The life of an anime villain is often overlooked. Since they are usually defeated at the end of the series, one would assume that their grim runs are undesirable. However, there are many benefits that anime villains only enjoy.
Whether you’re stronger, better funded, or just luckier than your hero, there are many benefits to being the primary source of antagonism in a story. Identifying them provides insight into why a story arc can last so long, as well as the elements that determine how anime’s most popular villains become so well known as cultural icons.
10 Anime Villains Who Usually Win In The First Act
Anime villains usually triumph in the first act of any series. This serves to establish their dangerousness and lengthen the plot so that the conflict does not end before it has started in a meaningful way.
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In many cases, an anime villain’s initial victory will be so humbling that the hero will never forget it. This was seen in Sword Art Online, when Heathcliff defeated Kirito in the midst of a large audience. Bertholdt’s attack on Shiganshina proved even more devastating in Attack On Titan.
9 Anime Villains With Impeccable Fashion Sense 
Usually, anime villains have a much more impeccable wardrobe than their heroic counterparts. His designs are usually darker, but also aesthetically pleasing, like All For One’s famous outfit in My Hero Academia. Even minor anime villains often benefit from uniforms that set them apart as individual threats.
For example, Akatsuki members in Naruto can be instantly recognized by their black robes and red clouds. These garments make them formidable to their enemies, and many flee before combat begins. In this regard, her fashion sense is also a tactical advantage.
8 Anime Villains Who Shouldn’t Change 
Part of the hero’s journey involves a monumental change in the protagonist. Often, he is expected to grow into a different person than he was at the start, which isn’t always ideal for him. Anime villains sometimes change throughout the story, but they aren’t expected to evolve like their benevolent counterparts.
Inuyasha’s Naraku was a prime example. Although technically human, he remained an incorrigible monster throughout the series and could only be stopped through physical violence. Anime villains are more dynamic because less is expected of them.
7 Anime Villains More Diverse Than Heroes 
Anime heroes must follow a relatively strict moral code, which limits the diversity of their characters. In many cases, they are prevented from killing altogether, as the writers fear it will make the audience hate them. By contrast, anime villains are extremely diverse, presenting themselves in countless different ways.
From authoritarian dictators like Kuvira from Legend Of Korra to determined anarchists like Zaheer from the same franchise, the only thing that “defines” an antagonist is their opposition to the hero. Many have completely opposite goals and are united only by their radical backgrounds.
6 Anime Villains Who Are Sometimes Right 
Although many anime villains are written without sympathy, others make consistent critiques of the society around them. For example, Floch of attack on Titan, was seen as a militant monster who unjustifiably supported Rumbling. However, the series ended with the Rumbling survivors bombarding Paradis to the smoldering rubble.
Likewise, Stain and Re-Destro make valid comments about the flaws of hero society in my hero academia. The former refers to the fact that being a “hero” cannot be commercialized, while the latter highlights why it is wrong for the government to limit an individual’s right to use the powers they were born with.
5 It’s easier to be an anime villain 
The anime made it clear that taking the immoral path makes things much easier. For example, Sasuke’s will to kill Danzo Shimura in naruto it avoided what could have been a political nightmare for Konoha.
Likewise, Blackbeard rose to fame solely through betrayal in One Piece. Unlike Luffy, he didn’t fight much for the things he had. Instead, he simply timed his betrayals to reap all the benefits of those who wrongly trusted him. In the end, the Whitebeard Pirates bore the brunt of their crimes.
4 Many Anime Villains Have Funny Stories 
A handful of anime villains have stories as cute as the hero’s. Zeldris from Seven Deadly Sins was particularly compelling, as all of his actions were for Gelda’s sake. This created a clear parallel between him and Meliodas, with the only difference being that they both decided to continue serving the Demon King.
Death Note’s Light Yagami was another profound example, as he once yearned to bring justice to the world. However, gradually he turned evil due to the increasingly drastic measures he took to hide his crimes and his identity.
3 animated villains with many minions 
Anime villains often lose at the power of friendship, but they’re not without their own allies. Typically, they keep the heroes busy throughout the story by harassing them with minor threats. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure was famous for this, as many DIO booth users provided interesting challenges for the heroes to overcome.
In my hero academia, the villains even had an entire legion dedicated to fulfilling their demands, known as the Paranormal Liberation Front. The world government of A play it turned out to be equally all-encompassing, dominating most corners of the planet.
2 Anime Villains Are Usually Stronger Than The Hero 
Most anime villains are stronger than the hero by a significant margin. This was seen in fire force, where the Evangelist was a mythical entity capable of creating widespread worldwide chaos using his immense and mysterious power.
In Fullmetal Alchemist, Father had such great potential that he was about to usurp God himself. In many cases, anime heroes never directly surpass their enemies. Instead, they trust their friends to help save the day from what should have been certain destruction.
1 Anime Villains Don’t Always Lose In The End 
There is a misconception that anime villains always have to lose in the end. However, this has been refuted many times, even in the most popular series. Emporio may have killed off Pucci, but the villain still wiped out the Joestar line and rebooted the universe itself. Jojo .
Likewise, Vicious inflicted such severe injuries on Spike that they ended up killing him in Cowboy Bebop. Satan’s victory was chilling in Devilman Crybaby, as he murdered the heroes, destroyed the world, and survived until the end of the story. An anime villain’s success may remain unlikely, but he’s by no means doomed.