Ever since the global release of Joker, the mass appeal of antagonistic characters has also risen. In fact, there are villains that are massively popular with the viewers for their quirky ways. Today, we will be looking at all those characters that are supposedly villains but are not hated by any. Hence, here are some of the Most Loved Anime Villains of all time.
Well, as of today, people don’t perceive stories in black and white anymore. The little grey area has become more complex in its storytelling forms. Now, almost all villains and bad guys are given a tragic back story that is their ultimate motivation to become a villain. This is why fans don’t hate them right away.
1. Griffith (Berserk)
There is no better character to kick-start this list of the most loved anime villains than Griffith from Berserk. The reason why people just cannot hate this character is his tragic past. Since childhood, Griffith grew up with a single goal in his life which is to become the king. However, when reality hits him in adulthood, he has no choice but to turn to the dark side. People understand his reasons and his motivations to stand against the heroes. Thus, viewers do not see him in the dim light.
2. Madara Uchiha (Naruto)
The second name on our list is the unforgettable character, Madara Uchiha from Naruto. Many people do not hate this character in any way. In fact, fans tend to like him for all the powers that he has attained through training. And this power is the only reason why the character is loved so much. Madara Uchiha is practically a ninja god. Aside from his opponents, Madara can also beat death. His undisturbing calm and composure bring him to the list.
3. Vegeta (Dragon Ball)
We know that Vegeta is no longer a villain in the Dragon Ball shows. However, he did start his journey as a supervillain. He changed after spending more and more time on Earth. Well, he learned the values of friendship and family, which ultimately made him a better person. Things have now come to a turn that Vegeta has become Earth’s strongest defender. In fact, there are many people who root for Vegeta over Goku for his commendable arc. Thus, Vegeta gets the third spot on this list of the 13 Most Loved Anime Villains.
4. Yagami Light (Death Note)
The fourth name in this list of the most loved anime villains is the Death Note protagonist, Yagami Light. Well, he is the hero of the show, and the authorities are believed to be the antagonists. However, his actions make him the ultimate villain. One can’t deny that it is tough to hate the character of Yagami Light. His reasons and motivations are fairly understandable. And even after all the murders, we end up empathizing with him by the end of the show.
5. Cell (Dragon Ball)
The next name on this list is the popular Dragon Ball series character, Cell. The reason why people do not hate him is that he was a robot. Well, Cell was created and designed to destroy Earth heroes. Thus, he himself was not aware of the right and wrongs of his actions. Moreover, the insane power dynamics of Cell get him a large fanbase. Lastly, this character does get the fruits of his own work. Thus, his arc was complete overall.
6. Itachi Uchiha (Naruto)
Another character with a brilliant redemption arc is the Naruto villain Itachi Uchiha. At first, audiences thought horribly of this character because he massacred his own family. However, when the truth comes out several years later, the perception of him changed. Many fans began to root for him. This character has seen a growth from a cold villain to a lone hero of his own story. Thus, Itachi gets the sixth spot on this list of the 13 Most Loved Anime Villains.
7. Hisoka (Hunter X Hunter)
Many Hunter X Hunter fans tend to like the anime villain more than the heroes. This is because Hisoka is one hell of a villain. He is smart, he is cunning, he is good at the battle, and he can make everyone laugh. Hisoka has all the elements of being a legendary anime villain. Moreover, he has never tried to justify his wrongdoings just for the sake of sympathy. Hence, this anime villain certainly deserves all the love he gets.
8. Team Rocket (Pokemon)
Next up in the Most Loved Anime Villains list is Pokemon’s Team Rocket. While these villains do all the foul intentions of stealing away Pikachu, all three of them are pretty adorable. Even though they pretend to be villainous and intelligent, he can’t help but fail each time. Due to these constant failures, fans love to watch Team Rocket try even better plans. Thus, it is almost impossible to hate Jessie, James, and Meowth for their petty crimes.
9. Dabi (My Hero Academia)
Dabi is a member of the League of Villains in My Hero Academia. He was first introduced through Shigaraki’s meetings with his minions. The reason why Dabi is on this list of the 13 Most Loved Anime Villians is because of his back story. Even though an official source has not confirmed the theory, but it is believed that Dabi is the first son of Endeavor. If that is the case, it is tragic for him to join the villain group to find a place in this world.
10. Sesshomaru (Inuyasha)
The next character on this list is the elder brother of Inuyasha, Sesshomaru. His story is pretty similar to every bastard story that we have seen on the screens. Be it Loki from the Thor series or Jon Snow from Game of Thrones, all bastards have the same motivations to leave their families. The same is the case with Sesshomaru. He was never given equal treatment like Inuyasha, which ultimately made him a rogue villain.
11. Riful of The West (Claymore)
The eleventh name on this list is the Claymore character Riful. Remember Bellatrix Lestrange from Harry Potter? Riful is more or less like her. Eccentric in her ways, she knows that her evilness will come to an end someday, but she still enjoys her deeds. Even the character design makes her attractive, which makes it difficult to hate her. Thus, Riful of the West joins the list.
12. Greed (Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood)
Much like Dragon Ball’s Vegeta, Greed has also seen a huge character change. From being a rogue and careless murderer to becoming a legend, Greed has seen quite a journey. All this was a result of his bond with Ling. He learns more about the better aspects of humanity along with Ling, which ultimately makes him question the purposes of his own villainy. Thus, Greed from Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood gets the twelfth spot on this list.
13. Izaya Orihara (Durarara)
The last name in this list of the Most Loved Anime Villains is the protagonist of Durarara. Durarara is a unique anime story that portrays the origin and backstory of a villain. We get to see the oppression and discrimination against him that led him to choose the wrong path. Moreover, the depth of the character arc also leads to many fans rooting for him. Thus, he gets the spot on this list.
With Izaya Orihara, we can conclude our list of the Most Loved Anime Villians. Which one of these characters is your personal favorite? Please share your thoughts with us in the comment box below. For more such listicles on anime, keep coming back to The Anime Daily.
