In anime, well-written villains practically carry the series, especially if their nefarious intentions are revealed through a twist. These individuals often start off as protagonists or seemingly virtuous characters before undergoing a shocking transformation that the characters and the audience of the show never see coming.
10 Best Speeches In Anime
We’ve heard several bone-chilling speeches in anime, but these are surely some of the best and the most iconic ones!
Anime likeAttack on Titantakes it to the next level, with twists and turns along every corner that make the show worth investing hours into. But generally, an audience loves a subversion of expectations, and the characters on this list exemplify the thought and great writing that goes into writing a brilliant twist villain.
10Straizo – JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
In Phantom Blood, Straizo was part of the team of masterful Hamon users that set out to help Jonathan Joestar and Will Zeppeli defeat Dio. They all meet up, and in a final confrontation, this team and mainly Jonathan’s drive ends up defeating Dio.
Straizo was a valuable ally of the Joestar family for a long time, even after Jonathan’s death. However,in Battle Tendency, Straizo is getting old and weak and decides that he wants to embrace the power of the stone mask to keep his youth and become a vampire like Dio. His plan is foiled by Joseph Joestar’s genius and mastery over Hamon despite Straizo’s years of training in that art.
9Ryo Asuka – Devilman Crybaby
Ryo Asuka was the deuteragonist of the anime Devilman Crybabyuntil it all changed, and the mood of the anime completely shifted. Ryo Asuka’s character arc is a profound exploration of the fine line between good and evil.
As the childhood friend of the protagonist, Akira Fudo, Ryo initially comes across as an individual who cares deeply for Akira. Just like Akira, fans are also lulled into a false sense of security by Ryo’s charming and protective demeanor right up until his true nature is revealed in a shocking twist.
8Marshall D. Teach – One Piece
Marshall D. Teach, also known as Blackbeard, in the world ofOne Piece, is the definition of a quintessential twist villain. He starts as a mentor figure for the show’s protagonist, Monkey D. Luffy, and gives him advice on piracy while bonding over their shared views on dreams.
10 Most Respected Anime Leaders, Ranked
These anime leaders are sure to leave a lasting impression on you.
Blackbeard’s early depiction as a comrade rather than a foe is an amazing subversion of expectations. Very few expected it to play out the way it did, proving that twists in anime when done well, differentiate between a good anime and an outstanding one.
7Griffith – Berserk
Griffith is perhaps the most controversial figure in anime, polarizing Berserk fans over his actions and whether his decisions were justified or not. After Guts leaves the Band of the Hawk, Griffith makes some impulsive decisions that have him imprisoned and tortured for over a year before Guts and the Band of Hawk members rescue him.
He is physically and mentally destroyed after his rescue, andthe God Hand takes advantage of his vulnerable state, granting him Godlike powers if he sacrifices his friends and the people who saved him. He decides to go for it since he has nothing left to lose and ends up killing almost all his comrades and traumatizing others, officially becoming one of the most hated characters in anime.
6Junko – Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc
Junko Enoshima is the diabolical mastermind behind the sadistic games of life and death in Danganronpa. She initially presents herself as the Ultimate Fashionista, a quirky but seemingly harmless character. Her eccentric and flamboyant personality masks her sadistic intentions.
When she seemingly dies early in the series, nobody thinks much of it until the final twist of the show, where it’s revealed that it was actually her sister who had died, and she was controlling the supposed main villain, Monokuma. We then get to see her title, The Ultimate Despair, building up what’s to come next.
5Eren Yeager – Attack On Titan
When Marley and Paradis were playing Checkers, Eren and his loyal Yeagerists were playing Chess, and nobody was aware of Eren’s plan. His friends suspected he had turned toward Zeke’s plan of the Eldian Euthanization and questioned his judgment, which led to the declaration of war on Paradis and the attack on Marley.
10 Most Manipulative Anime Villains
You don’t want to go up against these villains, they’re the most manipulative in all anime.
But when Zeke and Eren travel through their father’s memories, Eren is revealed to be the true mastermind behind himself, getting the power of the founding titan in the first place. He knew what he had to do, which was to destroy everything and everyone beyond the wall to free Paradis, innocent or not. The slow realization of how the first three seasonswere what built up Eren’s villain arcwas an amazing turn of events, and many people praised Isayama for planning this from the start.
4Sosuke Aizen – Bleach
Another anime villain who was initially a good guy and was the captain of Soul Societies’ 5th squad was Sosuke Aizen from Bleach. Just like some other characters on this list, he fakes his death in order to mask his true plot and work from the shadows until the big reveal, where the main characters, as well as the viewers, are left stunned at the intricacy of his plan.
Sosuke Aizen was the reason Bleach was considered one of the best anime at one pointbecause of how unpredictable his actions were, and his plan was only revealed towards the end of the arcs.
3Obito Uchiha – Naruto
The masked Madara Uchiha had just declared the fourth great ninja war, and Naruto fans speculated whether the man under the mask was actually Madara or someone posing as Madara. When Kabuto reanimated the real Madara, viewers were again confused as to the Masked man’s identity.
When Naruto finally broke his mask during a fight,and the face was revealed to be Obito, we were completely taken aback. Obito was initially the warm-hearted comrade of Kakashi during the previous war and had supposedly died saving him. His transformation from hero to villain is revealed through a series of flashbacks, and you can’t help but sympathize with his cause.
2Gaku Yashiro – Erased
In Erased, Gaku Yushiro is introduced as a seemingly compassionate teacher. His interactions with the protagonist, Satoru Fujinuma, establish him as a guardian figure who genuinely cares for his students. This initial impression makes the subsequent revelation of his true nature as a calculated murderer all the more shocking.
He is revealed to be the main antagonist the entire time, and the innocent façade he built up initially is shattered by the jaw-dropping twist. The contrast between his fake personality and his real one is brilliantly written and keeps the audience constantly on edge.
1The Warrior Candidates – Attack On Titan
The most heartbreaking and casual reveal of theidentities of the Colossal and the Armored Titanwas probably one of the greatest episodes in anime to date. Reiner straight-up confesses their real identities in such a casual way as if it wasn’t the biggest twist of the series yet.
The emotions in this episode were at an all-time high as the scouts slowly realized that their beloved comrades were enemies from the start. The way the scene is written and how it comes out of nowhere is why the warrior candidates are considered the best twist villains in anime by many.
