7 anime villains who are more iconic than the main characters

Typically, in most anime series, the main character is always the highlight and the most loved character in the story. This is commonly observed in most major series such as Naruto Uzumaki. narutoSon Goku dragon ballLuffy's one pieceAnd Sailor Moon sailor moon Animation among countless others.

Main characters tend to be the most popular in each franchise, but not every series is sustained by its protagonist. Some anime have cliché or underdeveloped protagonists who don't have as interesting a story as other characters. In fact, quite a few anime protagonists have lost their popularity due to some antagonists.

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Ryomen Sukuna

Sukuna Jujutsu Kaisen anime villain is more iconic than the protagonist

  • Anime: Jujutsu Kaisen

  • More iconic than Itadori Yuji

that Do a jujutsu The series is one of the biggest shonen hits of the past few years, thanks to MAPPA Studio's successful anime adaptation. Doing Jujutsu The main character is Yuji Itadori. Yuji is great in his own way, but he doesn't stand out as much as other characters in his franchise. Throughout most of JJK, Yuji lacked flashy abilities or interesting character moments. Thus, the final antagonist of the story, Ryomen Sukuna, became even more iconic.

Sukuna brought JJK to the level of hype he has today through his immense strength and terrifying strength. In Battle for Shinjuku, Sukuna establishes herself as one of the most interesting anime antagonists that almost every capable wizard, including Gojo, must fight. In the years to come, Sukuna will definitely be remembered more than Yuji, despite being the antagonist.

Makima

The villains of Makima anime are more iconic than the protagonists.
Makima smiles even during the day.
Image via Studio MAPPA.

  • Animation: Chainsaw Man

  • More iconic than Denji

Chainsaw Man is a unique shonen series that received a lot of attention, first with the anime season and further with the theatrical release of the Reze arc.

In part 1 Chainsaw ManThe main antagonist is the control demon Makima. Her aura is fearsome, and her brutal tactics have made her one of the most fearsome and intriguing villains of the past few years. Her main character, Denji, is definitely an interesting character. But he doesn't hold a candle to Makima's popularity and current mainstream appeal. Once Chainsaw Man Season 2 airs and Makima's arc is finally adapted, she will undoubtedly gain a lot more traction.

Meruem

Anime villains who are more iconic than the main character
While watching the Chimera Ants episode, Meruem appears lost in thought.

  • Animation: Hunter x Hunter

  • More iconic than Gon Freecss.

that Hunter × Hunter The series is full of incredibly well-written characters under the pen of mangaka legend Yoshihiro Togashi. Togashi has created many interesting characters, and all four of his main characters are undoubtedly great. But his central protagonist, Gon Freecss, is certainly not the show's biggest highlight. Gon is often overshadowed by beings like Killua, as well as some antagonists, most notably Meruem.

Meruem is universally praised as one of the best-written villains of all time. Chimera Ant Arc would never have had the impact it did without Meruem, who served as its antagonist. Despite never meeting Gon face to face, his character shined on its own. This is almost unheard of in shonen manga and shows how iconic Meruem has become.

Who is that character?

Check out the silhouette before time runs out.




Who is that character?

Check out the silhouette before time runs out.

Easy (7.5 seconds) Medium (5.0 seconds) Hard (2.5 seconds) Eternal Death (2.5 seconds)

Dio Brando

Dio Brando Animated villains are more iconic than their protagonists.

  • Animation: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure

  • More iconic than Jonathan Joestar

jojo's bizarre adventure It is a fascinating series with several parts, each with its own protagonist and antagonist. Where it all started jojo's bizarre adventure Part 1 was titled Phantom Blood. The main character of this part was Jonathan Joestar, the son of a wealthy family. Jonathan's family adopted a child named Dio Brando. However, Dio quickly proves that he is in trouble.

Jonathan's story with Dio is very interesting. The two face off in an epic battle of Hamon vs. Vampire. Dio Brando is ultimately defeated, but still gains the upper hand by transplanting his head into Jonathan's body. The latter is Araki's first attempt at a protagonist, and is widely considered to be the weakest protagonist of any JoJo adventure. Meanwhile, Dio Brando is known as one of the greatest antagonists not only of JoJo, but of all of animation. Dio is much more iconic than Jonathan, especially with his return in Part 3: Stardust Crusader.

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Johann Libert

John Monster Animation Villain More Iconic Than the Protagonist

  • Animation: Monster

  • More symbolic than Tenma

monster One of the greatest Seinen anime series. It's the story of Dr. Tenma, a Japanese surgeon working in Germany, who tracks down a serial killer he treated as a child. Tenma has become one of the best Seinen protagonists, and while he's great, he's still not as widely recognized and respected as his antagonist, Johan Liebert.

In anime, especially Seinen, Johan is probably only rivaled by people like Griffith from Berserk. His character writing and ending make him a legendary antagonist that has stood the test of time. That's not to say that Tenma isn't a great protagonist. Rather, Tenma is an absolutely amazing protagonist who Naoki Urasawa develops brilliantly throughout the entire series. However, his influence in the anime community is not as widely felt as Johan, who many would call the face of anime villains, especially in the boy demographic.

Yuno Gasai

Gasai Yuno Mirai Nikki, anime villains more iconic than the main characters

  • Animation: Mirai Nikki

  • More symbolic than Yukiteru Amano

Yuno Gasai is Mirai Nikki series. To many, she represents the face of the yandere character with her psychopathic personality and love for protagonist Yukiteru Amano. Yukiteru is a name that not many people remember, but Yuno has solidified his popularity.

Almost everyone knows who Yuno is, even if they've never seen the series. Many future Yandere characters would also follow her lead. Without her, Mirai Nikki wouldn't be as popular as she is today.

Esdeath

Esdeath Akame Ga Kill anime villain is more iconic than the protagonist.

  • Anime: Akame Ga Kill

  • More iconic than Tatsumi

Many animated series suffer from cliché protagonists. akame ga kill It's one of them. The main character of Akame ga Kill is Tatsumi, and her design, personality, and powers don't make her stand out at all. Although he is the central character, cast members like Akame are also much more beloved by fans. In that sense, Tatsumi is easily overpowered by his series' antagonist, Lady Esdeath.

Lady Esdeath is one of the main reasons for Akame ga Kill's immense popularity. Her ice powers are one of the most iconic abilities in anime, allowing her to freeze time itself. The final battle with Akame is definitely a fan favorite. Tatsumi may have been long forgotten, but Esdeath definitely stole the show.

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