Jade Reed
15 Anime Villains You Can’t Help but Root For
Anime villains aren’t always easy to hate. Some of them have backstories so tragic, motivations so understandable, or personalities so magnetic that you find yourself secretly cheering them on. Whether they’re fighting for a twisted sense of justice or simply trying to survive in a cruel world, these antagonists blur the line between hero and villain in ways that make them unforgettable.
1. Lelouch vi Britannia (Code Geass)
Lelouch starts as an exiled prince seeking revenge against the empire that destroyed his family.
His genius-level intellect and supernatural Geass power let him manipulate anyone with eye contact.
He creates an alter ego called Zero to lead a rebellion against Britannia.
What makes him compelling is how he genuinely wants to create a better world for his sister.
His methods are ruthless, but his love for Nunnally keeps him grounded.
Every sacrifice he makes feels personal and heartbreaking.
Watching him balance terrorism with tenderness creates fascinating moral conflicts.
You understand why he does terrible things even when you know they’re wrong.
2. Sukuna Ryomen (Jujutsu Kaisen)
Ancient curses don’t usually steal the show, but Sukuna manages it effortlessly.
This King of Curses lived over a thousand years ago and now inhabits Yuji Itadori’s body.
His overwhelming power and complete confidence make every appearance electric.
He treats modern sorcerers like amusing insects.
Sukuna never pretends to be good or misunderstood.
His honesty about being purely selfish becomes strangely refreshing.
When he fights, the sheer spectacle of his abilities leaves you awestruck.
His charisma and dark humor create an undeniable appeal.
You root for him simply because watching him dominate is thrilling entertainment.
3. Light Yagami (Death Note)
A straight-A student discovers a notebook that kills anyone whose name gets written inside.
Light believes he can become god of a new world by eliminating criminals.
His cat-and-mouse game with detective L showcases brilliant strategic thinking.
Every move he makes feels like watching a master chess player.
His downfall starts with good intentions that slowly corrupt into megalomania.
You keep hoping he’ll realize how far he’s fallen.
The tragedy is watching someone with such potential destroy himself.
His intelligence makes him magnetic even as his morality crumbles.
You can’t look away from his transformation.
4. Zeke Yeager (Attack on Titan)
To achieve his goal of world salvation, Zeke aims to ensure that no Eldians have children.
As the Beast Titan, he possesses incredible throwing accuracy and strategic brilliance.
His childhood trauma under his parents’ radical ideology shaped his extreme solution.
He genuinely believes extinction is mercy.
The reveal of his true motivations recontextualizes everything he’s done.
His relationship with Eren adds emotional complexity to their opposing philosophies.
You understand his pain even when disagreeing with his conclusion.
His calm demeanor hides deep wounds that never healed properly.
Watching him try to connect with his brother breaks your heart repeatedly.
5. Suguru Geto (Jujutsu Kaisen)
Geto was once the best friend of Gojo Satoru and a promising jujutsu sorcerer.
His ideology shifted after witnessing too many sorcerers die protecting ungrateful non-sorcerers.
He decided that eliminating all non-sorcerers would create a better world.
His curse manipulation technique lets him control hundreds of spirits.
What hurts most is knowing he started with genuine compassion.
The system broke him rather than the other way around.
His friendship with Gojo adds painful emotional weight.
Even as an antagonist, his charisma and conviction make him compelling.
You mourn the hero he could have remained.
6. Hisoka Morow (Hunter x Hunter)
The thrill of combat against formidable foes is what drives Hisoka above all else.
This magician-themed fighter uses playing cards and bungee gum as deadly weapons.
His unpredictable nature means he helps protagonists when it suits his interests.
He’s neither purely evil nor remotely heroic.
His obsession with Gon’s potential creates a disturbing yet fascinating dynamic.
You never know if he’ll help or hinder the heroes.
That unpredictability keeps every scene electric.
His theatrical personality and genuine love for combat make him entertaining.
You root for him because watching him fight is pure artistic violence.
7. Johan Liebert (Monster)
Johan might be anime’s most terrifying villain, yet you can’t stop watching him.
This psychological manipulator orchestrates chaos without ever getting his hands dirty.
His traumatic childhood in Cold War experiments created a monster who sees no value in life.
He convinces people to destroy themselves and others.
What makes him fascinating is his philosophical emptiness and intellectual brilliance.
Dr. Tenma’s quest to stop the patient he saved adds moral complexity.
Johan represents humanity’s darkest potential.
His calm demeanor while discussing atrocities chills you to the bone.
You’re captivated by his horror even while wanting him stopped.
