – Ozai
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Ozai is a tyrant first and a father last. He values power and domination over his own children’s well-being, using fear as his primary parenting tool. Ozai represents pure authoritarian parenting with no emotional attachment.
Worst Dad Moments:
- Burning Zuko’s face to “teach a lesson”.
- Pitting his children against each other.
- Showing affection only when it benefits his rule.
#6 – Dario Brando
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
Dario Brando is the embodiment of a destructive and abusive father. Driven by alcoholism, greed, and bitterness, he treats his son as a burden rather than a child deserving care or love. Dario’s behavior directly shapes Dio into one of anime’s most infamous villains, proving how deeply a toxic father can damage a child’s future.
Worst Dad Moments:
- Physically and emotionally abusing Dio throughout his childhood.
- Raising his son in poverty and neglect despite opportunities for change.
- Encouraging resentment and cruelty instead of compassion.
#5 – Judge Vinsmoke
Judge Vinsmoke engineered his children to be emotionless weapons and rejected anyone who showed humanity. Judge represents the extreme of cold, utilitarian fatherhood.
Worst Dad Moments:
- Emotionally and physically abusing Sanji.
- Treating his children as soldiers, not sons.
- Disowning Sanji for being “weak”.
#4 – King Fritz
Attack on Titan
King Fritz isn’t just a bad father — he’s one of the most morally repulsive parental figures in anime history. He treats his children as property and tools to extend his bloodline and power. King Fritz represents cruelty passed down through family lines.
Worst Dad Moments:
- Forcing Ymir into slavery and abuse.
- Ordering his daughters to eat their mother’s corpse.
- Turning fatherhood into a system of generational suffering.
Top 10 Best Anime Dads
#3 – Gendo Ikari
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Gendo Ikari is emotionally absent to the point of psychological destruction. He views his son as a means to an end, never as a child who needs love. Gendo’s neglect leaves permanent scars on Shinji’s psyche.
Worst Dad Moments:
- Manipulating Shinji into piloting EVA units.
- Offering approval only when Shinji obeys.
- Choosing his own goals over his son’s mental health.
#2 – Bondrewd
Made in Abyss
Bondrewd disguises unimaginable cruelty as love and scientific curiosity. He calls the children he experiments on his “sons,” making his actions even more horrifying. Bondrewd’s version of fatherhood is chilling and inhuman.
Worst Dad Moments:
- Performing lethal experiments on children.
- Justifying abuse as “progress”.
- Showing affection only as manipulation.
#1 – Shou Tucker
Fullmetal Alchemist
The Worst Anime Dad of All Time
Shou Tucker commits the ultimate betrayal of parenthood. In his desperation to keep his status as a State Alchemist, he sacrifices the very person he is supposed to protect. Shou Tucker’s actions permanently scar viewers and set the benchmark for what it truly means to be a terrible father in anime.
Worst Dad Moments:
- Fusing his own daughter Nina with their family dog.
- Treating his child as a scientific experiment.
- Showing no genuine remorse for his actions.
