Eric's list of top 10 anime villains

By Eric
24th May 04

I noticed a glaring omission of these lists on the web, so it is my honor--no...No!--my duty to fill this gap. Also, I'm rating characters, not shows. Some villains on this list were from shows I liked a lot, but still scored lower than villains from some shows I didn't like as much.

Oh, and watch out for spoilers!

10) Zenigata from Lupin III
Okay, maybe this one's more an antagonist than a real "villain," but he must still be noticed. Team Rocket may have popularized the blundering oaf roles, but Zenigata is where it all started. He's not bad at his job, to be honest, but Lupin is simply too crafty and is constantly making a fool out of him. Yet he continues to chase after him. That's determination. He'll get Lupin...he'll get him if it's the last thing he ever does! That wascally wabbit!

9) Majin Buu from DragonballZ
Whether you like DBZ or not, you have to admit that it's pumped out some crazy villains. First a white and purple alien, then a giant bug-like fellow, then a pink, regenerating blob of magic. How many other villains will dance around, eat candy, then turn around and have sadistic fun while they kill you? How's that for originality? Not only that, but he sure was a fighter. For the longest time he just refused to stay down.

8) Meier Link from Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust
Meier isn't really a bad person. He's just a poor little vampire who wants to live in peace with his human lover, but the other humans won't stand for that. Oh no, they have to hire D to take her away from him. Of course he's going to get violent when he's provoked like that! Meier was a malicious fighter, but he still proved that a vampire could actually be just as human as everybody else. His devotion to his lover runs so deep that he even steps out into the sunlight in an attempt to save her.

7) Sesshoumaru from Inu Yasha
Hope I spelled that right. Sess gets on here for pure badass value. He fills out a much needed role, since we all know Inu Yasha wasn't going to do that himself...man, what a whiner. Sometimes it's hard to believe the two have any relation at all.

6) Tetsuo from Akira
We've all been Tetsuo at one point, and if you weren't, chances are you were one of those assholes who made the rest of us into Tetsuo. We were the guy who was picked on, underestimated, felt sorry for...And we hated it. Apparently, so did he, or else he wouldn't have gone on a homicidal rampage once he got his incredible psychic powers. C'mon...you all wish you could be in his situation just once. Well, everything except for the horrible mutation.

5) Ashram from Record of Lodoss War
Ashram is a confused individual. He has good intentions, but questionable methods. He wants to fulfill his emperor's wish to conquer all Lodoss...but isn't conquering a territory the same as uniting it? He wants what's best for his people, and he'll cut a bloody path for their own good.

4) Vicious from Cowboy Bebop
He is perhaps the only person in the mafia to still use a sword. And he's good with it. In his world, only the strong survive, and if you're not among them then you're just a worthless waste of food not fit to be left alive. Oppose him and you'll be slain in a very bloody fashion. For crying out loud, his NAME is Vicious! And Vicious loves violence..

3) The MacDougall Bros. from Outlaw Star
A lot of you might disagree with me here, but this is my list and I can put what I want! They're mercenaries who will do anything for money and will use any dirty, rotten trick to get what they want, no matter how slimy or low it is. Good thing that Gene Starwind also likes to fight dirty, eh? And Harry in particular is twisted, constantly pining for his enemy's love interest. They're using dirty tricks AND trying to steal his woman? Now that's low.

2) Kagato from Tenchi Muyou!
I refer to the Kagato who owned the Soja, not the Jurain Kagato. Though his appearance was short lived, he was just about the coolest thing since Darth Vader. His invisible body, light sword, white hair, cool glasses, and even his theme song were all pure evil. Nobody can behold Kagato in all his insane glory and say he's not a true evil mastermind. Brilliant and powerful, it's a deadly combination. Plus, he is partly responsible for Ryoko. That alone boosts him up in my book.

1) Legato Bluesummers from Trigun
Legato is my number one villan. With a sinister fashion sense and the ability to screw with both your mind and your body, he exists only to kill you and all your loved ones. He takes a perverse joy in torturing Vash, from planting violent images of children being killed in his mind to forcing Vash to shoot him in the head, thus ending Vash's pledge to never take a life. If you annoy him, he'll make you kill yourself and everyone you hold dear with your own hands, all while he enjoys a nice sundae or tiramisu. You are vermin, and Legato is determined to obliterate all vermin.

-- Eric 24th May 04