In the anime adaptation of Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan, Nikola Tesla is a Serbian-American scientist aligned with the Clanker faction, known for his revolutionary inventions such as the Tesla cannon, alternating current, and wireless transmission. His most significant creation is the Goliath, an electrical weapon of immense destructive power that he hopes will force an end to World War I by holding entire nations hostage.

Tesla's motivation stems from personal grievance: after Austria-Hungary attacks Serbia, his native country, he decides to assist the Darwinists, the British-led alliance, despite being a Clanker himself. He believes that a terrifying display of force can prevent further bloodshed, leading him to build the Goliath and threaten to destroy Berlin unless Germany surrenders. This places him at the center of the story's climax, where the protagonists Aleksander and Deryn must stop him from unleashing the weapon.

In the anime, Tesla is a supporting character who first becomes a focus when the Leviathan crew travels to New York to meet him. Unlike the novel, the anime depicts the Tunguska event as being investigated by George Darwin rather than Tesla himself. Tesla's key relationships include his interactions with Nora Barlow, who pleads with him to reconsider his plan, and the protagonists, whom he initially dismisses. His development is limited; he remains steadfast in his conviction that only a superweapon can achieve peace, and he does not undergo a change of heart until circumstances force his hand. His notable abilities are his genius-level intellect and his mastery of electrical and mechanical engineering, which allow him to create devices far ahead of their time.