8 Anime Villains That Can Never Be Redeemed

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Great heroes need great villains, and anime has no shortage of them. Over the years, anime series and movies have given us countless villains, each with different levels of wickedness. We’ve put together a list of the most truly evil villains, focusing on their actions and why they are beyond redemption. Some antagonists have committed such terrible deeds that they should never be portrayed as heroes.

8.) Naruto’s Orochimaru

This list isn’t in any particular order, but Orochimaru would definitely be much higher if it were. We decided to start with one of the most villainous characters, especially since he’s had something of a redemption arc in the *Naruto* series. It’s still shocking to many that Orochimaru is now accepted in the Hidden Leaf Village, as seen in *Boruto: Naruto Next Generations* and *Boruto: Two Blue Vortex*. Considering the countless lives he’s taken, he remains a truly terrifying and seemingly unforgivable character in the anime world.

I’ve been watching Orochimaru for a long time, and it’s clear he’s built his power through years of awful deeds – murder, theft, and causing serious harm. What really stands out about him, though, is that he’s never actually shown remorse for any of it. Sure, he did give Konoha a powerful new ninja in Mitsuki, who’s essentially his clone, but honestly, that doesn’t even begin to balance out all the terrible things he’s done in the past.

7.) Jujutsu Kaisen’s Mahito

Although Suguru Geto was clearly the more powerful of the two villains behind the Shibuya Incident in *Jujutsu Kaisen*, Mahito is more purely evil. Geto had a specific goal – to create a world only for those who wield cursed energy – but Mahito just enjoys causing chaos. He was directly responsible for defeating popular heroes like Nanami and Noburo, and ultimately Yuji Itadori made him pay for his actions.

Mahito isn’t just disliked because of the harm he caused; it’s his complete lack of remorse for his murders and attacks throughout the *Jujutsu Kaisen* series. He never asked for forgiveness, even when he died in the show’s finale, making him a clear candidate for any ‘most hated villain’ list. Few anime fans likely felt any sadness when he was defeated in the Shibuya Incident Arc, and his death was incredibly satisfying to watch.

6.) Dragon Ball’s Frieza

Throughout its many seasons, *Dragon Ball* has featured a number of truly awful villains, including characters like Cell, Majin Buu, King Piccolo, Zamasu, and Moro. But choosing the worst one was surprisingly easy. Frieza, the alien tyrant, is simply beyond redemption, and we’re happy to explain why.

Frieza is a notorious villain, responsible for the destruction of Planet Vegeta and the near extinction of the Saiyan race, along with the deaths of countless others – even his own followers. It’s ironic that *Dragon Ball Super* has occasionally hinted at the possibility of him becoming an ally to the Z-Fighters. While his goals briefly aligned with Universe 7 during the Tournament of Power, he quickly reverted to his villainous ways in later stories involving Broly and Granolah. Ultimately, Frieza is most effective as a villain, and fans generally agree he should remain one, given his history.

5.) Fullmetal Alchemist’s Shou Tucker

Shou Tucker from *Fullmetal Alchemist* is often considered one of the most despicable anime villains. While he hasn’t killed as many people as some other villains like Frieza or Orochimaru, he’s notorious for his truly awful actions. He’s especially remembered for the horrific experiments he performed on his own daughter, Nina.

Nina’s forced combination with her dog was deeply disturbing, even briefly overwhelming Edward Elric. What made Shou Tucker’s actions truly awful was his enjoyment of using his own daughter to advance his alchemy research. While some might argue he was insane, most anime fans wouldn’t want to see Tucker portrayed as a hero.

4.) One Piece’s Saint Charlos

Listing all the Celestial Dragons from *One Piece* would be unfair, so we’ve chosen one particularly cruel example to represent them. The World Government’s elite consistently demonstrate a willingness to eliminate anyone who opposes them, a point powerfully illustrated by Kuma’s heartbreaking story. Even now, as the series nears its end, the Celestial Dragons remain a significant danger to the Straw Hat Pirates, and fans are eager to see them face justice in the story’s conclusion.

Saint Charlos perfectly embodies the Celestial Dragons – he’s quick to violently punish anyone who even slightly bothers him. That’s why the scene of Luffy punching him is so satisfying to many fans. While Charlos isn’t physically strong, he and the other Celestial Dragons are at the root of all the problems the Straw Hat crew is trying to solve. It’s safe to say we won’t see any of them change their ways before the story ends.

3.) JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’s Dio Brando

Dio Brando is a prime example of a truly irredeemable villain in the *JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure* series. He first appeared in *Phantom Blood*, and even after his death in *Stardust Crusaders*, his influence continued to be felt. In *Stone Ocean*, the story of Jolyne Cujoh, Dio’s legacy directly impacted the arc’s villain, Pucci, who sought to fulfill Dio’s ambition of reaching heaven. While Dio committed many evil acts throughout the anime, his most impactful villainy was showcased in the very first story arc.

In the first part of *JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure*, titled *Phantom Blood*, Dio Brando became a cruel enemy to Jonathan Joestar, committing horrific acts like killing Jonathan’s dog and even forcing himself on his love interest. Dio is a villain who deserves no forgiveness, and importantly, he wouldn’t want it either. Now, with the *Steel Ball Run* arc introducing a new Brando character named Diego, Dio’s influence continues to be felt, even in different universes.

2.) Monster’s Johan Liebert

I’m a huge anime fan, and honestly, *Monster* is right up there with the best. A big reason why is Johan Liebert – he’s just an incredible villain. Everyone talks about him being the ultimate evil, and it’s easy to see why. He’s not just strong, he *thinks* his way through everything, manipulating people and causing chaos with such cold calculation. He really pushed the hero, Dr. Tenma, to his absolute limit. While Johan didn’t try to destroy the world outright, I have no doubt he *would* have if he thought it would serve his purposes.

Johan is widely considered a truly terrifying villain who takes pleasure in his wickedness, making it hard to imagine him ever changing for the better. Throughout the anime *Monster*, Liebert’s intense evil is constantly on display, creating a chilling effect for the audience. He undeniably deserves his reputation as one of the most frightening villains.

1.) Berserk’s Griffith

The character of Griffith from *Berserk* often reveals a lot about an anime fan’s perspective, with many playfully defending his actions by saying he “did nothing wrong.” However, longtime fans of *Berserk* know that Griffith, sometimes called Femto or the White Hawk, committed truly terrible deeds that remain shocking even now. While some argue he sacrificed his companions for the greater good, it’s important to remember the selfish nature of his actions and the fact that they ultimately led to his own power and rule.

Since the Eclipse, Griffith hasn’t shown any regret for betraying his old friends. Though his actions haven’t reached the scale of villains like Frieza, he doesn’t seem interested in making amends or deserving forgiveness. With the continuation of Berserk after creator Kentaro Miura’s passing, fans are eagerly anticipating Griffith facing the consequences of his choices in the anime.

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2025-10-10 01:41