The best anime villains aren't the evil monsters who are beyond redemption, but those who would be the heroes of their own stories under different circumstances. Though these characters have philosophical, political, and even personal justification, life gave them an unfair hand and this led them down a path of villainy.
Whether it's because of their begrudging villainy or relatable (if skewed) morals, these villains won so much sympathy that they bordered on being anti-heroes. Though they're self-righteous motivations don't absolve them of their atrocities, these anime villains still stand above their contemporaries for being heroic in their own dark rights.
10 Naruto — Zabuza Momochi Couldn't Deny His Humanity
Thanks to his Spartan upbringing, Zabuza was a deadly ninja who suppressed all emotions and free will. Zabuza claimed to be an unfeeling killer, but his stoicism crumbled the more time he spent with his protégé, Haku. Originally, Zabuza told himself that he raised Haku for pragmatic reasons, only to see him as a son.
Zabuza worked as a mercenary for villains to make ends meet and to provide for Haku. He would be an anti-hero in any other anime where he was actually the protagonist. But as fate would have it, Zabuza was one of the first enemies who Team 7 fought, and he died avenging Haku after finally accepting his love for him.
9 Code Geass — Andreas Darlton Fought Nobly For An Oppressive Empire
Not unlike historical colonial powers, the Holy Britannian Empire was a tyrannical and prejudice oppressor. Almost every Britannian in Code Geass carried this hateful mindset, with General Darlton being a rare exception. Despite being a proud Britannian soldier, Darlton saw the Japanese as equals and fulfilled his duties as humanely as possible.
Besides his disdain for the empire's racism, Darlton was also a father figure among his troops and a fiercely loyal subordinate to Princess Cornelia. Like Princess Euphemia, Darlton was one of the few truly just and honorable Britannians, which is what makes his unceremonious Geass-influenced death all the more tragic.
8 Bleach — Coyote Starrk Considered The Espada To Be His Family
Most of the ten Espada are defined by their love of power and bloodlust, but their leader couldn't care less. Despite being the number one Espada, Starrk was more of a slacker than a villainous Shinigami's soldier. That said, there was a lot more to Stark than he let on.
Previously, Starrk was alone because he was so powerful that anyone who came near him literally died. Aizen ended Starrk's (and Lilynette's) solitude by inviting him to the Espada. While he doesn't care for war or grand causes, Starrk fought for the Espada's sake since he knew that the Shinigami would kill them all.
7 JoJo's Bizarre Adventure — Wamuu Fought With Honor Until His Death
Since they obeyed the evil godlike Kars, the Pillar Men were generally arrogant monsters who sought immortality and dominion over mankind. Wamuu was the odd man out, since he put his pride as a warrior above any notions of supremacy. Though he still regarded humans as inferior, Wamuu wasn't above respecting a worthy foe.
Caesar put up such a good fight that Wamuu chose not to undo his dying action (sealing an antidote away in a blood bubble) out of respect, and Joseph Joestar returned the favor by easing Wamuu's death. If not for his loyalty to the Pillar Men, Wamuu would've been a truly heroic warrior who lived and fought honorably.
6 One Piece — Charlotte Katakuri Fought Viciously For His Family
Most of One Piece's villains have their own sincere dreams, and many of these are notably high-minded goals. Big Mom's son Katakuri, meanwhile, didn't have any grand ambitions beyond defending his family. As simple and cheesy as this may sound, Katakuri's love for his siblings didn't reduce how fearsome he was.
Katakuri violently defends his siblings (especially his younger sister, Brulee) no matter what, and he'll kill whoever opposes his family. Despite his ruthlessness, Katakuri is still an honorable fighter who respects enemies who live up to his expectations, and a genuinely loving big brother who won't let anything happen to his siblings.
5 Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann — Viral Gradually Became A Fierce Ally & Hero
One of Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann's biggest twists was that the oppressive Beastmen were actually protecting mankind in their own twisted way. If not for the Beastmen's tyranny, humanity would've been exterminated by the Anti-Spiral. This irony was made explicit by their leader Lord Genome, but the same can be said for his lieutenant, Viral.
Not unlike Lord Genome, Viral was a shonen hero who just so happened to fight for the designated villains. Viral was an honorable fighter who respected rivals like Kamina and later Simon, and he even fought for humanity with Team Dai Gurren in the time skip. Viral started out as a villain, but became the hero he was meant to be in the end.
4 Fist Of The North Star — Raoh Was A Surprisingly Benevolent Tyrant
After nuclear war ended the world, violence was the only law recognized in the wastelands. No one knew this better than Raoh, the self-proclaimed Conqueror of the Century's End who lived up to his moniker by imposing his rule on those he forcibly made a part of his empire. However, some saw Raoh as a necessary evil.
Raoh notably never indulged in petty cruelty and only resorted to violence when necessary, and he ruled his empire with a firm yet fair iron fist. In this post-apocalypse, Raoh was one of the few figures who actually sought to build a future for mankind, but he fell short to his heroic rival, Kenshiro: The Savior of the Century's End.
3 Psycho-Pass — Shogo Makishima Killed Many In The Name Of Freedom
As far as Japanese society was concerned, Makishima was a deadly terrorist. At first glance, the Sibyl System's concerns were justified: Makishima was an uncontrollable sociopath who was literally free of society's control (namely, the Psycho-Pass system). However, the frightening truth is that Makishima was actually right.
Makishima was disgusted with how quickly Japan surrendered its free will to the Sibyl System, and this motivated him to launch an anarchistic rebellion. If not for his willingness to kill innocent people and manipulate many more, Makishima could've been a truly heroic revolutionary who believed in and fought for true human freedom.
2 Elfen Lied — Lucy Used Her Deadly Powers To Protect Kouta
When Nyu was first discovered by Kouta on the beach, she had no recollection of him but felt safe in his presence. As it turns out, the two met when they were children, but they both lost their memories. If Nyu was Lucy's amnesiac and innocent childlike side, Kouta blocked out traumatizing memories of Lucy killing his family.
Lucy's true self resurfaced, but she wanted to turn a new leaf and only use her deadly Diclonius powers to protect Kouta and her newfound family. In brief, Lucy was Elfen Lied's equivalent to a tragically dangerous horror monster. Despite being a deadly killer, Lucy wanted to atone and even died to protect Kouta one last time.
1 Future Diary — Yuno Gasai Killed Entire Worlds For Her Lover's Sake
When Yuno first showed up in Yuki Amano's life to claim ownership of him and literally kill whoever got between them, it seemed as if she was just a hysterical killer. However, when put under a different light, Yuno is actually one of Future Diary's most heroic (if severely misunderstood and tortured) Diary Users.
Yuno wasn't from Yuki's reality, as she really hailed from The First World. There, Yuno failed to keep her lover Yuki alive, and she used her newfound godhood for a second chance to be with him. Contrasted to the more malicious Diary Users and yandere characters, Yuno's love for Yuki is uniquely admirable, yet still irredeemably evil.