Summary
Compelling villains are crucial to creating an interesting story, and anime is no exception. It’s hard to sympathize with a hero without a formidable villain, which is why every good anime needs an excellent villain with distinct motives and methods of destruction. Despite their evil deeds, these villains remain popular and memorable, often overshadowing their heroes, proving that compelling villains can be interesting characters. The best in anime.
While the heroes and their sidekicks tend to be the ones in the spotlight, are written very well Anime villain is also important to the success of a title. Because more evil things also tend to be easier to remember, Most evil anime villains are characters that leave a lasting impression on fans.
A compelling villain is paramount to an interesting story. After all, it’s hard to sympathize with or root for a hero fighting against a villain who supposedly lacks any ambition or malice. This is why evil villains, determined to wreak havoc on the world, often make for a more engaging experience.
10 Tomura Shigaraki (My Hero Academia)
Based on Manga created by Kouhei Horikoshi
Year of release
2016
Episodes
138
Where to stream it
Crunchyroll, Funimation, Hulu, Netflix
Tomura Shigaraki of My Hero Academia is the main antagonist of the series, as well as the leader of the League of Villains, a powerful organization consisting of various villains, for one reason or another. otherwise, despises heroic society and aims to destroy it. As a leader, Shigaraki is superior to most other villains in both strength and hatred towards heroes. Although he was not necessarily born a devil, Shigaraki’s circumstances and upbringing led him down this path. However, while some people may sympathize with his backstory, nothing can change the fact that he murdered innocent civilians without remorse and tried to bring society back to life. to the ruins.
9 Cinderella (Vinland Saga)
Based on Manga created by Makoto Yukimura
Year of release
2019
Episodes
24
Where to stream it
Crunchyroll, Netflix, HIDIVE
Vinland Saga’s Askeladd is a complex character who, despite being the decided villain of the show’s first season, still finds sympathy with viewers thanks to his charisma and cunning. Unlike other villains, his actions are motivated by certain goals and he does not wreak wanton destruction, as he shows genuine concern for his mother and her well-being. all of her country, Wales. However, his methods were far from heroic and did not always reflect his original ambitions. As a Viking, Askeladd will not hesitate to resort to violence, and he murdered and ordered the massacre of an entire village without showing any guilt.
8 Light Yagami (Death Note)
Based on Manga created by Tsugumi Ooba & Takeshi Obata
Year of release
2006
Episodes
37
Where to stream it
Hulu, Netflix
Light Yagami, also known as Kira, is a particularly interesting case, as he is not the villain but the protagonist of Death Note, a role usually reserved for heroes of justice. To be honest, Light is mainly motivated by his sense of justice, as he is trying to create a world of honest and kind people, but his methods and progress throughout the movie is what makes him evil. After obtaining the Death Note, Light uses its power to rid the world of crime, seeing his own actions as a necessary evil. However, he eventually reached the point where he will kill anyone who gets in his way, criminal or not.
Based on the Manga by Hiromu Arakawa
Year of release
2009
Episodes
sixty four
Where to stream it
Crunchyroll, Funimation, Hulu, Netflix
Although Shou Tucker’s role in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood was not a main one, his actions made him one of the most memorable and at the same time most hated characters of the film. Initially, he appears to be a gentle man, though admittedly more interested in his work than others, but a terrible truth is soon revealed. In the name of scientific progress, he tested it on other members of his family, especially his wife, daughter, and dog, sacrificing them just to obtain and maintain his status as State Alchemist. He may not have killed as many people as other villains, but he was still responsible for one of Fullmetal Alchemist’s darkest moments.
6 Bondrewd (Made in the Abyss)
Based on the Manga by Akihito Tsukushi
Year of release
2017
Episodes
25
Where to stream it
Crunchyroll, Netflix, HIDIVE
Symbolic of the Made in Abyss theme, Bondrewd is a man whose darkness and terror go far beyond his surface. Although his actions are not maliciously motivated and he never shows hostility towards anyone, he is much scarier than his emotionless demeanor. In the name of science and knowledge, Bondrewd’s research challenges all conventional ethics and morality, as well as he would experiment on children without hesitation. Whether he turned them into Cartridges or sacrificed them some other way, no one who met him had a kind fate. He even turned his followers into Umbra Hands, essentially clones of himself, so that his consciousness would never die.
