Top 10 Anime Villains Better Than the Hero
Top 10 Anime Villains Better Than the Hero
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Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Anime Villains Better Than the Hero. For this list, we’ll be looking at those anime series that have villains that outshine their heroes. Who is the best anime villain of the 2010s? Let us know in the comments!
#10: Dio Brando
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“JoJo's Bizarre Adventure” (2012-13) "Phantom Blood" is not generally considered to be one of "JoJo's" strongest arcs, but it does have something going for it: Dio. Diabolically evil, Dio dominates the entire arc through his campy but still intimidating presence, which contrasts splendidly with the straight-laced Jonathan Joestar. Dio demands to be seen, heard, and worshipped, and the villain approaches his quest to ruin Jonathan with such unbridled passion that it's difficult to not love him for it. While nowhere near Speedwagon levels, Dio is still a breakout character, only becoming more grandiose by the time Stardust Crusaders rolled around.
#9: Phi
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“Beyblade Burst Turbo” (2018-19) "Turbo" has its fair share of issues, with the season's overpowered protagonist, Aiger Akabane, generally being regarded as a downgrade from "Beyblade Burst Evolution’s" Valt Aoi. For all of Aiga's faults, the Beyblader at least goes up against a really fun antagonist; in fact, Phi almost makes "Turbo" worth watching all on his own. Early on, Phi comes across as a mysterious but powerful figure, one who brings out the best in Aiger by triggering the worst in him. As the series progresses, Phi grows more maniacal, and it's a blast to watch.
#8: Ainosuke Shindo
“SK8 the Infinity” (2021) Adam turns skating into a ritual of love, and the villain puts on an incredible show in the process. Reki and Langa's camaraderie serves as "Sk8's" beating heart, while Ainosuke delivers the style, flamboyance, and dance moves. Leading a double life as a politician and the skater who founded "S", Ainosuke viciously but gracefully destroys his opponents with all the enthusiasm of a "JoJo" villain. Ainosuke's back story adds quite a bit of weight to his character, revealing exactly what led the politician down this road and enhancing his rivalry with Langa. Did we mention the man has flair?
#7: Akane Shinjo
“SSSS.Gridman” (2018) While certainly a loving send-up of the beloved tokusatsu, Trigger's take on the Gridman formula is considerably darker, and a lot of that rests on Akane’s shoulders. Introduced as basically a high school idol, Akane reveals herself to be slightly more insane than initially meets the eye. Akane crafts the kaiju that face off against Yūta and Gridman, with the anime delving deep into the villain's character and psyche. Akane is the most fleshed-out character in the anime, making her far more interesting than Yūta, who comes across as more of a robot than his mechanical companion.
#6: Lio
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“Promare” (2019) This is Trigger achieving peak hype, throwing out gorgeous animation, fantastic music, and all the burning souls anyone could want. The hotheaded Galo doesn't hold too many surprises as the protagonist, but Lio fares much better as "Promare's" initial villain. As the leader of a resistance group fighting to protect the marginalized and targeted Burnish, Lio's anger and antagonistic actions are completely understandable. Out of all the characters in the movie, Lio is the most developed, and his arc is by far the strongest. More importantly, at one point, Lio turns into a massive fire dragon. Insta-win.
#5: Slaine Troyard
“Aldnoah.Zero” (2014-15) Somewhat unusually, this sci-fi’s protagonist is the one driven entirely by logic, with Inaho often coming across as a bit emotionless. On the other hand, Slaine is fueled by feeling, particularly his desire to protect Princess Asseylum. While Inaho is generally always in the right but can be hard to connect to at times, Slaine constantly makes terrible decisions that backfire but is also far more relatable. He’s a very human and flawed person, a villain forged out of his circumstances but also one who made specific choices that led him down this path.
#4: Yujiro Hanma
“Baki” franchise (2001-) The best antagonists drive, recontextualize, or enhance their heroes in various ways, and "Baki'' has one of the best examples of such a villain. Baki's entire existence revolves around defeating his father, Yujiro, both as a means of proving himself as the superior fighter, for revenge, and because their relationship is that wack! The Strongest Creature on Earth lives up to his reputation, as Yujiro is a beast of a man, both in terms of power and personality. Even though he only appears sporadically throughout the series, his monstrous presence is constant. In a show known for its brutal and destructive characters, Yujiro puts everyone to shame.
#3: Char Aznable
“Mobile Suit Gundam” (1979-80) Amuro Ray is a classic protagonist and certainly one of "Gundam's" most popular. And yet, for as great as Amuro is, the pilot shares the stage with arguably the best and unquestionably the most influential "Gundam" character of all time. As a pilot, Char Aznable ranks right up there with the best of them, and the character's exploits earned him the nickname of the Red Comet. While the son of Zeon's battles with Amuro are constantly thrilling, Char's legacy stems from his complex characterization, constant growth both politically and psychologically, and understandable motives. He’s an ace in every sense of the word.
#2: Johan Liebert
“Monster” (2004-05) Dr. Tenma is a great protagonist with a simple belief: all life is equal. This mantra serves as the basis of the doctor's struggles throughout the story, and that conflict is fueled by Johan. The titular monster is a sociopath beyond all others; a person who kills without hesitation, lacks empathy, and finds pleasure in torturing his victims. Johan seeks a perfect suicide, one delivered by the doctor who saved his life. Johan drives the story forward, is central to its most complex ideas and themes, and is simply one of the best villains in anime.
#1: Junko Enoshima
“Danganronpa: The Animation” (2013) Who doesn’t love a good old-fashioned mastermind? "Danganronpa" follows a group of students locked in a death game by a toy bear named Monokuma, as the villain seeks to lead its hostages to despair. Following a thrilling opening season, the puppet master behind Monokuma is revealed to be Junko; the thought-dead fashionista who seeks to crush any hope out of the world. Makoto is a fine enough protagonist, but the optimistic hero can't hope to hold a candle to the force of nature that is Junko. Whether out in the open or as Monokuma, Junko is just a demented delight.