8. Dabi (My Hero Academia)
When Dabi’s true identity as Toya Todoroki came to light, it sent shockwaves through the fandom.
This villain’s blue flames burn hotter than his father Endeavor’s fire.
His scarred body shows the physical cost of his quirk and his past.
He joined the League of Villains to destroy his father’s hero reputation.
His backstory of abuse and presumed death creates genuine sympathy.
You understand his rage even when his methods endanger innocents.
Family trauma runs deep through his every action.
His confrontation with Endeavor delivers emotional devastation for everyone involved.
You want him to find peace beyond revenge.
9. Vegeta (Dragon Ball Z)
Vegeta arrived on Earth as a planet-conquering prince determined to achieve immortality.
His Saiyan pride drives everything he does, including his rivalry with Goku.
Over time, he transitions from villain to antihero to reluctant hero.
His character development spans decades of storytelling.
What makes him lovable is his struggle between pride and growing compassion.
He refuses to admit he cares while constantly protecting Earth.
His relationship with Bulma and Trunks softens his edges.
Watching him finally accept his role as hero feels earned and powerful.
His journey from villain to family man resonates deeply.
10. Askeladd (Vinland Saga)
After murdering Thorfinn’s father, Askeladd took the boy under his wing, knowing it would stoke Thorfinn’s vengeance.
This Viking mercenary leader possesses tactical genius and hidden royal Welsh blood.
His band survives through cunning rather than pure strength.
He plays all sides in political conflicts for his own goals.
His complex relationship with Thorfinn creates fascinating emotional tension.
You discover his actions serve a greater purpose protecting Wales.
His final sacrifice redeems decades of ruthless behavior.
His wit and strategic mind make him captivating despite his cruelty.
You respect him even while acknowledging his terrible deeds.
11. Tomura Shigaraki (My Hero Academia)
Shigaraki was groomed from childhood by All For One to become the ultimate villain.
His Decay quirk disintegrates anything he touches with all five fingers.
Trauma from accidentally killing his family warped his worldview completely.
He leads the League of Villains in destroying hero society.
His backstory reveals a child who desperately needed saving but never received help.
You see how different things could have been with intervention.
His pain manifests as nihilistic destruction.
Watching him grow from tantrum-throwing villain to calculated leader shows tragic potential.
You mourn what he could have become.
12. Meruem (Hunter x Hunter)
Born as the Chimera Ant King, Meruem initially saw humans as mere food.
His overwhelming power made him nearly invincible against humanity’s strongest fighters.
Meeting Komugi, a blind board game champion, changed everything.
She taught him respect, humility, and eventually love.
His transformation from merciless king to someone capable of genuine affection feels miraculous.
You watch him discover his humanity despite not being human.
His final moments with Komugi deliver devastating emotional impact.
His character arc proves even monsters can find redemption through connection.
You root for his growth until the very end.
13. Itachi Uchiha (Naruto)
Itachi massacred his entire clan, sparing only his younger brother Sasuke.
For years, everyone believed he was a traitor who killed for power.
The truth revealed his sacrifice to prevent civil war in Konoha.
He lived as a villain to protect the village and his brother.
His story redefines what it means to be a hero.
He accepted hatred and death to maintain peace. His love for Sasuke drove every painful choice.
The reveal of his true loyalty breaks your heart completely.
You wish he could have lived to see understanding in Sasuke’s eyes.
14. Ainz Ooal Gown (Overlord)
A regular gamer named Momonga gets trapped in his favorite game as an undead overlord.
His guild base and NPC servants become real with him as their supreme ruler.
He must maintain his powerful leader persona while internally panicking.
His undead body suppresses human emotions automatically.
You root for him because he’s fundamentally a decent person in impossible circumstances.
He protects his loyal servants while conquering the new world.
His internal monologues reveal constant confusion and improvisation.
Watching him accidentally build an evil empire while trying to find friends is darkly comedic.
You sympathize with his loneliness.
15. Shogo Makishima (Psycho-Pass)
Unlike others, Makishima is immune to the Sibyl System that measures criminal potential.
This philosophical anarchist orchestrates crimes to expose the system’s flaws.
His intelligence and charisma attract followers who execute his vision.
He genuinely believes humanity needs freedom from authoritarian control.
His arguments against Sibyl raise valid concerns about free will and surveillance.
You understand his perspective even while condemning his methods.
His debates with Inspector Kogami showcase brilliant ideological conflict.
He represents the dangerous appeal of absolute freedom without responsibility.
You’re fascinated by his mind even while hoping he fails.
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