7 Anime Villains Who Actually Won (Including One of the Most Divisive of All Time)

Strong villains are essential for any successful anime. They need to be capable, intimidating, and driven by a clear purpose. Unlike the hero, a good villain should force the main character to question their own beliefs and show a different side of the issues at stake. It’s hard to create a truly memorable villain – weak antagonists don’t provide a real challenge and can ruin the tension of a show. Viewers don’t enjoy a series where the villain isn’t a credible threat, because it makes it impossible to feel any real danger when the hero is in conflict.

Anime is known for its memorable villains, and it’s often easy to find one you actually sympathize with. However, it’s rarer to see a villain *win* in the end, since most stories follow the classic hero’s journey where good triumphs over evil. While many anime deliver satisfying conclusions, some rely on stretching the limits of power just to ensure the hero prevails against a more powerful enemy. Below, we’ll explore some anime villains who actually achieved victory by the series’ end.

7) Dio (Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure)

Dio is a truly memorable anime villain, known for his striking style and frightening presence. He’s the primary antagonist in two parts of *JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure*: “Phantom Blood” and “Stardust Crusaders.” Beyond those stories, Dio’s influence extends to other villains, like Enrico Pucci. Interestingly, his impact also lives on through Giorno Giovanna, who is presented as his son and the central character in “Golden Wind,” though not in the way Dio originally intended.

In the first part of *JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure*, Dio Brando’s primary objective was to overcome his rival, Jonathan Joestar. He didn’t just want to defeat Jonathan – he planned to steal his body and gain his power. Dio successfully achieved this by the end of “Phantom Blood”; he killed Jonathan in their final fight and then took over his body, falling into a long sleep to recover. Later, Dio reappeared and tried to torment Jonathan’s family, including Joseph and Jotaro, but was ultimately defeated. Even though he lost in the third part of the series, Dio initially succeeded in his plan.

6) Aainz Ooal Gown (Overlord)

Anime is increasingly featuring main characters who act as villains. These complex, morally ambiguous heroes have become popular over the last ten years, allowing shows to explore darker and more complicated storylines than traditional heroes would allow. A prime example is Ainz Ooal Gown from the anime *Overlord*, which blends video game elements with themes of conquest. The series follows Ainz as he navigates a new world, and his pursuit of power leads him to make increasingly questionable decisions and compromises.

The story of *Overlord* follows a gamer who finds himself stuck inside the world of his favorite video game when the game’s servers close. Formerly known as Satoru Suzuki, he now appears as his skeletal game character in this new world. Calling himself Ainz, he decides to become a powerful ruler, using his smarts, ruthlessness, and strategy to conquer lands and increase his influence. He hopes these actions will bring the world together into a peaceful society and also help him find his old teammates from the game, believing they’ll join him in protecting the world he’s building. Although Ainz faces the possibility of death, it’s unclear if he’ll ultimately fail in his quest to become a legendary, immortal overlord.

5) Kirei Kotomine (Fate/Zero)

The *Fate/stay* series follows the historical conflicts between mages in battles known as Holy Grail Wars. *Fate/Zero* specifically tells the story leading up to *Fate/stay Night*, focusing on the fourth Holy Grail War. In this war, powerful mages called Masters summon legendary figures from the past—Servants—to fight for the Holy Grail, a magical artifact that can grant any wish. Kirei Kotomine, a Master in *Fate/Zero*, is defined by his emptiness and inability to find genuine happiness. Instead, he derives pleasure from the suffering of others, even wishing that his own father and wife had died at his hand.

At the start of the fourth Holy Grail War, Kirei’s goal was to help Tokiomi Tohsaka achieve victory. However, he soon began to question his own desires and decided to pursue the Grail for personal reasons, hoping to find true happiness. This led him down a dark path, indulging his destructive impulses. He ultimately betrayed Tokiomi by manipulating Gilgamesh into killing his original Master and then forming a contract with Gilgamesh himself. In the final confrontation, Kirei used the Grail’s power to unleash a devastating fire, allowing him to fulfill his desire to cause chaos and harm. Surprisingly, the Grail resurrected Kirei, declaring him the unofficial winner despite the war being incomplete. This resurrection triggered an early fifth Holy Grail War, with Kirei becoming the primary villain.

