I am well aware that I have terrible terrible TERRIBLE tastes in anime um…friends…Wait no I don’t mean you guys. I mean the anime characters I like are just not that great. Sure, I love a good hero but my head always turns for a great villain. Or a troll. I can’t seem to resist a Magnificent Bastard. That’s a TV Tropes link, be warned. I looked it up then wasted half my day on the site…
I used to have a hint of discomfort about my obvious lack of discernment when it comes to anime characters. I was afraid people would judge me. I was a little afraid they wouldn’t… I mean – it’s bad you guys.
Luckily, it seems I’m not the only one with a deeply misguided soft spots for attractive jerks . A lot of you guys also have some questionable favourites. This is why I’m so happy to have found you! We are peas in a pod. You and me! It’s also why I feel so comfortable to share this list with you. So let’s all take a second to be mildly horrified at the Top 5ish characters I like which are also terrible people. (please note this is a mere sampling, the full list is way too unwieldy for a post.
There’s a Madoka spoiler lower down – You have been warned!
5) Hisoka (Hunter x Hunter)
Hisoka is one of the most popular characters in Hunter x Hunter so I am obviously not alone in this. I’ve also always had some issue with his status as a villain. Don’t get me wrong, he’s an obvious wacko with some major issues to work on. I am not trying to sell him as a good guy or anything. It’s just that by Hunter x Hunter standards, he’s pretty average in terms of lacking morality. As far as I can tell, the only difference between him and 90% of the characters in the show is that he’s more efficient and more flamboyant.
This said, Hisoka is in fact a very bad person and one you should avoid him at all costs. I still really like him. I will forever be a little angry at him for making creepy clown my type.
4) Kyoya Ootori (Ouran Host Club)
Ouran Host Club is full of sweet if occasionally spirited young men who would all make for perfect company on a lazy afternoon. Sure, they have a bit of baggage but who doesn’t. The important thing is that they are kind people who truly care about others. Well Except for Kyoya.
Of course, I would pick the one guy that is indifferent to the point of hurtful. Kyoya has no issue with manipulating others around him, when not “playing his part”, he is unlikely to spare anyone’s feelings and will even be openly hostile to strangers that just want to talk to him. If it wasn’t for his loyalty to his childhood friends, you could easily have cast him as the bad guy.
3) Akane (Love Tyrant)
I do not like Yanderes. I refuse to like Yanderes. If that’s your thing, well I’m obviously in no place to judge. This said…I kinda like the idea of yanderes. There’s something behind that basic concept that could make for interesting characters, but I haven’t seen that many pull off the archetype satisfyingly. Yeah yeah, you’re gonna tell me Yuno from Future Diary. She has her moments, but it also goes way to far at times (I’ve only read the manga).
Akane on the other hand is just perfect. Somehow balancing out the Yandere with a generous dash of Tsundere made both archetypes better! Oh this girl is a handful! I mean just surviving her is unlikely and if you do, you’ll probably get a barrage of insults thrown your way. Yet, I still think it’s definitely more than worth it. How is that possible? Black magic I recon.
2) Raphiel Ainsworth Shiraha (Gabriel Dropout)
The angels in Gabriel Dropout are all a little peculiar. Sure Gabriel herself is not the easiest person to get along with but any self-respecting demon should really be taking lessons from Raphi.
Not only is Raphi openly sadistic and visibly takes pleasure in the suffering of others, but she will do it all with the sweetest smile on her face. By far the most terrifying character in the series, I couldn’t get enough of her! Every scene Raphiel was in was sure to be exciting and potentially horrible for the other characters.
Honorable mentions
Fafnir (Kobayashi)
See Fafnir would definitely have made the list, if he actually was a bad person. Fafnir talks a big (and occasionally very threatening) game but when push comes to shove, he acts like a sweetheart. In fact, he seems to be considerably less trouble than the other dragons, although occasionally demanding. I would happily have him as a roommate.
