7 Anime Villains Who Deserve a Second Chance

Anime villains are frequently fascinating characters with complicated motivations. They’re often shaped by sad pasts, flawed beliefs, or situations they couldn’t avoid. Many were hurt by their upbringing or surroundings, and with a little help, they could have used their abilities for good instead of evil.

Redemption isn’t just about changing a villain; it enriches the entire story and makes us think about what’s right and wrong. Not every villain needs a redemption story – some are simply too cruel to be saved – but offering a second chance to others can be powerful. It shows that even people who’ve done bad things can change, and their journey can be just as compelling as those of the heroes.

7. Griffith (Berserk)

Griffith’s actions in Berserk are considered one of the worst betrayals in anime history – he sacrificed his friends, the Band of the Hawk, to achieve his own power as Femto. However, before his downfall, Griffith was a dreamer who wanted to build a better world, free from the limitations that had held him back. His intense ambition didn’t come from a desire to hurt others, but from feeling desperate and losing hope after years of hard work and being imprisoned.

Getting a second chance wouldn’t erase what Griffith did—it would force him to face who he’s become. His real tragedy is that he had the potential to be a truly great leader, maybe even a hero, but he gave in to his inner demons. If he’d made different choices, his talents could have actually created the perfect world he once dreamed of and sacrificed so much to achieve.

6. Meruem (Hunter x Hunter)

I’m absolutely fascinated by Meruem’s story! He started as this incredibly powerful Chimera Ant King, basically programmed to conquer everything. He didn’t even have a concept of right or wrong at first. But then he met Komugi, a blind girl who played board games, and everything changed. Through her, he started to understand things like compassion and humility – things he never needed before. It was amazing to watch him evolve from seeing humans as nothing more than insects to genuinely valuing their existence. It’s a really powerful story about how connection can change even the most fearsome being.

If Meruem had lived, he had the potential to unite humans and Chimera Ants, changing both their societies. His death felt like the loss of a profound possibility: could something created through violence actually become innocent? The tenderness he showed in his final moments demonstrated that even creatures considered monstrous are capable of love, and many felt he deserved the chance to explore that further.

5. Nagato / Pain (Naruto: Shippuden)

Nagato became the detached and cynical figure known as “Pain” because of the constant hardship he faced. He repeatedly lost everyone he cared about – mentors, friends, and any glimmer of hope – due to the endless violence of the ninja world. While his idea of achieving peace by making others understand pain wasn’t necessarily flawed, the way he tried to put it into practice was a tragic failure.

Nagato had the potential to fulfill Jiraiya’s dream of becoming a peacemaker. Pain is a compelling villain because he represents the tragic cycle of someone becoming a villain through circumstance. He wasn’t beyond saving—and his decision to revive the village suggests he secretly desired redemption all along.

4. Scar (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)

Scar started as a vengeful figure, driven by the loss of his family and people in a brutal massacre. He targeted State Alchemists, but his anger stemmed from deep grief and the immense cruelty of the nation of Amestris. Ultimately, Scar became a symbol of the empire’s wrongdoing, exposing the dark side of its pursuit of progress and its willingness to commit violence.

Ultimately, Scar’s change from seeking revenge to pursuing justice shows he wasn’t truly evil, just led down the wrong path. His ability to both destroy and rebuild perfectly represents the idea of balance. If given a second chance, he could become the moral compass Amestris has always lacked – a figure who demonstrates that true change begins with admitting past mistakes, not ignoring them.

3. Stain (My Hero Academia)

While the villain known as Hero Killer Stain was frightening, he had a point: the world of heroes had become corrupted. Though his methods were violent, his beliefs stemmed from a genuine moral concern – he felt that heroism had become more about profit and image than actually helping people. His attacks weren’t random acts of violence; they were a desperate attempt to expose and change a flawed system.

Honestly, I always thought Stain’s message could have been so much more impactful if people had focused on fixing the hero system instead of just condemning him. Imagine if he’d been given a chance to actually reform things from the inside! Yes, what he did was terrible, but the core of what he believed in – exposing fake heroes and demanding real integrity – that’s something worth building on, not just punishing. He deserved a chance to rebuild, not be destroyed.

2. Obito Uchiha (Naruto: Shippuden)

Obito’s story is one of the most tragic in anime. He began as a kind, if somewhat awkward, ninja who longed for peace. However, the loss of his friend Rin and the harsh realities of the ninja world led him down a path of despair. Madara exploited his pain, and Obito embraced a belief that nothing mattered, which allowed him to commit terrible acts. Deep down, though, he was still a heartbroken boy struggling with a world that had shattered his hopes.

Obito’s ultimate sacrifice for Naruto demonstrates that even those who have committed terrible acts can find redemption by facing the truth and understanding themselves. Giving him a second chance wouldn’t just benefit him; it would offer hope to anyone caught in a never-ending pattern of hatred. He was a complex figure – deeply believing in a better world, yet tragically convinced it was impossible.

1. Eren Yeager (Attack on Titan)

Eren Yeager is one of the most morally complicated characters ever created. His journey, from someone fighting for freedom to a being capable of mass destruction, was disturbing but makes sense when you consider the cruel and vengeful world he lived in. Eren didn’t suddenly become a villain; he adapted to his harsh surroundings and did what he believed was necessary to survive.

Despite all the destruction he caused, Eren was still, at his core, the boy who dreamed of seeing the ocean. While his actions can’t be excused, they stem from a deep desire for freedom – for himself, those he cared about, and all those who were suffering. If Eren were given another chance, it could break the endless cycle of revenge that humanity has always repeated. He doesn’t need to be forgiven; people just need to understand the forces that drove him forward and why he felt he had no other choice.

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2026-01-11 20:20