Let’s be actual– sometimes the crooks simply eat. No matter just how fast or just how crazily the primary character “shines up” (we’re looking at you, Naruto), there’s something regarding a charming bad guy that just takes the spotlight. Whether it’s their backstory, their drip, or the means they definitely body everyone in sight, certain anime villains wind up being way extra precious than the real hero.
And this isn’t just edgy “I such as villains since I’m different” energy. We’re talking about bad guys who constantly dominate follower polls or, even better– entirely overtake our TikTok For You Pages with edits to Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean.” Did we make this checklist by rating the very best fan-made AMVs? You’ll never ever understand. Below are five anime where the bad guy lowkey outperformed the protagonist. (Warning: spoilers in advance.)
Madara Uchiha from Naruto Shippuden
You can be all “well, really” with this one all you desire, however the point remains: Madara Uchiha is the anime villain , not only in Naruto yet in all of anime. Yes, he just appeared till Shippuden, but up until that minute, everyone was expecting his arrival. The Fourth Excellent Ninja Battle arc is born in mind less for Naruto’s motivational speeches and even more for that scene where Madara soloed a whole army Followers actually clipped it, memed it, and called it “peak fiction.” He is still utilized as a comparison for all the bad guys that came after. On MyAnimeList online forums and Reddit, lots of said Madara must’ve remained the final bad guy instead of Kaguya, with threads still stating “Kaguya ruined the ending.” Sorry, Naruto, Madara designed aura farming, so he wins this time around!
Meruem from Seeker x Seeker
Seeker x Hunter has a great deal of wonderful personalities, but when Meruem goes into the Chimera Ant arc, the whole tone of the anime shifts What begins as a scary monster king tale gradually turns into among one of the most nuanced bad guy arcs in anime. Followers really did not just like Meruem due to the fact that he was powerful (however, let’s be genuine, the man was delicately dusting Hunters like it was nothing). They loved him because of his partnership with Komugi, a human girl that showed him humbleness and compassion with a board game. Gon who? The net still cries regarding Meruem’s final minutes.
Askeladd from Vinland Saga
If you’ve seen Vinland Saga , you know that Askeladd is one of one of the most complicated, morally grey personalities in modern anime. While Thorfinn, the protagonist, is angry and driven by retribution, Askeladd operates on wit, personal appeal, and an oddly safety touch toward his males. You can’t aid but like the moments he gets on display. Followers love him because he wasn’t a one-note bad guy. He was manipulative, certain, yet likewise deeply human — torn between his Viking identification and his concealed Welsh heritage. By the time his arc wraps up, Askeladd essentially takes the entire first period from Thorfinn, leaving fans shocked and also questioning whether he need to have been the protagonist.
Mahito from Jujutsu Kaisen
Before we start saying, yes, we know Mahito is deeply despised. Like, really detested. And completely factor! He has killed a lot of follower favorite personalities. However allow’s not turn it– he’s also among one of the most discussed bad guys in anime. And in fandom, buzz equals appeal, also if it’s negative. While Yuji Itadori is the timeless selfless shonen lead character, Mahito represents pure disorder. He’s vicious, unbalanced, and the type of bad guy who gets under your skin because he deals with dirty. He makes you really feel powerless, loading customers with dread whenever he gets on screen. His ability to twist souls provided us some of the most troubling (and memorable) deaths in Jujutsu Kaisen Nonetheless, this does not mean he’s not in every conversation about Jujutsu Kaisen Followers abhor him, however they can not stop examining his scenes.
Muzan Kibutsuji from Satanic force Killer
Those fanmade modifies we pointed out? The ones with the viral trend of Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean? That fad was made for Muzan. There is no one else who completely embodies the drip the means Muzan does. Hell, he was also memed as Michael Jackson years before the fad ever started. Why, you may ask? Well, Tanjiro is wholesome, but compared to Michael Jackson Devil (also known as Muzan), he just does not produce the very same meme energy. From the moment Muzan showed up in his fancy hat and suit, followers were instantly consumed with his appearance. He came to be an internet symbol before we also knew much concerning his powers. What a diva.
Heroes may be the face of the story, yet bad guys are usually the ones who keep us watching. From Madara flexing on a whole army to Meruem making us unsightly cry, these antagonists show that often the “crook” steals the story.
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