10 Anime Villains Fans Never Stopped Debating

Anime villains often spark heated debates that never seem to end. Fans constantly argue about their reasons for doing what they did, who’s to blame, and—often frustratingly—which characters are the most powerful. Just as common are discussions about whether a villain’s actions had any justification or if they deserve our understanding.

Certain characters consistently spark debate within fan communities, even years after their stories end. This is because there are always fresh perspectives to consider, and fans often disagree about whether a complex, morally gray character is truly evil or simply an anti-hero whose actions are understandable, if not justifiable.

Frieza Is Always At The Center Of Powerscaling Arguments in Dragon Ball Z

Frieza, like many characters from Dragon Ball Z, is a frequent topic of debate among fans who try to precisely rank character strength. People constantly discuss how strong Frieza is within the Dragon Ball series, and often compare him to characters from other shows and games to see how he’d fare in a fight. His power level is a common point of discussion when considering the overall strength scale within the Dragon Ball universe.

Frieza immediately established a very high power level when he appeared, far exceeding that of any other character at the time. While this created exciting challenges for the heroes, it also caused some inconsistencies in the storyline.

Enrico Pucci’s Obsession With Dio Has Sparked Shipping Wars

Enrico Pucci is a controversial character in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. Many fans feel his actions in the final arc of Stone Ocean were overly convenient, suggesting the author, Araki, was determined to conclude that particular JoJo storyline.

Another point of discussion about Pucci is his strong focus on Dio. Dio is a very compelling villain in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, making his plans easy to understand and even support. Pucci, however, took this further, becoming completely dedicated to Dio’s goal of reaching Heaven. Fans disagree on whether Pucci’s devotion stemmed from romantic love, or if Dio simply used him as a tool to achieve his own aims.

Muzan’s Writing Leaves Something To Be Desired in Demon Slayer

Many fans feel Muzan negatively impacts Demon Slayer‘s overall story due to weak writing. His subordinates are often more interesting characters, and while Akaza is known for his striking design, Muzan is mostly remembered for simply resembling Michael Jackson.

Muzan, the main antagonist in Demon Slayer, is driven solely by his desire to be able to walk in sunlight. However, this goal isn’t particularly engaging and doesn’t add much tension to the story. While some fans believe he could have been a truly great villain but wasn’t fully developed, others feel he held back the plot and wasted opportunities for compelling storytelling.

It’s Easy for JJK Fans to Sympathize With Suguru Geto

Suguru Geto is a deeply tragic figure in Jujutsu Kaisen. While his actions are undeniably terrible, many fans find themselves understanding how he became a villainous leader responsible for mass murder. The Hidden Inventory Arc especially helped to show Geto’s humanity and explain his path.

After developing a deep hatred for ordinary people, Geto abandoned his desire to protect the vulnerable. While his actions in Jujutsu Kaisen are inexcusable, the problems within the jujutsu world itself created the conditions that ultimately turned Geto into a villain.

Dabi’s Upbringing Overshadows His Actions in My Hero Academia

Dabi is a popular character in My Hero Academia, and many viewers understand how his difficult past – including abuse from a well-known hero and abandonment by a father figure – led him down a villainous path. Interestingly, Shoto experienced similar abuse, but chose a different route. Instead of becoming a villain, he worked to overcome his father’s mistakes and become a great hero.

Some people sympathize with Dabi, seeing his actions as a justified response to the harm inflicted upon him and others. Others strongly disapprove of what he did, but still recognize that he had a difficult childhood and deserved better treatment.

Makima’s Looks Take Precedence Over Her Grooming of Denji in Chainsaw Man

Makima from Chainsaw Man is very popular, but many fans seem drawn to her appearance. While she’s a well-developed character, the romanticization of her by the fandom feels off-putting considering how she treated Denji in the first part of the series. As the Control Devil, Makima is naturally manipulative, and she callously exploited Denji’s vulnerability and unhealthy ideas about relationships.

A common joke among fans of Chainsaw Man is that some people misunderstand the story so badly it’s like a “Reading Comprehension Devil” is still at work. This became even more apparent after the anime increased the manga’s popularity, with many fans questioning whether they could change Makima’s fate if given the opportunity.

Itachi Uchiha’s Illness Feels Contrived In Naruto

Many fans of Naruto appreciate Itachi Uchiha as a complex and well-written character. His death at the hands of Sasuke felt fitting, and he remained powerful without being overwhelmingly so. Throughout most of the series, Itachi appeared nearly invincible, and his health likely suffered due to constant chakra use and immense stress.

It always seemed likely Sasuke would eventually defeat Itachi, but the idea of Itachi being sick felt overdone. We’ve seen this trope many times before – a powerful villain weakened by an unexplained illness or curse.

Fans Can’t Decide Whether Code Geass’ Lelouch Is a Villain or Anti-Hero

Lelouch from Code Geass is a truly captivating anime hero. While similar to Light Yagami in Death Note, Lelouch faced consistently intense challenges, and his story felt more complex and layered than many other morally ambiguous characters. Fans still debate whether his choices were purely evil or if he was a genuine anti-hero.

Some fans of Code Geass believe Lelouch is a truly selfless hero, particularly because of his final sacrifice. Others, however, view that same sacrifice as selfish, suggesting it was driven by a desire to be seen as a martyr.

Hisoka Makes Hunter X Hunter Fans Uncomfortable

Hisoka from Hunter X Hunter is a character who often unsettles viewers. His unusual appearance as a jester and unsettling demeanor are hard to miss. While some fans appreciate his incredible power and Nen skills, considering him one of the strongest fighters in the series, others find his villainous side disturbing, particularly his interactions with Gon and Killua. His mannerisms, like licking his lips while watching Gon fight, are definitely strange and unsettling.

The situation is particularly troubling when considering moments like Hisoka’s intense focus on Gon and Killua as they walked. While some fans argue Hisoka is simply attracted to strength, regardless of the person, and acts on instinct, others find his constant presence throughout the series deeply unsettling.

Eren Yeager Committed Genocide in Attack On Titan

Eren Yeager from Attack on Titan will likely be a controversial and much-discussed anime villain for years to come. His turn to darkness wasn’t sudden; he suffered immense pain from the Titans and the people of Marley. Driven to take control of his fate, Eren unleashed The Rumbling, a devastating event that eliminated 90% of the world’s population.

Those who support Eren point out that the people of Paradis were trapped inside walls for generations, unaware that Marley was controlling them. When they finally broke free, they discovered Marley intended to wipe them out. From their point of view, Eren was right to do what he did because Paradis had no other way to defeat an oppressive and hateful government. However, others find his actions unforgivable, arguing that genocide is always wrong and that Eren ultimately became the very thing he fought against.

2026-01-31 03:12