In Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy wrote that "respect was invented to cover the empty place where love should be." While there is an integral relationship between affection and admiration, these two emotions aren't always connected. Simply put, people can respect others without loving them, and vice-versa.
This applies mainly to villainous characters, especially when their actions and motivations are unrelatable. Several anime antagonists can be described as morally complicated — they might be self-centered, but they are also true to themselves and their goals. As such, these antagonists invoke a level of respect from the audience that occasionally surpasses even the protagonists.
10 Younger Toguro Redeems His Past Sins By Willingly Walking Into Hell
YuYu Hakusho
Younger Toguro was once renowned for his martial integrity, but a traumatic incident turns him toward the path of darkness. He spends the next several decades as a demon, inflicting his warped logic on a world that justifiably refuses to honor his overwhelming strength.
At the conclusion of YuYu Hakusho's Dark Tournament Saga, Toguro surprises everyone with his secret plan for atonement. Following his death at Yusuke's hands, he gladly walks through the gates of Hell, even after Genkai begs him to reconsider his decision. This act redeems Toguro's past sins, and paints his character in a rather admirable light.
9 Twice & Toga May Be Unrelatable, But Their Loyalty Is Admirable
My Hero Academia
With a couple of notable exceptions, the League of Villains is deeply loyal to Tomura Shigaraki. Twice, for instance, vociferously supports his beloved leader, and Himiko Toga gradually embraces Tomura's vision as her own. Despite their atrocious (and occasionally contemptible behavior) Twice and Toga's friendship is borderline endearing.
They protect and care for each other on physical, emotional, and spiritual levels — a sense of camaraderie lacking in many Pro Heroes. Toga is fully capable of dealing with Twice's volatile personality, whereas the latter brings out her innocent nature. Fans may not relate to these villains, but they certainly respect them.
8 Fans Appreciate Boingo For At Least Trying To Better Himself
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
The Oingo-Boingo brothers are yet another roadblock on the Joestar Group's tumultuous trip to Cairo, and not even an effective one at that. When Oingo's cocky recklessness backfires, the timid Boingo swears to exact vengeance on their enemies. His scheme also fails, but not before demonstrating his incredible fortitude.
In fact, this relatively inexperienced villain would have probably become self-sufficient if Iggy hadn't chosen to beat him senseless. Nevertheless, fans respect this character for learning from his blunders and trying to better himself. That said, Boingo isn't going to show his face anytime soon.
7 Despite His Punk-ish Attitude, Viewers Can't Help But Respect Greed
FMA: Brotherhood
On the surface, Greed considers everyone and everything as his personal property. He refers to his minions as his "possessions," declaring that "killing them is like stealing from [him]." What he doesn't say, however, is that he genuinely loves his henchmen.
As the Homunculus associated with the cardinal sin of avarice, Greed is incapable of distinguishing between desire and devotion. As a result, he often treats them as interchangeable emotions. Greed's ultimate sacrifice not only saves Ling Yao, but also drastically diminishes Father's overall power. Although his punk-ish attitude is somewhat grating, viewers can't help but respect him.
6 Garou's Willingness To Defend His Philosophy Is Genuinely Admirable
One-Punch Man
A former disciple of Silver Fang, Garou takes it upon himself to rid society of its so-called saviors. He truly believes that the Hero Association is a plague that needs to be eradicated, explaining why he proudly calls himself the "Hero Hunter." Garou recognizes the link between heroism and celebrity, ruefully stating that "the popular will win [and] the hated will lose."
Garou's affiliation with the Monster world is perplexing at best. On one hand, he triggers a series of near-cataclysms; on the other, he accurately critiques his enemies' moral failings. The fact that he's willing to defend his philosophy makes him one of the most respectable characters in One-Punch Man.
5 Lordgenome Helps Save Humanity From Cosmic Extinction
Gurren Lagann
The Spiral King Lordgenome looks, thinks, and acts like a villain, but only because he wants to prevent humanity's cosmic extinction. Forced into a corner by the Anti-Spirals, he concedes his limitations and subjects his own citizens to an eternity of subterranean drudgery.
Lordgenome attempts to caution the heroes against the upcoming apocalypse, but they glibly ignore his warning. While his cold-blooded attitude can't be forgiven so easily, the audience eventually comes to terms with Lordgenome's tyrannical choices. This anti-villain ensures the continuity of his species by keeping the world on a tight leash.
4 Tarrlok's Heartwrenching Backstory Illustrates His Kindly Disposition
The Legend Of Korra
In comparison with the peace-loving members of the United Republic Council, Tarrlok prefers to deal with political problems with a show of strength instead of relying on commonsensical diplomacy. This overly aggressive demeanor, not to mention his violent methods, make him a hateful villain.
That said, Tarrlok's heartwrenching backstory highlights his kindly disposition and effectively reframes his character arc. He reveals his fraternal relationship with Amon, illustrating his ethical flexibility. The Legend of Korra's first season ends with a murder-suicide — Tarrlok voluntarily activates an explosion that kills both him and his despicable brother.
3 Kaworu Nagisa's Motivations Are Ambiguous, But His Actions Deserve Respect
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Kaworu Nagisa is simultaneously the Seventeenth Angel and the Fifth Child, a troublesome combination that Shinji finds impossible to digest. Although he technically betrays Shinji's trust, Kaworu has no intentions of hurting his human friend. Since Kaworu's true motivations remain unclear, the fandom is largely unable to determine their feelings toward him.
Some viewers abhor his duplicitous nature, whereas others appreciate his candor and compassion. In the end, Kaworu readily permits Evangelion Unit-01 to squash him like a bug, suggesting that he may actually care about Shinji. Calling this character complicated is an oversimplification.
2 Tier Harribel's Maternal Rapport With The Tres Bestias Highlights Her Commendable Personality
Bleach
Bleach is filled with redeemable villains, such as Coyote Starrk, Ichimaru Gin, Jugram Haschwalth, and Wonderweiss Margela, but none of them command as much respect as Tier Harribel. As the sole female Espada in Aizen's army, she has to constantly prove her worth, especially with toxic fiends like Nnoitra challenging female authority.
The fandom particularly admires the Tres Espada's maternal rapport with the Tres Bestias. Harribel painstakingly protects Emilou Apacci, Cyan Sung-Sun, and Franceska Mila Rose, even if it means putting her own life in peril. Unfortunately, Bleach teases her character arc at the beginning of the Thousand-Year Blood War before inexplicably deleting her from the story.
1 Eren Yeager Acknowledges His Mistakes And Accepts His Punishment
Attack On Titan
Eren Yeager's path is paved with death and devastation. In his zealous eagerness to deliver Paradis from the Titan menace, he enforces the Rumbling and destroys the world. Eren's crimes can never be pardoned — unlike most villains in his situation, however, he openly acknowledges his mistakes and gratefully accepts the punishment he deserves.
Furthermore, it can be argued that Eren isn't in charge of his own destiny. On the contrary, the Attack Titan's "power to transcend time" plays havoc with his perception, trapping him in a loop from which he can't escape. On a bittersweet note, at least Eren succeeds in saving Paradis.