4) Kyubey (Puella Magi Madoka .Magica)

Magical girl anime is incredibly popular, with classics like *Sailor Moon* and *Cardcaptor Sakura* leading the way. *Puella Magi Madoka Magica* is another standout series, famous for twisting familiar magical girl tropes and exploring surprisingly dark themes. The show centers on a group of young girls who receive magical powers and the ability to transform, all thanks to a creature named Kyubey. He grants them one wish in exchange for fighting witches. However, *Puella Magi Madoka Magica* offers a much more realistic and often tragic look at what it truly means to be a magical girl, showing how difficult it can be to avoid a heartbreaking fate.

I’m totally fascinated by Kyubey, even though he’s a really unsettling character! While the magical girls are at the heart of the story, everything revolves around him and the contracts he offers. He looks like this adorable little rabbit, but he’s actually an alien whose race is trying to save the universe. The really dark part is *how* they’re doing it – by harvesting the energy from the girls’ pain and despair. It’s so messed up because he deliberately targets young girls, keeps them in the dark about the dangers they’ll face, and manipulates them into these contracts. He’s completely devoid of empathy and essentially sets them all on this tragic path, and in the end, his plan actually works. It’s brilliant and horrifying all at once!

3) Griffith (Berserk)

Most manga fans agree that *Berserk* is a masterpiece. However, the various anime adaptations haven’t been as well-received, as many believe they don’t capture the depth and power of the original story. Despite this, *Berserk* is famous for its epic scope, dark and realistic themes, and complex characters struggling to survive in a harsh world. The story closely examines the brutal realities of a fantasy setting, exploring violence, betrayal, and inequality without relying on convenient plot devices to protect its characters.

The series features one of the most infamous villains ever created: Griffith. Initially the charismatic leader of a mercenary group, Griffith relentlessly pursued his ambition to rule a kingdom. He repeatedly compromised his ethics to get closer to his goal, ultimately betraying his loyal companions – the Band of the Hawk – with devastating consequences. This horrific act transformed Griffith into a god-like being named Femto, abandoning any remaining sense of morality and inflicting terrible acts upon those he once called friends. However, the story doesn’t end with Griffith’s defeat; he successfully establishes Falconia, a perfect city that fulfills his lifelong dream of building his kingdom.

2) Eren Yeager (Attack on Titan)

Many anime fans already consider *Attack on Titan* a modern classic. The show concluded a few years ago, and its final storyline—particularly the actions of the final villain, Eren Yeager—sparked a lot of debate. Eren began the series as the hero, determined to eliminate all Titans after witnessing his mother’s death. He was known for being impulsive and hot-headed, which made him both a frustrating and endearing character, especially in the earlier seasons when his straightforward goals were central to his personality.

Eren’s journey takes a dramatic turn when he discovers the truth about the world and gains the ability to see the future through his connection with Historia, due to her royal lineage. His focus shifts from simply destroying the Titans to building a world where people of Eldian descent are no longer hunted and endangered. He wants a future where his friends and family can thrive without the constant threat from Marley and other nations. This ambition is fueled by his intense anger towards those who have vilified Paradis, though he later gains some understanding of their perspectives and the forces that manipulated them. By initiating the Rumbling, Eren essentially became the villain, but he also ensured the world would be too devastated to immediately seek revenge on the Eldians. Despite his death and defeat, Eren largely succeeded in achieving his goal – securing a period of peace and safety for those he loved.

1) Ryo Asuka (Devilman Crybaby)

Many anime featuring supernatural elements also delve into horror, creating a blend of the fantastical and the frightening. *Devilman Crybaby* is a great example of this, mixing different genres while telling a relatively simple story about the impact of demons. The series follows Akira Fudo, a student who merges with a demon, giving him the power to transform into a Devilman. He then fights to defend Earth from invading demons, using his abilities to protect humanity.

Ryo Asuka is introduced as Akira’s closest friend and the first to warn him about the coming demon invasion. Throughout most of *Devilman Crybaby*, he appears as a devoted friend who cares deeply for Akira. However, this perception changes dramatically when it’s revealed that Akira is actually Satan in disguise. Ryo’s initial plan was to unleash demons on humanity, hoping to cause widespread destruction. This later evolves into a desire to destroy the Earth entirely, ensuring Akira would always stay with him. Ultimately, Ryo succeeds in his original goal – the Earth is devastated, and humanity is wiped out because of his actions. But while he’s celebrating this ‘victory’ to Akira, it’s revealed that his friend actually died fighting him, leaving Ryo utterly alone forever.

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2025-10-07 01:12