TV-Series
Description
Nyau is a supporting antagonist in the anime and manga series Akame ga KILL!, serving as one of the Three Beasts, an elite bodyguard unit that answers directly to the imperial general Esdeath. He appears as a small, youthful figure with a build resembling that of a young boy, blonde or yellow hair cut to neck length, and green eyes. His cat-like appearance is reflected in his name, which is the Japanese onomatopoeia for the sound a cat makes, comparable to "meow."
Despite his childish speech, mannerisms, and innocent looks, Nyau is the most sadistic member of the Three Beasts. His playful exterior conceals a deeply twisted nature, and his preferred pastime is capturing victims he fancies, flaying the skin from their faces while they are still alive, and adding the results to a collection of human faces. This grotesque hobby is disturbing enough that it unnerves even his fellow Beast, the hulking Daidara. Nyau comes from a prestigious noble family, and his dysfunctional upbringing is said to have aggravated a cruelty that was already innate to him.
In terms of abilities, Nyau is a capable fighter in his own right, being a skilled hand-to-hand combatant who can hold his own against Tatsumi in direct melee combat, even when Tatsumi is not equipped with a Teigu at the time of their encounter. His primary weapon, however, is a flute-type Teigu known as Musical Dream: Scream. By playing this instrument, Nyau can manipulate the emotions of those who hear it, most notably putting audiences to sleep. The power of the flute is limited by the listener's understanding of music; it is completely ineffective against someone like Esdeath, who has no appreciation for music, and it works only partially on Tatsumi. The Teigu also possesses a secret technique that uses the performance to enhance the user's own capabilities.
Nyau's role in the story comes as part of Esdeath's plan to draw out the assassin group Night Raid. Alongside the other members of the Three Beasts, he is charged with secretly eliminating the political opponents of the Prime Minister and framing Night Raid for the killings in order to lure the group into a trap. During the confrontation aboard the cruise ship Ryuusen, Nyau uses his flute to put all of the passengers to sleep, leaving his opponents isolated. He battles Tatsumi and the veteran warrior Bulat in the ensuing fight, and he is the last of the Three Beasts to fall. After Tatsumi activates the Teigu Incursio, Nyau is killed by him in a single blow, bringing his part in the story to an end.
Nyau's key relationship is with Esdeath, whom he serves loyally as a subordinate, and he operates alongside his fellow Three Beasts members Daidara and Liver during their joint mission. He has no meaningful character arc beyond his brief appearance as an enemy; he is defined by his brutal sadism, his devotion to Esdeath's orders, and his flute-based combat style, and he dies in the same conflict in which he is introduced.
Despite his childish speech, mannerisms, and innocent looks, Nyau is the most sadistic member of the Three Beasts. His playful exterior conceals a deeply twisted nature, and his preferred pastime is capturing victims he fancies, flaying the skin from their faces while they are still alive, and adding the results to a collection of human faces. This grotesque hobby is disturbing enough that it unnerves even his fellow Beast, the hulking Daidara. Nyau comes from a prestigious noble family, and his dysfunctional upbringing is said to have aggravated a cruelty that was already innate to him.
In terms of abilities, Nyau is a capable fighter in his own right, being a skilled hand-to-hand combatant who can hold his own against Tatsumi in direct melee combat, even when Tatsumi is not equipped with a Teigu at the time of their encounter. His primary weapon, however, is a flute-type Teigu known as Musical Dream: Scream. By playing this instrument, Nyau can manipulate the emotions of those who hear it, most notably putting audiences to sleep. The power of the flute is limited by the listener's understanding of music; it is completely ineffective against someone like Esdeath, who has no appreciation for music, and it works only partially on Tatsumi. The Teigu also possesses a secret technique that uses the performance to enhance the user's own capabilities.
Nyau's role in the story comes as part of Esdeath's plan to draw out the assassin group Night Raid. Alongside the other members of the Three Beasts, he is charged with secretly eliminating the political opponents of the Prime Minister and framing Night Raid for the killings in order to lure the group into a trap. During the confrontation aboard the cruise ship Ryuusen, Nyau uses his flute to put all of the passengers to sleep, leaving his opponents isolated. He battles Tatsumi and the veteran warrior Bulat in the ensuing fight, and he is the last of the Three Beasts to fall. After Tatsumi activates the Teigu Incursio, Nyau is killed by him in a single blow, bringing his part in the story to an end.
Nyau's key relationship is with Esdeath, whom he serves loyally as a subordinate, and he operates alongside his fellow Three Beasts members Daidara and Liver during their joint mission. He has no meaningful character arc beyond his brief appearance as an enemy; he is defined by his brutal sadism, his devotion to Esdeath's orders, and his flute-based combat style, and he dies in the same conflict in which he is introduced.