This is a club for those we love to hate; the evil yet somehow appealing bad guys. Like them or not, their stories would be a lot less enjoyable without them. There are the suave manipulators, the troubled psyches, the maniacs who are out to destroy the world, and the tricksters who just want to keep the heroes on their toes. Whatever the category, villains are in a league of their own and should be praised for it!
Here is where anime fans can pay respects to their favorite antagonists, villains, anti-heroes, and the like.
It’s good to be bad.
Welcome!
Club Stuff:
Here are some lovely userbars by member Simbelmyne:
And some banners by milky-manga:
(If you like using Photoshop and want to make userbars/banners/etc. for the club, go ahead and PM me with them!)
Browsing through our character list, you may find some people who you don't believe count as "villains." This is because "villain" is actually a pretty general term. Here is a list of common antagonistic archetypes:
Villain: "A cruelly malicious person who is involved in or devoted to wickedness or crime, or a character in a play, novel, or the like, who constitutes an important evil agency in the plot." These are your general "evil" characters. They aren't intended to get any sympathy from the audience, though the best ones are given nice character development (the only reason we like these guys...is because we're just weird).
Antagonist: “Character in a work of fiction who is against that which the main character or protagonist contends.” Is usually presented as the evil villain, but this is not always the case (such is why you see both Light and L from Death Note on the character relations list; Light is the evil protagonist, L the heroic antagonist).
Anti-hero: “A central character in a story, film or play who lacks the conventional heroic qualities seen in the archetypical hero.” Morally ambiguous, technically fighting on hero’s side but has questionable motives. Sometimes also takes the role of the protagonist. The audience is often meant to sympathize with his character. Tends to overlap with anti-villain, but his intentions can be seen as more admirable. Kingdom Hearts’ Riku is an anti-hero.
Anti-villain: “A character in a film, drama or literary work who pursues undeniably villainous ends, but employs methods that are arguably noble in order to advance his interests.” Opposite of anti-hero, also morally ambiguous but seems to fight on villain’s side or take villain’s role. These are tougher to find than anti-heroes, but a prime example is Michael Corleone from The Godfather.
Archenemy: “The principal enemy of a character in a work of fiction.” As far as the hero is concerned, he is the baddest of the bad. In Final Fantasy VII, Sephiroth is Cloud’s archenemy; they both want nothing more than to see each other dead.
Supervillain: “Whereas superheros often wield fantastic powers, the supervillain possesses commensurate powers and abilities so that he can present a daunting challenge to the hero. Even without actual magical or superhuman powers, the supervillain often possesses a genius intellect that allows him to draft complex schemes or create fantastic devices." The only difference between superhero and supervillain is the characters' intentions. Naruto’s Akatsuki members are supervillains, as well as Pokemon’s Team Rocket.
Dark Lord: “He is often depicted as a diabolical force, and may, indeed, be more a force than a personality. The effects of his rule often assert malign effects on the land as well as his subjects. A Dark Lord is usually depicted as the ultimate personification of evil, and often commits atrocities that make common people afraid to speak their very names.” An obvious example is Sauron from Lord of the Rings.
Mad scientist: “May be villainous, benign or neutral, and whether insane, eccentric, or simply bumbling, mad scientists often work with fictional technology in order to forward their schemes, if they even have a coherent scheme.” Not to be confused with “evil genius.” Any sort of obsessive behavior involving scientific research qualifies a mad scientist.
Evil twin: “Physical copy of the protagonist, but with a radically inverted morality.” Pretty self-explanatory. Diva is evil twin to Saya in Blood+.
Tragic villain: “A character, usually an antagonist, that does not truly intend to be evil. They are perhaps misled or not entirely in control of their feelings and/or actions, or pursuing morally ambiguous logic.” Also known as a sympathetic villain, he is more a victim of circumstance than anything.
Trickster: “The trickster, in later folklore or modern popular culture, is a clever, mischievous person or creature, who survives in a dangerous world through use of trickery.” The trickster is not really evil at all, but more of a nuisance who sometimes has comedic qualities. Nagi Homura from My-HiME is an example of a trickster.
Femme fatale: “An attractive and seductive but ultimately dangerous woman.” Uses her charms to achieve villainous means. Older versions of Catwoman, for example. She can also be more of an anti-heroic figure, like EVA from Metal Gear Solid 3.
Ongoing: MAL Villains Tournament
Round 1
Winners in blue. Match 1 Hollow Ichigo
Mitsuomi Takayanagi Lust
Amshel Goldsmith
Match 2
Yukishiro Enishi
Johan Liebert Ichimaru Gin Hecate
Match 3
Darcia Monou Fuuma Creed Diskenth
Fate Testarossa
Match 4
Dietrich von Lohengrin Kaguya Kimimaro C.C.
Kazutaka Muraki
Match 5 Lucy
Siegfried Sohma Akito
Yoite
Match 6 Kimbley
Stark
Il Palazzo Yagami Light
Match 7 Hoshigaki Kisame
Kirakishou Revy
Hisoka
Match 8 Aion
Seto Kouzaburou
Ladd Kadaj
Match 9 Naraku
Nnoitra
Rau le Creuset Hidan
Match 10 Enma Ai Cain Nightroad
Dakki
Tyki Mikk
Match 11
Marik Ishtar Vegeta
Xellos Kururugi Suzaku
Match 12
Meier Link Aoyagi Seimei
X (Sai) Mello
Match 13
Szayel Aporro Grantz Sesshoumaru Alucard
Hojo
Match 14 Carl
Kanone Hilbert Krad
Barasuishou
Match 15
Orochimaru Ryuk Aizen Sousuke
Sakurazuka Seishirou
Match 16
Vino
Yakushiji Tenzen Road Kamelot Mikami Teru
Match 17 Schneizel el Britannia
Jack Simon Envy
Zepia Eltnam Oberon
Match 18 Zaraki Kenpachi
Alex Rowe Lelouch Lamperouge
Uchiha Sasuke
Match 19 Vicious
Zhijun Wei
Anemone Reno
Match 20 Diva
Sailor Galaxia Sephiroth
Dilandau
Match 21 L
Ophelia
Medusa Kuchiki Byakuya
Match 22 Archer
Tanimoto Natsu
Kanoe Makoto Shishio
Match 23
Zelman Clock Millennium Earl Uchiha Itachi
Jagara
Match 24
Karasu Priscilla Suigintou
Shonen Bat
Match 25
Yuto Kigai Laughing Man Viral
Sakujun
Match 26
Takano Miyo
Neliel
Sasori
Kousuke Asazuki
Match 27 Scar
Yakushi Kabuto Kuroudo Akabane
Count D
Match 28 Deidara
Bankotsu Ulquiorra
Ryuto Asamiya
Match 29
Gauron Kagura
Kougaiji Greed
Match 30
Treize Khushrenada Grimmjow Schuldich
Keith Anyan
Match 31
Knives Millions
Yura Takasugi Shinsuke Momochi Zabuza
Match 32
Anotsu Kagehisa
Rosiel
Suitengu Chouji
Youji Sagan