5 Dio Brando (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure)
Based on the Manga by Hirohiko Araki
Year of release
2012
Episodes
50 (Part 1 & Part 3)
Where to stream it
Crunchyroll, Netflix, Funimation
In stark contrast to JoJo Bizarre Adventure’s first protagonist, Jonathan Joestar, who was designed as a solid symbol of justice, Dio Brando is an arrogant megalomaniac who will stop at nothing to achieve your goal. Even when Joestar’s family kindly took him in, he never made any effort to get close to them or show any appreciation. Instead, he sees it as an opportunity to deceive them and humiliate Jonathan, in order to take his place. Furthermore, his cruelty only increases with his power, as he manipulated even his most loyal followers after becoming a vampire, and continued to mercilessly kill anyone who got in his way. Dio’s enduring popularity within and beyond the franchise proves how far a good and compelling villain can go.
4 Kyubey (Magical Girl Madoka)
Original anime created by Studio Shaft
Year of release
2011
Episodes
twelfth
Where to stream it
Crunchyroll, Funimation, Hulu, Netflix
One of the best and most iconic magical girl anime titles, Puella Magi Madoka Magica thrives on surprising viewers with shocking reveals. One such example is Kyubey, who, although seemingly innocent and even bewitching at first glance, ultimately proves to be the cause of boundless grief and terror. While Kyubey cannot technically be considered evil, as the Incubators are an emotionless race, its actions are certainly despicable. Supposedly intended to prevent the Heat Death of the Universe, it tricks young girls into becoming magical girls, just to dooming them to death or being corrupted by despair and becoming witches.
3 Griffith (Crazy)
Based on the Manga by Kentarou Miura
Year of release
1997 (Original)
Episodes
25
Where to stream it
Netflix (Depending on region)
Berserk’s Griffith is perhaps one of the most polarizing and fascinating characters ever. Some may believe that Guts was the cause of Griffith becoming evil, while others may say that he was evil from the start. Regardless, it is likely that his ambition to have his own kingdom was largely responsible for him making the choices for which he became infamous. As trusted leaders of the Band of the Hawk, their members are like an established family, he eventually betrayed and sacrificed them all during the Fifth Eclipsewhen he joined the God Hand in the form of Femto, thus losing what remained of his humanity.
2 Johan Liebert (Monster)
Based on Manga created by Naoki Urasawa
Year of release
2004
Episodes
74
Where to stream it
Hulu, Netflix
The main antagonist of Monster is Johan Liebert, a man who some consider to be the devil himself. Although he appears charismatic and compassionate on the outside, this is just a facade that he uses to get close to people, manipulate and corrupt them. Combining his superior intelligence with his psychopathic tendencies, he usually avoids directly killing others. Instead, he put them through so much suffering that they felt they had no choice but to take their own lives. Furthermore, unlike other villains, he has no ambitions to rule the world or change it in any way. More often than not, he causes utter destruction for pleasure.
1 Frieza (Dragon Ball)
Based on the Manga by Akira Toriyama
Year of release
1989 (Dragon Ball Z)
Episodes
291
Where to stream it
Crunchyroll, Funimation
Dragon Ball’s Frieza is definitely one of the most infamous and irredeemable anime characters ever. After coming to power at a young age, he quickly became famous for his cruelty and exceptional strength, proving himself to be a ruthless tyrant. On top of being brutal and paranoid, he will torture humans and destroy planets just for enjoyment. Even his most loyal followers are not immune to his wrath, as he will slaughter anyone at will. However, his most heinous act has to be the genocide of the Saiyans, which he carried out solely to avoid any potential threat to his rule, as he considered existence Theirs is too risky. Although Frieza may seem like a very traditional villain by modern standards, his popularity has made him an icon in anime circles.
Some of these villains cause destruction on a smaller scale, limiting themselves to certain areas that are especially important or interesting to them. Others feel no need to limit their chaos, perhaps even wiping out entire planets. Whether they act purely for pleasure or to work towards some greater goal, what is certain is that they will stop at nothing to achieve what they seek, eliminating anyone who stands in their way. However, considering that some of them became extremely famous, sometimes eclipsing their heroes, The most evil anime villains are often the most engaging and interesting characters.