Summary
Manga andanimeare acclaimed for giving their villains as much depth and backstory as their main characters, allowing the viewers to understand their motivations and even develop a liking forcertain dark and complex characters. Eren, Lelouch, and Itachi are prime examples of that.
But that can’t be said aboutallthe villains. Where anime excels in giving the world beloved anti-heroes, it also offers irredeemable evil characters that make the skin crawl. These characters don’t do evil things because they are forced to. Their immorality is inherent, their intent is malicious, and they enjoy every moment of their vile and wicked behavior.
10Clementine From Overlord
A Sadist Who Loves To Torture
Clementine is very easy to hate. She has an insatiable bloodthirst that makes her enjoy causing pain and suffering to the innocent. She admits that her sadistic tendencies are solely for her own pleasure and have no underlying agenda, often mocking her own motivations as pointless. In fact, Clementine is known to have abandoned a good and honorable life simply to pursue these ‘passions.’
Throughout the series, Clementine has committed numerous atrocities that have cemented her as one of the evilest characters in anime. She enjoys eliminating and torturing simply because she finds it immensely gratifying. She is part of a necromantic cult and is entirely willing to commit the most horrendous deeds ever.
9Frieza From Dragon Ball
A Cruel Tyrant Who Enjoys Committing Genocides (Yes, Plural)
Frieza is one of the main antagonists of Dragon Ball and is regarded as one of the vilest characters in the anime verse. His primary ambition is to amass power, dominate galaxies, and maintain his status as the most powerful being. Frieza is heinous and masks his cowardice with ruthless actions.
He orchestrated the genocide of the entire Saiyan race and annihilated Planet Vegeta to prevent any potential uprising against him. Throughout his reign, he systematically destroys numerous planets, decimates civilizations, tortures adversaries, and callously betrays his subordinates, establishing himself asone of the most feared tyrantsin the Dragon Ball universe.
8Caster From Fate Zero
A Sinister Villain With Odd Philosophies
If you think Caster looks creepy, wait until you discover his putrid personality. The character is inspired by the historical figure Gilles de Rais, who was initially famous for being an ally of Joan of Arc and later notorious for being a serial killer. Depicted as Caster in the anime, he remains true to his origins, taking pleasure in hurting other people.
Both he and his Master, Ryuunosuke Uryuu, kidnapped numerous unsuspecting people purely for their amusement. His morbid fascination with giving his victims a brief sense of respite before inflicting gruesome deaths on them reflects his twisted philosophy about death in general.
7Ryomen Sukuna From Jujutsu Kaisen
He Delights In Carnage And Destruction
Sukuna’s charm and power contradict his sinister character, but don’t let it fool you. The King of Curses is utterly devoid of sympathy. He has committed various unforgivable wrongdoings in the past, and the world of Jujutsu Kaisen was far better off while he was sealed.
The world of Jujutsu changed completely when Itadori Yuuji accidentally unleashed the King of Curses on it. Sukuna’s initial brief appearance hinted at his menacing nature, but the Shibuya incident revealed thefull extent of his poweras he reshaped the district and caused mass casualties. Sukuna wipes out without hesitation, relishing in the psychological torment of everyone who isn’t him or his allies. His greatest sin, however, is the eradication of some of the series' most beloved characters.
6Prime Minister Honest From Akame Ga Kill
A Deranged Man With No Remorse
The main antagonist and embodiment of evil, Prime Minister Honest, stands out as one of the most depraved characters in the world of anime. He is notorious for orchestrating chaos and corruption within the Empire.
His list of atrocities is long and horrifying. He cunningly poisoned both the Emperor and the Empress, engaged in disturbing acts, legalized some of the Empire’s most inhumane practices, and even exterminated a beloved supporting character, earning the ire of fans everywhere. In a series brimming with evil characters, his maliciousness still manages to make him stand out.
5Mahito From Jujutsu Kaisen
An Absolute Menace To The JJK World
Mahito is a Special Grade cursed spirit with the ability to manipulate and distort souls. While he is nowhere near the power level of the main antagonist, Sukuna, he has still managed to make the majority of JJK fans despise him.
Mahito’s evil is evident in his mocking demeanor as he causes death and destruction. He treats human lives as expendable and ends them in grotesque ways, especially to antagonize Yuuji Itadori (fundamentally the opposite of Mahito). Mahito’s cruelty reached its peak when he took down two ofthe most cherished charactersright before Itadori’s eyes, all while laughing in joy.
4Muzan From Demon Slayer
A Purely Demonic Antagonist
Kibutsuji Muzan from Demon Slayer may walk about in fancy clothes and mingle in respectable societies, but there’s nothing civil about him. As the original demon andcreator of all other demons, he is incredibly powerful and embodies pure evil without a shred of humanity.
Even his backstory only serves to shed light on his deranged character. His sole purpose is to eradicate the Demon Slayer Corps, eliminate as many humans as possible, populate the world with more demons, and obtain the elixir. He brutally gets rid of people for even the slightest provocation and has single-handedly destroyed countless lives.
3Johan Liebert From Monster
A Cold And Calculating Serial Killer
There are many evil characters with magical powers and ambiguous histories, but Johan Liebert stands apart as a charming, psychopathic serial killer with no sympathy for human life — despite being a human. His true malice lies in his cold and chilling personality, which appears calm on the outside but conceals a raging monster within. Johan doesn’t commit atrocities impulsively; he meticulously calculates and plans his evil deeds in great detail.
His disturbing childhood drives him to perpetuate this cycle of horror. He has annihilated not only strangers but also those close to him, including his adoptive parents and the coworkers of the man who saved him.
2Shou Tucker From Fullmetal Alchemist
An Evil Scientist
Shou Tucker’s evilness is unique yet undeniable. He may not be a bloodthirsty serial killer or a torture-loving maniac, but his single horrific act reveals his unhinged character and has left an entire generation disturbed. Thankfully, his screen time in the anime is brief, and he is quickly moved on from.
He initially appeared as a quiet and kind State Alchemist, holding crucial information for our main characters' conflict. However, his twisted nature was revealed at the sequence’s end when he was caught after performing a horrific experiment on his daughter. This act, done solely to retain his job, is one of anime’s darkest moments ever, offering no justification. Despite appearing in only one episode, Shou Tucker is remembered as one of anime’s most evil characters.
1King Fritz From Attack On Titan
The Barbaric King Whose Evil Set Things In Motion
It’s not easy topoint fingers in Attack on Titan, considering how almost every character in it has blood on their hands. However, it is only King Fritz, the barbaric ruler of Eldia, whose evil actions were unjustified, cruel, and power-hungry. He was the reason for the unbreakable cycle of revenge in the first place.
He entered peaceful villages, causing harm and distress to their inhabitants. He silenced people through the most unethical ways and even pursued an innocent girl accused of a minor offense. Perhaps his most cruel act was showing no regard for the feelings of the source of his power, Ymir, and forcing their children to consume her flesh.
