My Favorite Anime Villains
So lately I’ve seen a bunch of other anime bloggers make a list of their favorite anime villains, and somehow I’ve never done this before??
I think the reason is I tend to watch a lot of slice of life/romance anime, stories in which ‘villains’ (in the traditional sense) don’t really exist. However, I did still manage to put together a list of my favorites from other genres. I will try and be as non-spoilery as possible, in hopes to get some of you to watch these series if you haven’t yet. Here we go!
Askeladd- Vinland Saga
What makes Askeladd so amazing is that he manages to be incredibly sympathetic, despite being one of the most horrible and cruel characters in Vinland Saga. It is genuinely impressive on the writer’s part how this character does horrible things and yet you still somehow root for him. HIs motivations have some validity, but his actions are unforgivable. And that makes his story so captivating and exciting to watch.
Pride- Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
The Homunculi are a series of villain lackeys for the true antagonist of the story, and while many of them have varying loyalties and interesting motivations, Pride has always been my favorite. I think they’re easily the most unsettling of the homunculi, appearing in the shadows with creepy teeth and eyes. Their true identity is also a secret for the majority of the show, and it ends up being one of my favorite reveals in anime.
Rail Tracer- Baccano
In Baccano, Rail Tracer is the name for the horrifying creature terrorizing the train and its inhabitants. It hides in the shadows, and preys on its victims until sunrise, when it vanishes. Part of the mystery of Baccano is discovering who, or what, “Rail Tracer” actually is, and the reveal is worth the wait.
Tamiya Ryouko- Parasyte
Tamiya Ryouko is genuinely one of my favorite parts of Parasyte, but no one ever talks about her! Throughout the show she is both the perpetrator and bystander to many horrible atrocities, but eventually she takes it upon herself to learn about the human race and come to her own conclusions about humanity’s purpose. One of my favorite scenes is when she voluntarily sits in on a university class about ethics, in order to learn more about humans.
Isabella- The Promised Neverland
Yes, I think The Promised Neverland left a bad taste in all of our mouths after its abysmal second season, but I’m not going to let that ruin the way I feel about season 1 Isabella. Complicated villains are the best, and the first season of TPN is a masterclass on horror. And what makes Isabella so heartwrenching of a villain is that you know deep down that she truly loves these kids.
Thanks for reading! I might do another post deep diving into villains and what I think makes a good one, but for now I just wanted to shout out my faves. Please watch these series if you haven’t yet, they’re all excellent!
-threecheersforinking
