Besides the protagonists, villains are often some of the most significant characters in an anime. They initiate the character growth of heroes and are sometimes even relatable and likable. Even the most ruthless villains can experience transformations that make fans almost sad to see them go, like Meruem from Hunter x Hunter.
Comparatively, there are just as many anime villains without likable qualities who fans are ready to see defeated. These characters can be significant villains like Naraku from Inuyasha who are present throughout the series or annoying and obstructive like Tonka from Hunter x Hunter. Fans can thank characters like these for making the protagonists look so good.
This article mentions abuse and sexual assault.
10 Naraku Uses Others Like Puppets (Inuyasha)
From the beginning of Inuyasha, Naraku is introduced as a puppet master. Part of the reason he is such a challenging antagonist is that he is rarely ever present in battle and is instead pulling the strings of live puppets from a safe place nearby. He also takes advantage of others by using shards of the shikon jewel to keep characters alive who would otherwise be on their last breath, like Sango and Kohaku.
Similarly, Naraku uses Kagura throughout Inuyasha for his own dark bidding and promptly disposes of both her jewel shard and her life when she is of no longer of use to him. While it's common for villains to have little to no remorse for the protagonists and opposing characters, Naraku's disposal of his fellow villains and kin like Haukodoshi in the final seasons is emblematic of an antagonist without honor.
9 Shiapouf Is Disloyal To His Own King (Hunter X Hunter)
Among the three royal guards in Hunter x Hunter, the talent and strength shared between Neferpitou and Menthuthuyoupi are hard to match. Shaiapouf, however, relies solely on psychological games and manipulation to benefit the royal guard and primarily himself. His idealized vision and expectations of the King cause him to side against logic and let himself be steered by child-like emotions that impair the growth of the royal guard as a whole.
When Meruem starts to feel a connection with Komugi and begins to change, Shiapouf goes to extreme measures to eliminate her completely. He tricks and betrays his king and sole purpose for existing, even though full transformation from Meruem before could have spared the entire human race.
8 Enmu Is Manipulative In Both Lives (Demon Slayer)
Before being turned into a demon by Muzan, Enmu from Demon Slayer used his hypnotic talents to scam dying patients for his own purposes. His twisted personality translates into the afterlife when he is turned into a demon and watches his comrades being slaughtered by his leader. Rather than overcome with fear, Enmu revels in the blood of his allies.
Enmu's power is also quite dishonorable. For many of the characters in Demon Slayer who have experienced trauma and tragedy, their dreams and subconscious are the only places to find solace. Enmu uses that vulnerability to make their last moments in the dream realm as agonizing as possible.
7 Nora Uses Her Innocence to Disguise Her Greed (Noragami)
Nora from Noragami is first viewed as an innocent child who wants to help her god Yato. However, fans quickly find that her insecurities lead to irrational and harmful actions like trying to kill other shinki like Yukine because he threatens the attention and space that is left for her.
Nora's greed and desire for Yato begin to overflow into dangerous territory. She attempts to kill Hiyori for capturing Yato's attention and softening his hardened exterior created by his past. Her character flaws reflect her appearance of an emotional child needing validation. But unlike a small child, Nora's gifts yield great power that can bring destruction and pain, a fact that she is well aware of.
6 Tora Is A High School Girl's Worst Nightmare (Maid Sama!)
Tora Igarashi from Maid Sama! is the type of guy most teenage girls are warned about. He is introduced as deceivingly charming, but he has hidden intentions that are soon revealed. Tora uses his leverage as president of a private elite high school to offer a fake education opportunity to Misaki and deceive her into her maid uniform and attempt to assault her sexually.
Tora's arrogance and wealth give him the sense of entitlement that encourage his irrational and aggressive behavior. While Misaki and Usui are powerful protagonists who are hardly shaken, Tora is a consistently annoying male chauvinist who causes trouble for anyone involved with him.
5 Akira Is Obsessed With Power (Assassination Classroom)
Akira Takaoka from Assassination Classroom is the type of villain who is written so well that seeing him on screen makes viewers instantly outraged. Akira is a power-obsessed and insecure former military member so threatened by the assassination skills of junior high school students that he attempts to gain respect and control by physically abusing his students and using fear to control them. Of course, this backfires and creates a more sinister villain out for revenge and blood.
Akira revels in making the E Class so filled with rage they turn into something of his hateful creation. Fortunately, Korosensei is an unmatched mentor who has given his students the tools to face the Akiras in the world.
4 Ren Sohma's Hate Creates A New Villain (Fruits Basket)
While Akito's appalling treatment of her family members has no justification, it becomes more apparent as Fruits Basket progresses where her behavior stems from. Ren Sohma is a bitter villain filled with jealousy from the beginning of her pregnancy with Akito. Fans first see her crying about the very existence of her and Akira's child while he is overwhelmed with joy to bring life into the world that blends the two of them and their love.
After Akira's death, Ren's treatment of Akito becomes even more torturous and excruciating to watch as viewers see an insecure parentless child transform into a villain herself. The way Ren's hate bleeds its way into every member of the Sohma family is very telling of its strength.
3 Tonka's Consistency Is Annoying (Hunter X Hunter)
The fact that Tonka lives for as long as he does in Hunter x Hunter tells fans how insignificant he is, but this does not stop him from attempting his hindering schemes. While he is mostly harmless — especially compared to a character like Neferpitou who risks her life for her king — Tonka lacks any sense of honor.
Tonka's only goal is to bring his competitors down, even if they are children like Gon and Killua when they first enter the Hunter Exam. It becomes apparent that Tonka doesn't even necessarily want to win or excel at anything, but rather just wants others to lose. There is not an ounce of honor that can be found in this character.
2 Soo Woon Betrays His Childhood Friends (Yona Of The Dawn)
In Yona of The Dawn, Soo Woon is introduced as Yona and Hak's best friend and Yona's love interest. Not only is he well-liked, but he is also respected and admired for his innate kindness, gentleness, and vulnerable nature. However, the season does not progress for long until viewers see Soo Woon's true colors when he murders Yona's father, a king who is also loved for his kind and soft nature.
Fans see the effects that Soo Woon's actions have on both Yona and Hak as they battle with the trauma of losing their best friend and the feelings of deceit and betrayal. Soo Woon continues to overtake the kingdom at the expense of anyone who stands in his way.
1 Master Swan Is The Most Punchable (Spy X Family)
In Spy x Family, Twilight anticipates his family will be thoroughly tested for the entrance exams of Eden Academy. However, he doesn't anticipate Master Swan's verbal abuse in place of asking pertinent questions. Anya quickly discovers telepathically that Swan despises happy families in light of his own envious nature, and the punches keep coming.
The family is able to tolerate Master Swan's ill-treatment until he fires assumptions toward Anya about her mother, resulting in tears. While Twilight barely reels in the rest of his composure and punches a table instead of Master Swan, fans are thrilled to see the head chairman sock it to him behind closed doors.