7 Anime Villains More Iconic Than The Protagonist

Typically, in most anime series, the main character is always the highlight, standing as the most beloved character of the story. This is commonly observed with most major series, such as Naruto Uzumaki from Naruto, Goku from Dragon Ball, Luffy from One Piece, and Sailor Moon from the Sailor Moon anime, among countless others.

While main characters tend to be the most popular from their respective franchises, not every series is held up by its protagonist. Some anime have stale or underdeveloped protagonists that simply don't have as interesting stories as other characters. In fact, quite a few anime protagonists have been beaten in popularity by some of the antagonists.

Ryomen Sukuna

• Anime: Jujutsu Kaisen
• More Iconic Than Yuji Itadori

The Jujutsu Kaisen series is one of the biggest shonen hits of the last couple of years, thanks to the successful anime adaptation by MAPPA Studio. Jujutsu Kaisen's main character is Yuji Itadori. While good in his own way, Yuji doesn't stand out as much as other characters from his own franchise. Throughout most of JJK, Yuji lacked flashy abilities or interesting character moments. As such, Ryomen Sukuna, the final antagonist of the story, became far more iconic than him.

Sukuna, through his sheer strength and terrifying power, brought to JJK the level of hype it has today. In the Shinjuku Showdown battle, Sukuna cemented himself as one of the most exciting anime antagonists that needed to be fought by pretty much every capable sorcerer around, which included the likes of Gojo. In the upcoming years, Sukuna will definitely be remembered even more than Yuji, despite only being an antagonist.

Makima

• Anime: Chainsaw Man
• More Iconic Than Denji

Chainsaw Man is a unique shonen series that has garnered a lot of attention, first with its anime season and then even further with Reze arc’s theatrical release.

In Part 1 of Chainsaw Man, the main antagonist is the Control Devil, Makima. Her aura is terrifying, and her brutal tactics make her one of the most fearsome and intriguing villains of the last few years. Her protagonist counterpart, Denji, is definitely an interesting character; however, he doesn't hold a candle to Makima's popularity and current mainstream appeal. When Chainsaw Man Season 2 airs and Makima's arc is finally adapted, she will undoubtedly gain even more traction.

Meruem

• Anime: Hunter x Hunter
• More Iconic Than Gon Freecss

The Hunter x Hunter series is full of incredibly well-written characters, all under the pen of mangaka legend, Yoshihiro Togashi. Togashi has crafted many interesting characters, and his four main characters are all undoubtedly incredible. However, his central protagonist, Gon Freecss, is definitely not the biggest highlight of the show. Gon is often overshadowed by the likes of Killua, but also by some antagonists, notably Meruem.

Meruem is praised all over as one of the best-written villains of all time. The Chimera Ant Arc would have never had its impact without Meruem, who stood on his own as an antagonist. Despite never even meeting face-to-face with Gon, his character was able to shine on its own. This is almost unheard of in shonen manga and goes to show how iconic Meruem has become.

Dio Brando

• Anime: Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure
• More Iconic Than Jonathon Joestar

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is a captivating series that spans over multiple parts, each with its own main character and antagonist. The part that started it all in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure was Part 1, titled Phantom Blood. In this part, the main character was Jonathan Joestar, the child of a wealthy family. Jonathan's family would adopt a child known as Dio Brando. However, Dio quickly proves himself to be trouble.

Jonathan's story with Dio is quite interesting, with the two of them facing off in an epic battle of Hamon vs Vampire. While Dio Brando loses at the end, he still takes the upper hand by implanting his own head on Jonathan's body. The latter is widely recognized to be the weakest protagonist of the JoJo adventure, being the first attempt at a main character by Araki. Meanwhile, Dio Brando is known to be one of the greatest antagonists, not only of JoJo but of all anime. Dio is far more iconic than Jonathan, especially with his return in Part 3: Stardust Crusader.

Johan Liebert

• Anime: Monster
• More Iconic Than Tenma

Monster is one of the greatest Seinen anime series out there. It follows Dr. Tenma, a Japanese surgeon working in Germany who goes after a serial killer he had previously treated as a child. Tenma has become one of the best seinen protagonists, and while he's great, he still isn't as widely recognized and admired as his antagonist counterpart, Johan Liebert.

In anime, especially in Seinen, Johan is probably only rivaled by the likes of Griffith from Berserk. His character writing, as well as his ending, make him a legendary antagonist who has stood the test of time. That's not to say that Tenma isn't a great main character. If anything, Tenma is an absolutely sensational protagonist that Naoki Urasawa develops brilliantly over the course of the whole series. But, his impact in the anime community isn't as widely felt as that of Johann, who can even be called the face of anime villains by many, especially in the shonen demographic.

Yuno Gasai

• Anime: Mirai Nikki
• More Iconic Than Yukiteru Amano

Yuno Gasai is a conflicting character from the Mirai Nikki series. To many, she represents the face of yandere characters, with her psychotic nature and love for the main character Yukiteru Amano. While Yukiteru is a name that many might not even remember, Yuno has cemented herself in her popularity.

Almost anyone, even those who have never watched this series, knows who Yuno is. Many future Yandere characters would take after her as well. Without her, Mirai Nikki would definitely be nowhere near as popular as it is today

Esdeath

• Anime: Akame Ga Kill
• More Iconic Than Tatsumi

Many anime series struggle due to having a stale main character, and Akame ga Kill is one of them. Akame ga Kill's main character is Tatsumi, and her design, personality, and powers don't make him stand out at all. He is the central character, but even others in the cast, like Akame, are far more beloved by the fans. In that sense, Tatsumi is easily surpassed by the antagonist of his series, Lady Esdeath.

Lady Esdeath is one of the main reasons behind the immense popularity of Akame ga Kill. Her ice abilities are some of the most iconic in anime, with her being able to freeze time itself. Her final battle against Akame is definitely a fan favorite. While Tatsumi has long been forgotten, Esdeath definitely stole the show.