When it comes to anime, it's normal for the heroic main protagonist to be the most well-loved character. The story normally revolves around their development and growth, as well as their journey to achieve their true goals while facing hardships presented by villains.
As horrible as villains can be, they're necessary for any story because they help push the hero, giving them something — or someone — to overcome. That being said, villains are interesting characters in their own right and can show great depth. They usually don't just become villains for the sake of it and often have unique personalities that fans find likable. This is why there are several anime villains who are more beloved than the actual heroes.
10 Dio Brando Grew To Be Evil But Shows Kindness To Those Loyal To Him (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure)
While there are numerous memorable and well-loved characters in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Dio Brando, the villain of the series, is by far the most popular, even when compared to the main protagonists.
Dio suffered horribly growing up because of his abusive father, and grew up to be the evil villain seen in the series. However, to those who are loyal to him, he shows a much kinder side. On top of this, he's fierce and formidable, featured in many iconic moments through the series.
9 Hisoka Morow Has A Unique Mindset That Makes His Character Compelling (Hunter X Hunter)
While Gon, the main protagonist of Hunter X Hunter, is a popular and well-liked shonen hero, Hisoka Morow is a villain who many fans love. Hisoka values strength and will spare someone's life if he thinks they can train to grow stronger and battle him again.
He's also a villain who stuns viewers with his deeply sadistic and sociopathic tendencies, as well as his unique way of thinking. When his normally calm demeanor is broken and his emotions are expressed, they are done in a way that's almost comically entertaining.
8 The Many Sides Of Junko Enoshima's Personality Make For A Charismatic Villain (Danganronpa: The Animation)
To many, Junko Enoshima comes across as a bit of an airhead who only cares about fashion, which is true. But there's another side to Junko that makes her so appealing: she has mood swings unlike what most people experience.
Her mood swings allow Junko to switch from a girl with her head in the clouds to someone who thrives on despair and lacks compassion. Even as a villain, she's charismatic enough to earn fans' love.
7 Izaya Orihara Has A Tough Exterior But Fears Letting Emotions In (Durarara!!)
There are many interesting characters in Durarara!! but the one that fans find the most intriguing is Izaya Orihara. He's an information broker who enjoys manipulating people to see how they would react, all so that he can learn more about humans.
Beneath the exterior veneer of a cold-hearted monster, Izaya is actually quite frail; if he were ever shown the power of love or made to experience harsh betrayals, he would snap and fall apart. He's quite funny and interesting and makes the show all the more enjoyable.
6 Johan Liebert Outshines The Hero With His Haunting Beliefs (Monster)
Johan Liebert, the main antagonist of the series, is also the most interesting character in Monster. Throughout his life, he's gone by many different names, using his charm and charisma to influence and manipulate the people around him.
On top of this, he's also a serial killer. His goal is to erase the world of humans and be the last one standing. As the anime continues, this goal changes to him wanting to commit the perfect suicide. The way his mind works leaves viewers with many questions and a haunting curiosity about the memorable character.
5 Sosuke Aizen Betrayed The Soul Society, But Is A Character With Many Layers (Bleach)
Even though Ichigo, the main protagonist in Bleach, does develop as a character over the many seasons, there's one villain who stands out more than him: Sosuke Aizen. In the beginning, Aizen seemed like a kind man who only wanted the best for everyone.
In the end, however, it turns out that he was staging a coup and betrayed the members of the Soul Society all for the sake of power. He's manipulative, cunning, and a fierce swordsman. There's so much depth to Aizen that his character outshines Ichigo.
4 Itachi Uchiha Gave Up Everything And Became A Villain To Protect His Brother And His Home (Naruto)
Naruto may be an amazing hero and one of the most well-loved protagonists in shonen, at least by the end of the anime, but there's a villain who fans can't help but love just a little more. In the beginning, Itachi Uchiha was seen as a coldblooded criminal, and he played his part well.
He did many horrible things, but it wasn't without reason. He did all of it to protect the name of the Uchiha clan, his younger brother Sasuke, and the Hidden Leaf Village. He was a shinobi who gave up everything for those he loved and played the role of a villain to ensure their safety.
3 Vegeta Showed More Depth And Character Development Than The Main Protagonist (Dragon Ball Z)
Goku may be the main protagonist in the Dragon Ball Z series, but Vegeta is one of those characters who everyone grew to love. At the start of the series, Vegeta was a hardened criminal who only wanted to cause death and destruction. He's intelligent and flawed, which helped make his character seem more realistic.
As time went on, his character grew and developed. He also grew to love Bulma and even ended up marrying her. On top of this, he helped protect Earth alongside the heroes he once fought against.
2 Shogo Makishima Is Willing To Cross The Line And Take Action Where The Heroes Won’t (Psycho-Pass)
In a world filled with docile and naïve characters, there's one who stands out above the rest. Shogo Makishima is the main villain of Psycho-Pass's first season and one of the most compelling and intriguing characters in the entire series.
He's intelligent, quick-witted, charismatic, and manipulative, which makes for many enjoyable moments. He also likes to use quotes from books as his mottos to live by, even if they aren't good. Unlike the heroes, Shogo is willing to kill to overthrow an organization that suppresses its people rather than sit back and do nothing.
1 Dilandau's Traumatic Past Left Him With Flaws That Resonate With Fans (The Vision Of Escaflowne)
In The Vision of Escaflowne, the heroes are dynamic characters who many fans like. However, compared to a villain like Dilandau, they pale in comparison. Dilandau is the commander of the Dragonslayers, an elite group of soldiers, and a talented pilot.
Even though he's arrogant, fierce, ruthless, and impulsive, there's another side to him that intrigues fans. Due to his traumatic past, he has an intense fear of being alone, which curtails his desire to cause unbridled chaos. This flaw also makes him seem more realistic and relatable.