9 Anime Villains You Have to Agree With
Alright, we’ve all been there—rooting for the villain at some point. Some anime antagonists are so compelling, you start to think, “Maybe they have a point.” Whether it’s their tragic backstories or their warped sense of justice, these villains leave you questioning if they’re really all that bad. So, here are 9 anime villains that you just have to agree with on some level.
9. Stain (My Hero Academia)
Stain is one of those villains who forces you to pause and really think about the hero society. He’s not wrong in his belief that too many “heroes” are only in it for the fame, fortune, or social clout. The way he calls out fake heroes strikes a chord because, let’s be honest, not every hero is as noble as they seem. While his methods are straight-up violent, you can’t deny his motives make sense.
8. Nagato/Pain (Naruto: Shippuden)
Nagato, aka Pain, is one of those villains where, the more you learn about him, the more his ideology makes sense. He’s seen too much war and loss, so his idea of peace through mutual suffering is brutal but effective. He’s tired of the cycle of hatred and just wants it to end. When you’ve been through what he has, it’s hard not to see where he’s coming from.
7. Light Yagami (Death Note)
Light Yagami starts off with good intentions, and that’s what makes him such an interesting character. He wanted to rid the world of criminals, create a utopia, and make society safer. Sure, he got power-hungry, but at the core of it, you can understand why he took the path he did. The justice system has flaws, and Light thought he could fix them—by becoming a literal god.
6. Shougo Makishima (Psycho-Pass)
Shougo Makishima from Psycho-Pass is straight-up anti-authority, and who doesn’t love a good fight against a totalitarian system? He rejects the idea of a world where your life is determined by an algorithm that predicts your criminal potential. Freedom vs. control is a classic conflict, and Makishima’s rebellion against the Sybil System feels justified. Who wants to live in a world where you’re judged before you even do anything?
5. Scar (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)
Scar’s story is heartbreaking, and his actions are a direct result of the genocide his people suffered. His rage against the Amestrian military and the State Alchemists isn’t unjustified—he’s a victim seeking justice for the atrocities committed against his people. His methods are extreme, but you can’t help but understand where that pain and desire for revenge come from.
4. Zeke Yeager (Attack on Titan)
Zeke Yeager’s idea of ending the Titan curse by sterilizing the Eldians is wild, but when you really think about it, it’s not coming from a place of evil. He wants to end the endless cycle of war, oppression, and suffering that has plagued the Eldian people for generations. In Zeke’s mind, preventing future generations from being born into a world of misery is the only way to break the cycle. It’s a harsh solution, but when you consider the constant trauma Eldians have faced, you can see where Zeke is coming from. It’s twisted, but you kind of get it.
3. Meruem (Hunter x Hunter)
Meruem, the Chimera Ant King, starts off as a ruthless, power-hungry villain, seeing humans as little more than food. But as the story progresses, his interactions with Komugi make him question everything. He starts to value life, compassion, and connection in a way that completely flips his character. By the end, Meruem isn’t just some power-obsessed king—he’s someone who wants to find meaning beyond just dominating others. His change of heart makes you sympathize with his journey.
2. Madara Uchiha (Naruto: Shippuden)
Madara Uchiha is a villain you have to respect, even if you don’t fully agree with his methods. His plan to create an illusionary world where everyone lives in peace and happiness (via the Infinite Tsukuyomi) is extreme, but in his mind, it’s the only way to achieve true peace. He’s tired of the endless wars and suffering, and while taking away free will is a dark solution, you understand that his goal is to stop human conflict once and for all. Madara’s vision for a peaceful world—however misguided—is rooted in wanting to end the pain he’s seen.
1. Garou (One Punch Man)
Garou isn’t your typical villain—he’s a guy who’s fed up with the hero society and how it treats “villains” as disposable. He sees the hypocrisy in a world that glorifies heroes while condemning monsters, and he believes that the weak deserve a chance to rise up. Garou’s ideology of challenging the status quo and pushing back against society’s rigid views on good vs. evil is what makes him so compelling. He’s not trying to destroy the world—he’s just trying to make people see things differently. Garou is the underdog in a system stacked against him, and even though he’s on the wrong side of the law, you can’t help but root for him.
In anime, villains aren’t always the stereotypical “bad guys.” Sometimes, they’re characters with genuine motivations who just happen to take the wrong path. Whether they’re fighting a corrupt system, seeking justice for their people, or simply trying to create a better world, these nine anime villains make you think twice about what it means to be a hero or a villain.
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