Wrath, Pride, Sloth, Lust; these deadly sins have many representatives in all forms of media. They are often used as a base for many villainous characters in anime. Some sins are better represented than others, with several series having multiple examples.
There are many complex characters that have these attributes as their foundation as well. A person could slot many characters under these labels, but who among these characters represents these sins the best?
10 Lussuria (REBORN): His Name Is Literally Lust
The Varia assassin from Katekyo Hitman Reborn! is a strong representative of lust. Lussuria is extremely flirtatious and openly sexual in his words and behavior. He's very caring, having his subordinates call him "Big Sis Lussuria," and even has a gleeful personality. All of this is kept up even while fighting, hardly ever breaking out of his usual smiling self. Many things are left as a mystery about Lussuria, including his eyes, but some things are hinted at, if not confirmed by other members of the assassination team.
Lussuria both claims and denies being an okama, and will flirt with anyone. As each member of Varia represents one of the seven deadly sins, Lussuria takes a spotlight in two ways. For starters, Lussuria is Italian for "lust," which is already on the nose. If that wasn't enough, Lussuria's libido doesn't stop once someone's stopped breathing. A truly frightening man underneath those sunglasses and cheeky smile
9 Shunsui Kyōraku (Bleach): Laziness In Peak Form
The captain who would rather be drinking and lying down than fight makes for a great representation of sloth. Even just watching a single scene with him will make viewers wonder how he got to his position in the first place. Laid-back, often napping and even talking casually with both colleagues and people looking for a fight, Shunsui embodies a lazy attitude akin to that of Shikamaru from the Naruto series.
Amazingly, the Arrancar Coyote Starrk, a rival in laziness, and Shunsui, fought each other despite both of them being the type to end things peacefully. Shunsui even went as far as to ask Starrk if they could just pretend to fight instead, being the peace-loving man that he is. This captain has usually been seen drinking sake and eating steamed buns rather than participating in the normal duties he would be obliged to do as a captain. A true sloth through and through.
8 Jakotsu (Inuyasha): Merciless Envy In Combat
The third in command of the Shichinintai, Jakotsu could be thought to be a representation of lust or greed as he flirts with both Koga and Sesshomaru and wanted to take Inuyasha's ears for himself. That would be, of course, if it weren't for his tactics to get what he wants. It's not about desire on its own, rather, Jakotsu wants to make those that have more than him suffer.
His disdain for Inuyasha in particular was shown when he repeatedly cut him in an attempt to make the demon beg. He takes great pleasure in killing men slowly, especially ones he is attracted to, and will either cut them into pieces or end them by beheading them. During his fight with Sesshomaru, he aimed to use Rin as a hostage, displaying his merciless nature. An amalgamation of envy, lust, and wrath in one dangerous package.
7 Xanxus (REBORN): Cruel Punishment
The leader of the Varia is a powerful and merciless assassin. Neither friends nor foes want to upset this dual-wielding villain just from the rumors spread about his treatment of others. He seemingly has no emotion until much later in the series, and even when he does, it's a mild appreciation of his subordinates. Xanxus regularly punishes those beneath him, even for the tiniest of mistakes, by beating them.
He views people as tools; stepping stones to get to where he needs to be, not caring if they sink or follow. He hates everything and nearly everyone, and only really respects the family that the Varia belong to. In true wrath fashion, Xanxus is probably at his worst if he's disturbed while sleeping or eating, like a wild dog.
6 Baraggan Louisenbairn (Bleach): A Literal King With An Attitude
The cocky king of Hueco Mundo is a prideful old man with the entire Arrancar army at his disposal. He's very fit for his age, despite his initial appearance, making him a force to be reckoned with. Strength and abilities aside, Baraggan is a leader who certainly acts as entitled as that position would suggest.
He takes the backline for most engagements and has his army do things for him. He's a strategical man, but one that would rather have his pawns sent out before moving his own piece. Everything is beneath this king, but no one is lower than his enemies. He calls them his ants and refuses to believe he could ever die by their hands. Baraggan doesn't even carry his own Zanpakuto, making his Fraccion carry it instead.
5 Rize Kamishiro (Tokyo Ghoul): A Ghoul With An Appetite
Even if you asked Rize to slow down her consumption, she wouldn't dare listen. Rize is a bored and attractive woman that will lure in many humans for harvest. She doesn't care about leaving enough for the other ghouls, and instead will eat to her heart's content.
This complete disregard for the well-being of anyone else in order to satisfy her cravings is why she is the perfect representation of gluttony. Aimless, feckless, and selfish, she cared only for one thing. This behavior changes in the series, but only after being captured and starved to the point of breaking down. Rize's end story is tragic and is explored in side stories for the manga, but initially, she was nothing more than a vacuum ready to purge humans and satiate her appetite.
4 Greed (Fullmetal Alchemist): He Wants The World
Homunculi in FMA are pretty true to form but defy what fans would expect of an embodiment of sin. Greed in FMA is one such homunculus that is especially different than the rest of Father's sins. When Ed first meets Greed, he's arrogant and demanding.
He knows what he wants, but he also has his own set of rules. He won't harm women or children, but still wants everything the world can offer him. Materialism may sound like an obvious trait for greed, but the homunculus wants more than just money. Fame, status, experience, and everything in between, Greed wants more for his life than what Father promises him. So much so that he openly defies his creator.
3 Yammy Llargo (Bleach): Fighting Is Life
Number 10, or 0, of the Arrancar, Yammy is an absolute monster that only cares about crushing his opponents. He spends all his time either eating or resting until he can meet with more opponents again.
Often completely bored when not engaging in combat, he really only gets excited when facing someone. He doesn't care for anyone or their position apart from Ulquiorra and attacks people without reason. Wrath comes in all shapes and sizes, and for Yammy, that size is large and bloodthirsty.
2 Shikamaru Nara (Naruto): It's A Drag
Possibly the best representation for sloth in any media, Shikamaru wants nothing more than have an "unremarkable" life. Where other ninja train and fight, Shikamaru sleeps. Where other ninja strive to follow in their family's footsteps or have high ambitions, Shikamaru only wishes to live comfortably with hardly anything going on in his life.
He'll do his best to get out of any situation that would need his attention and is very nearly a pacifist in his ideology. His ideals do change, however, but only so that he may live life doing whatever he can so that his children can live however they choose to.
1 Gluttony (Fullmetal Alchemist): "Can I Eat Them?"
Childish and strangely polite, Gluttony displays unique characteristics from the other homunculi in that he doesn't really have a hatred for humans. More so, he likes them because they are tasty, and doesn't fully understand that once something is eaten, it is gone forever.
In the anime, this is displayed best when Dante changes Glutton permanently; unleashing a mindless, pure version of the homunculus that would even attack his siblings trying to eat them. In both adaptations of Fullmetal, Gluttony displays other characteristics, but the mindless version of Gluttony is possibly the scariest and most accurate representation of the extreme side of gluttony.