What would the hero be if it weren't for the villain? For a story to be really interesting, it can't just focus on the forces of good, it also needs to show a core of interesting adversaries. It's no different with anime. There are many characters created to be villains in plots that have made a big impression on otaku due to the extent of their cruelty and their shocking deeds.
In today's article, we've put together the seven cruelest anime villains of all time so that you can remember why they need to be stopped before they can achieve their goals and why they've made such a big impression on viewers. Follow us to find out if your favorite villain is listed among them!
Shou Tucker (Fullmetal Alchemist)
Although Shou Tucker isn't the main villain of Fullmetal Alchemist, he certainly deserves his place among the cruelest anime villains in the world. This guy didn't even need much screen time to earn the dislike of otaku due to the cruelty of his actions.
He was a federal alchemist whose aim was to create a being known as a "chimera" through his studies and he even succeeded in his attempt, but in the most evil way possible. The guinea pigs he used in his research were none other than his wife and his own daughter, a sweet little girl who ends up losing her human form through her father's fault.
Aizen (Bleach)
It's Aizen's level of manipulation that earns him his place among the cruelest anime villains ever made. He spent much of Bleach's plot being presented as an ally, acting as captain of the Soul Society's fifth division, but in the end, the viewer discovers that a large part of the problems faced by the anime's characters had something to do with him.
His main goal has always been eliminate the King of Souls to become the next to occupy his post. He used extremely brutal means to achieve his plans, sacrificing companions and creating brutal experiments in the process. Aizen reached such a high level of power that not even the strength of Ichigo's leading role was able to defeat him alone, requiring the intervention of the character Urahara to seal him away.
Muzan (Demon Slayer)
Muzan is the main antagonist of Demon Slayer and also one of the cruelest anime villains of all time. He is the King of Demons in the story and also the first human being to have been transformed into an Oni. He spends his life transforming other humans into these out-of-control, bloodthirsty creatures.
However, Muzan has a weakness: he is unable to survive in sunlight and his main goal is to find a cure for this. On his journey, he commands the Upper and Lower Moons, who help him in his quest in a very cruel way, exterminating hunters who try to stop him.
Sukuna (Jujutsu Kaisen)
If you follow the Jujutsu Kaisen manga, you'll know that calling Sukuna one of the cruelest villains ever created is a poor description of the extent of his evil. Ryoumei Sukuna is known as the "King of Curses" and he lives up to that title by proving to be extremely strong. In his past, he has annihilated many humans and sorcerers, making no distinction between men, women and even children.
Elimination is fun for him and his main objective has always been to spread chaos. He is currently responsible for several shocking deaths in the manga that have paralyzed the otaku community with every chapter released. He is certainly one of the most striking evil anime villains ever.
Danzou (Naruto)
Throughout all the years it has been in publication, Naruto has presented a very large number of villains, but almost all of them have had some sort of "redemption arc" or justification through the good old "sad past" for their actions, except Danzou. Although he's not a main villain in the franchise, the character is simply one of the cruelest anime villains in existence and has no right to any kind of defense.
Danzou had a few half-baked beliefs that he didn't mind putting above ethics and morals. In his mind, the Leaf Village should come first no matter what the situation. In this way, cruel acts such as the decimation of a whole clan and involvement with shady organizations "for the good of Konoha", even without the Hokage's knowledge, could be used. His dream had always been to have this title for himself and he had waited decades for it.
Griffith (Berserk)
The fight for the gold medal among the cruelest anime villains was complicated and we can say that here we have two characters tied for first place. Griffith plays the role of villain masterfully, having been very well developed throughout the plot of Berserk, but the fact that he is well developed doesn't erase the extent of the cruelty of his attitudes.
Griffith used his companions in the worst possible way, exterminated each one of them, mistreated the character Caska in front of the protagonist and that's just a small part of everything that made him one of the greatest villains in anime. To call him a bastard is an understatement.
Dio Brando (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure)
The second owner of the gold medal among the cruelest anime villains of all time is Dio Brando. The main villain of the entire JoJo's Bizarre Adventure franchise is simply evil incarnate and he was designed by the author to do just that. He's only the main villain in parts 1 and 3 of the anime, but he's mentioned in almost every other part, so important is he to the story.
At the beginning of his career as an antagonist, Dio's goal was to become the richest man in the world, but his goals evolved as his powers evolved. He became a powerful vampire and then an extremely strong stand user. However, when he was still human, he was already doing all sorts of cruel things like kicking dogs, burning them and humiliating people like Erina, the protagonist's love interest, from whom he stole a kiss in the worst possible way. Dio can be considered the worst of the evil anime villains.
Conclusion
Here's a list of the cruelest anime villains ever made, but it's always worth noting that new works are always appearing with villains who are just as evil and deserve honorable mentions. Can you think of any? Let us know in the comments because we want to know what you think too! Enjoy and also check out our article on who the main characters of Yu Yu Hakusho are and the video we've put together especially for you below!