Nobunaga (Drifters)
Unlike Fafnir, Nobunaga is unquestionably a bad person. He’s not so much evil as entirely devoid of morals. My issue here is that in the Drifters universe, he’s not only par for the course, he occasionally is the lesser of all evils. You know something has gone very wrong when you are looking to Nobu to save you.
Komaeda (Danganronpa)
I’m not quite sure how much of Komaeda is evil and ho much is just crazy. Part of the charm of this character is that a lot of his misdeeds are driven by what he truly believes are the best intentions. Am I just making excuses because I have terrible tastes in anime boys…mebbe….
Kyubei (Puella Madoka Magica)
Still bestest evil pokemon. I’m going to reserve him for top 5 cutest villains. This was the spoiler! Breathe easy.
1) Izaya (Durarara!!)
Durarara!! has so many fantastic characters. They have all made my favourites list at some point. In fact, it was quite the inner struggle, refusing to admit to myself that my actual favourite is this jerkface. Why? What is wrong with me? Izaya is not even a cool villain or anything, he’s just a plain ‘ol d*. I’ll let you fill in your own d word there. Also, I guess he is a little cool… sometimes…
Yes, the character is supposed to be very attractive, talented and intelligent but let’s face it, he acts like a spoiled brat most of the time. He seems to cause problems for the people around him and carelessly toy with peoples lives just ’cause he can. If it can amuse him for a bit, he will gladly destroy some innocent bystander who put their trust in him.
No wonder he has no friends and his own family generally disregards him. How come I’m the only idiot that hasn’t figured out this guy is bad news? Terrible tastes, tell you!
‘Cmon now, don’t leave me hanging here. I told you mine, now you tell me the horrible characters you can’t seem to hate! I’m not the only crazy one here, I’m sure of it!
Absolutely, I love a lot of awful characters. So to me I tend to like characters who are evil either just to be evil (Deep Sea King), ones who just want a good fight and figure fighting heroes will be more challenging than fighting other villains (Boros) or ones who think they are in the right and cross every line imaginable to prove their point (Ironwood).
I just won’t like a villain if they do something a bit too dastardly or they get too edgy for their own good like the main villain girl in Deadman Wonderland.
But throw me a character like Rachel from Tower of God and I think she’s fantastic. Just the right amount of tormenting everyone to prove that she’s a better person than they are is a fantastic motivation. Like “You think you’re a good person?” *Breaks his leg so the guy starts cursing her out* “Ha, I knew you were just as bad as me!” Like that’s 4D chess right there!
I also like Rachel quite a bit. Beautifully balanced character
I quite like the Phantom Troupe. They view wanton mass murder as an acceptable means to a goal — some members even take delight in the act — but they always put the group’s collective needs above their own. It truly warms the heart, seeing a bunch of outcasts form a makeshift family to call home, and feel deep purpose in protecting one another. Maybe not when they’re psychopaths.
I find myself drawn to smarmy, self-interested politicians — hypocrites who are gifted with both immense charisma & a complete lack of shame. Whether we’re talking about Pariston Hill’s pearly whites & twisted games, or Job Trunicht’s constant pandering in search of status & influence… I enjoy the farcical mismatch between their public personas & true nature. And I don’t mind it when they get their way, evil as they are.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Dio Brando, another manipulative prick with bottomless ambition. Love how frequently he veered from brazenly shit-talking his opponents to begging them for mercy. He’s such a coward deep down. Send him one of your virtual hugs.
You know what they say. Do a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life
Is it right what they say?
I mean, at the end of the days, these are fictional characters, so it’s okay to like them even if they are horrible because they’re just characters and not real people. As long as you can distinguish between reality and fiction
What do you mean. There’s a difference?
There are people who like to “project” fictional characters as real people and say things like “if you like this character, you are so and so” as if they’re real people.
I know, it’s odd
Glad to see Akane get some attention!
She should
I would also add Osamu Dazai into this list. I like him, but that guy is not nice, no matter what anyone says.
Good one.