It is conventionally accepted that unlikable anime villains either have a flagrantly sinister or unexplained backstory. This is often used to reinforce the notion that they are evil characters and for the audience to root against them. Additionally, it portrays the hero more favorably even if they aren't particularly noble.

RELATED: Naruto: 10 Anime Villains More Evil Than Madara

Therefore, it may come as a surprise that many of the worst evildoers are remarkably sympathetic when their histories are dissected. By identifying them, we can better rationalize their actions and how they turned into the monsters that harry the heroes in their respective stories.

10 Doflamingo Was Nearly Murdered By A Mob For Circumstances Out Of His Control (One Piece)

One Piece young Doflamingo tied up and crying

After his father denounced the Celestial Dragons and attempted to live as a commoner, trouble wasn't far away. Once the local townsfolk discovered Doflamingo's affluent origins, they burned his manor and used him as target practice.

This was an extremely traumatizing experience that no child should have ever gone through, especially since Doflamingo himself hadn't done anything particularly sinister at the time. It cultivated a resentment of humanity that would spur many atrocities against the kingdom of Dressrosa.

9 Danzo Was A War Veteran Who Struggled With His Cowardice (Naruto)

Danzo young hiding in the bushes naruto

While Danzo remains one of Naruto's most controversial antagonists, he has humble origins. He fought alongside Hiruzen Sarutobi under Tobirama, illustrating a sincere loyalty to the Leaf that spanned beyond personal self-interests.

However, since he hesitated when the Second Hokage made an audacious request, he was overlooked to inherit his mantle as the next leader of Konoha. This made him resentful of Hiruzen and power-hungry to obtain the authority he felt was stolen from him on that fateful night.

8 Shigaraki Became Evil Because No One Was There For Him As A Child (My Hero Academia)

Shigaraki Speaks To All For One MHA

As a child, Shigaraki accidentally murdered his family through the usage of his destructive "Decay" Quirk. Understandably, he was traumatized and alone since everyone feared his power. The only person to pay him any attention was All For One, who intended to manipulate him into being a successor to his criminal empire.

Because the heroes didn't help when he needed them, Shigaraki grew exceptionally petulant and cruel. After All For One's capture, he vowed to destroy society itself. It was an ambition that alarmed even his closest friends.

7 Nui Harime Was Ultimately Just A Life Fiber Creation (Kill La Kill)

Nui Harime smiling in Kill La Kill.

It's easy to take Nui Harime's antics personally due to her deliberately grating presentation. She is openly sadistic and revels in what emotional pain she causes Ryuko Matoi.

RELATED: Kill La Kill: 5 Ways Satsuki Is A Hero (& 5 She's A Villain)

However, it becomes more difficult to incriminate her when considering her backstory. As a life fiber creation of Ragyo, she was literally born to enact her mistress' will and slaughter her opponents. Therefore, it was unsurprising that she would take pleasure in fulfilling her life's purpose, regardless of how twisted it actually was. In the end, Nui demonstrated her values by sacrificing herself to fulfill Ragyo's mission.

6 Magath's Bigotry Was Explained By A Justified Fear Of Eldians (Attack On Titan)

Attack On Titan Theo Magath

Theo Magath embodied everything wrong with Marley. He was brutal, bigoted, and often excessively discriminatory to denizens of the Eldian internment zone. Although he treated his warriors with care, it was difficult for him to see them as equals until near the time of his death.

For all of Magath's prejudice, however, his fear of Paradis was ultimately justified. When Eren initiated the Rumbling and eradicated Marley without a trace, every preconception about his people was validated.

5 Azula Was Neglected By Her Father & Given Impossible Expectations (Avatar)

Azula smirking Avatar

As the Fire Nation Princess, Azula had massive expectations to fulfill in order to prove herself a worthy successor of her father's mantle. This was especially true since Zuko ultimately shirked his duties to capture the Avatar and later even joined him.

RELATED: Avatar: 5 Similarities Between Zuko & Azula (& 5 Differences)

Despite being ruthless toward allies and enemies alike, Azula defended Ozai's palace with every ounce of her strength even though she was denied an opportunity to join his conquest during Sozin's comet.

4 Doctor Londes Was Treacherous But Understandable (Cowboy Bebop)

Doctor londes from his monitor

Scratch was a religious movement founded and televised by Doctor Londes. Given that the villain attempted to prey on the gullible and even captured Faye Valentine, he had very few redeeming qualities.

However, it was later revealed that Londes' real body was catatonic. Therefore, the cyber world was the only thing that he had known for an extremely long time. While it still doesn't justify his motives, they no longer seem as bad as those of a real-life cult.

3 Dio Came From Poverty & An Abusive Family (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure)

Dio meets jonathan for the first time JoJos

After the unexpected death of his father, Dio was invited to the Joestar estate to live as a permanent resident. Given that he had been raised in poverty by an abusive father, his perspective about life had already been jaded by the time he arrived.

Considering Dio's subsequent actions, he cannot be viewed as sympathetic regardless of his origins. Not only did he make Jonathan's life a nightmare, but he also poisoned his own adoptive father in hopes of claiming his inheritance. Speedwagon later commented that Dio was destined to be a monster whether or not he came from poverty.

2 The Emperor Was Manipulated As A Gullible Child (Akame Ga Kill!)

The Emperor scowling Akame ga Kill

The Emperor was the child responsible for his peoples' suffering. He lived in ignorance behind castle walls and ignored any attempts to reach him before a full-scale revolt came into full swing.

However, he cannot entirely be blamed for his irresponsibility. After his parents mysteriously died while he was still young, Minister Honest became the only person he could rely on. Unfortunately, the Emperor was so blindly obedient to Minister Honest's "advice" that he drove his own kingdom into the ground and got himself executed.

1 Envy's Spitefulness Was Driven By Insecurity (Fullmetal Alchemist)

envy grinning from fullmetal alchemist

Envy was one of the most openly vicious homunculi Edward Elric and his comrades encountered. He constantly gloated about his brutal victories and took particular pride in the murder of Maes Hughes.

However, his disposition was only a front for how he desired what humans had. When put at Roy Mustang's mercy, he cried pitiably and finally confessed to his desires. As a direct manifestation of Father's sin, Envy could not help but scorn humans and was therefore only somewhat accountable for his actions, as Greed proved that it was possible to overcome a homunculus' inherent nature.

NEXT: Fullmetal Alchemist: 5 Ways The Homunculus Were Strong Villains (& 5 They Fell Short)