The realm of anime is absolutely packed with classic heroes and villains alike, from the heroic Son Goku to timeless antagonists such as Madara Uchiha, Dio Brando, Sosuke Aizen, and many more. In some ways, this black-and-white view on good vs evil may remind anime fans of the Star Wars universe, and the eternal clash of the Light Side with the Dark Side.
It's easy to picture classic anime characters either becoming a Jedi Knight or a Sith Lord, and more than a few anime villains are qualified to join the Dark Side and rule the galaxy for all time. They have the ambition, the cunning, the power, and the vision to rule the Dark Side and immortalize themselves as the galaxy's greatest villain. Who could pull it off?
10 Dio Brando, Who Sought Power Above All Else (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure)
Dio Brando was born with nothing except a drunk father, Dario, and a hatred for the esteemed Joestar family. He got himself adopted into the Joestar household, only to exploit George Joestar's trust and tear the family apart from within. He even donned a stone Aztec mask to become a mighty vampire and became Jonathan Joestar's nemesis.
He's got what it takes to become a Sith Lord, that is for sure. Dio is selfish, ambitious, and seeks power above all else, and that's exactly what the Dark Side looks for. Dio is also adept at recruiting and training minions, which is also vital for a Sith Lord.
9 Orochimaru, Who Aspires To Learn All Jutsu (Naruto)
Orochimaru is one of the Sannin, three legendary ninja who were personally trained by Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage. However, Orichimaru sought power and prestige at any cost, putting him at odds with his teammate and indeed, his entire village. He went rogue and began his quest to become the strongest.
Just like Dio, Orochimaru has the ruthless ambition necessary to become a Sith Lord, and the Dark Side rewards those who will betray their friends and consort with forbidden secrets to become stronger. Orochimaru and canon Sith Lords agree that compassion and restraint are self-sabotaging weaknesses. Only power matters.
8 Ex-Captain Sosuke Aizen, Who Sought To Dissolve All Barriers To Greatness (Bleach)
The general rule is that an aspiring Sith Lord must be hungry for power and influence, and that person must realize that compassion, peace, and restraint are merely chains that hold them back. In fact, the Sith Order's creed once said that through strength, chains are broken, and the person can be free. Sosuke Aizen feels that way, too.
Sosuke Aizen is never content with the current status quo. He used the Hogyoku to break down the barrier between Soul Reapers and Hollows to unlock yet more power, then used and betrayed everyone around him to become the god who presides over all creation in the heavens. Even Darth Sidious would be impressed.
7 Father, Who Sought Godhood To Escape His Own Powerlessness (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)
With his glowing red eyes, fancy robes, and ability to transform matter with a touch, the mighty homunculus Father is practically a Sith Lord already. He was once a tiny, helpless dwarf homunculus in the city-state of Xerxes, but he aspired to become much more. He used Van Hohenheim and the Xerxian king to realize his potential.
Father gained a new body and great powers, but he wasn't done yet. The entire nation of Amestris was founded to fuel Father's plans, and he tried to sacrifice every single person there to allow him to become a god for all time. Only a Sith Lord thinks along those lines.
6 Sir Crocodile, Who Sought The Pluton At All Costs (One Piece)
For a time, the villain known as Sir Crocodile/Mr. Zero sought to claim an ancient superweapon called the Pluton, and he incited a civil war in the desert nation of Alabasta to clear the way for his ambitions. He also had the entire Baroque Works organization at his side, and he very nearly won the day against the Straw Hat Pirates.
Crocodile is perfectly happy to manipulate, exploit, deceive, and betray anyone to get what he wants, from Princess Vivi to his own minions, such as Nico Robin. That, combined with his selfish love of power and a ruthless streak, would make him a fine Sith Lord. As a bonus, if he did obtain the Pluton, it could have served as his own Death Star.
5 Princess Azula, Who Wants It All (Avatar: The Last Airbender)
While prince Zuko always had a good side in him that conflicted with his selfish idea of honor, his younger sister, Azula, was a villain through and through. She took after her power-hungry father, Ozai, and scorned Zuko as much as Ozai did. And that's just the start.
Princess Azula loves power and authority, and she is always seeking new ways to dominate the world and reshape it in her own image. She also craftily engineered the downfall of the mighty Ba Sing Se in a brilliant scheme that only a Sith Lord could come up with. Azula sees people as political pawns, an attitude she shares with Darth Sidious.
4 Princess Malty, Who Schemed Naofumi's Downfall (The Rising Of The Shield Hero)
Unlike her noble younger sister Melty, princess Malty is a selfish and deceptive schemer who conspired to have Naofumi Iwatani ejected from the Cardinal Hero squad. Malty and her father, the king of Melromarc, seemed to either not care or not realize that kicking Naofumi out of the hero squad would weaken the kingdom's defenses against the incoming Waves.
A crafty schemer like Malty is the type to fall right to the Dark Side, and what is more, she has a lot to lose: her position as princess. If that position was ever threatened, Malty would consort with a Sith Lord to protect it, then eventually rise to become a Sith Lord herself.
3 Overhaul, The Yakuza Boss (My Hero Academia)
There are a handful of reasons why someone would fall to the Dark Side, or even actively seek it out. Power-hungry individuals who want to dominate the world will definitely appreciate the Sith Code, and people who have a lot to lose are also easily swayed by the Dark Side, which promises quick power to protect those interests.
Overhaul, a crime boss, fits the bill in many ways. He is thuggish, self-centered, and loves power, and if that wasn't enough, he is also afraid to lose his position as Yakuza boss. In fact, he's concerned that the entire concept of crime families might fade away, so he would certainly become a Sith Lord to protect that position of his. He won't let his family's criminal empire crumble apart like that.
2 Jiemma Orland, Master Of The Sabertooth Guild (Fairy Tail)
While the Fairy Tail guild values trust and friendship above all else, the Sabertooth guild is based on weeding out the weak and rewarding the strong. This ideal was embodied in the guild's thuggish master, a certain Jiemma Orland. His daughter, Minerva Orland, felt the same way for a time.
Jiemma is unforgiving and demands excellence from his guildmates, and he is quick to humiliate and dismiss anyone who fails him. This "might makes right" attitude is similar to how Sith Lords see things, and like Sith Lords, Jiemma greatly pressured his apprentice, his daughter, to become powerful at all costs.
1 Mahito, Who Will Use & Discard Anyone (Jujutsu Kaisen)
One of the most powerful cursed spirits of all is the "patchwork curse" Mahito, who has become Yuji Itadori's sworn enemy. Mahito can reshape a person's soul (including his own) and mutate their body to match, an ability that astonishes any sorcerer whom he fights. Not even Nanami could defeat him.
Mahito is playful and funny, but also cruel. He routinely exploits other people or curses and uses them as tools, showing no compassion or mercy to anyone whatsoever. He even lured Junpei to his side, only to mutate him into a curse and send him against Yuji. He's like a Sith Lord in spirit already.