An anime's characters need to be absolutely top-notch, unique, and memorable so that the show they're featured in achieves great heights in quality. This is easier said than done, but there's no denying that many successful anime have managed to deliver on this promise. Some heroes in anime are especially notable for elevating their respective shows due to their immense charisma, but the protagonist isn't always the main source of entertainment in this dynamic.
After all, there are times when a villain can be just as memorable as the hero, if not more! The following characters are known for being some of the most enjoyable villains in anime history, mainly due to their immense charisma which absolutely oozes out in almost every scene that they're featured in.
8 Dio Brando (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure)
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is one of the most popular anime of all time. The sheer number of wacky characters and mind-bending plots are hard to comprehend, with some fan-favorites returning for various arcs in this generational shonen series.
Out of all the antagonists that have appeared in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, not many have reached the same iconic heights as Dio Brando. This blonde vampire is in a class of his own, with his amazing VA work and astounding powers turning him into one of the most recognizable faces in the entire series.
7 Sosuke Aizen (Bleach)
Aizen's betrayal at the end of the Soul Society arc made for a great ending that set the building blocks for the later story arcs in Bleach. While the show's quality itself might've fluctuated quite a bit, there can be no denying that Aizen remained a pretty popular and intriguing villain throughout the show's run.
It's easy to see why Bleach's audience dipped after Aizen was defeated in a truly humiliating manner by Ichigo. It was especially grating since Ichigo is easily one of the blandest characters in Bleach, and watching him destroy the one thing that was keeping this sinking ship afloat was just downright painful to many fans.
6 Griffith (Berserk)
Berserk is one of the greatest manga ever made. Some of its anime adaptations might've been great in their own right too, but nothing beats Miura's fantastic artwork that will take anyone's breath away.
The main antagonist of Berserk is Griffith, who is one of the most complex and interesting antagonists around. Watching him as the charismatic leader of the Band of the Hawk was incredible... and a major reason why his sacrifice of his closest friends was such a horrible move that corrupted his morality for good.
5 Yoshikage Kira (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure)
Diamond is Unbreakable is considered by many to be one of JoJo's best arcs. The focus on the disturbances in a small town caused by a wave of serial killings makes for a great time with the plot being as focused as ever.
Morioh feels like a lived-in place, with Josuke and his friends being an extremely likable cast of characters as well. However, it's the serial killer Kira who steals the show with his charismatic presence. His death might've been pretty brutal, but Kira's influence is something that will remain long after JoJo's Bizarre Adventure ends its run.
4 Vegeta (Dragon Ball Z)
Nowadays, Vegeta is pretty much Goku's pal, with the two Saiyans being great rivals who push each other to new heights. However, there was a time when Vegeta was nothing more than a power-hungry Saiyan who never failed to present his unending pride for everyone to see.
Given how much of a cookie-cutter protagonist Goku was, Vegeta felt like a breath of fresh air. Fans were glad that he became a part of the main cast, especially since many people consider the Prince of all Saiyans to be their favorite character in the series.
3 Orochimaru (Naruto)
Just like Vegeta, Orochimaru has gone through his fair share of growth over the course of Naruto. This slithering antagonist brought a ton of destruction to the Leaf Village and forced them through a series of grueling events that led to the death of the Third Hokage.
Given how infectious his personality was, it's easy to see why everyone absolutely loves Orochimaru. His tutelage of Sasuke helped the Uchiha grow into a powerful warrior, before leaving his master in the dust to pursue his quest of killing Itachi and getting revenge for the Uchiha genocide.
2 Eren Yeager (Attack On Titan)
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There's no denying that Season 4 of Attack on Titan has turned Eren into a bonafide villain. He's also a villain that has single-handedly turned Attack on Titan on its head while becoming the most intriguing character in the entire series.
Eren's charisma doesn't involve him having a way with words or having a great personality. Instead, it's his resolve that is so incredibly strong that people can't help but believe and buy into his view of the world, no matter how warped it might be.
1 Yuno Gasai (Future Diary)
Yuno Gasai is easily the most popular tsundere character in anime history. This character is in a class of her own, turning from an obsessive stalker into a control freak whose tendency towards murder was a bit too flippant.
That being said, her character was still shown in a sympathetic light near the end of the series, regardless of the heinous actions she'd performed. It's clear that there's more to Yuno's character than first meets the eye, with Future Diary becoming a memorable watch simply because of her infectious personality.