In the realm of Japanese anime, villains and antagonists may become evil or wicked for various reasons, and not all of them like it. Certain anime villains felt like they had no other choice, and some even regretted their villainous ways. But other villains actually love what they do, and they view villainy as a lifestyle or as a source of validation.
These anime villains all enjoy their wicked lifestyle. They take great pleasure in dreaming of world domination, fighting the heroes, pursuing forbidden power, and more. Those fun-loving anime villains couldn’t do what they love if they were heroes, so even when given a chance for redemption, they’d rather remain evil.
10/10 Himiko Toga Can Live Free As A Villain
My Hero Academia
The shapeshifting villain Himiko Toga is one of several League of Villains Members who signed up for one reason: total freedom. My Hero Academia flashbacks showed Himiko once tried living in mainstream society and behaving herself, but that meant suppressing her true nature. She couldn’t bear to wear that psychological mask any longer.
As a villain, Himiko can live freely and be her true, authentic self without restraint. This means there’s no chance of Himiko’s redemption, and she won’t ever surrender to heroes or the police, either. She has too much to lose by giving up her villainy.
9/10 Jogo Enjoys Tormenting Human Victims
Jujutsu Kaisen
Mahito is the most villainous curse in Jujutsu Kaisen, and his elite minion Jogo isn’t far behind. Like his boss, Jogo is a bloodthirsty curse who despises humanity, and he can’t wait to rid the world of them. To amuse himself and show his contempt, Jogo will often burn up other humans and gladly fight sorcerers like Satoru Gojo.
Jogo, like Mahito, clearly enjoys himself living as a human exterminator who makes his own rules. Killing humans is his cause, and he won’t miss a chance to run off and slay some sorcerers to that end. Satoru Gojo, however, is too strong for him.
8/10 Doflamingo Quixote Loves Crushing His Victims
One Piece
Doflamingo Quixote was one of the seven warlords of the sea, and he’s also one of One Piece‘s most powerful and brutal antagonists. Doflamingo is a cruel sadist who loves putting other people in their place, and he ruled Dressrosa with an iron fist.
Doflamingo believes that might makes right, and he loves proving it in battle. In the Marineford war, Doflamingo had fun using his Devil Fruit powers to turn his enemies against one another. He also laughed wildly at the apocalyptic carnage and bloodshed surrounding him.
7/10 Marie Is An Arrogant Himedere
Trapped In A Dating Sim
Trapped in a Dating Sim‘s protagonist Leon Bartfort may have been a snide antihero, but his little sister turned villain Marie was even worse. She somehow got reborn in the otome game world as the side character Marie, and she established herself as a total himedere, or wannabe princess.
Marie tried to ruin Olivia and Angelica with her troublesome antics, and she also cozied up to the mean-spirited prince Julius. Marie ultimately failed, but she still enjoyed her isekai life as the well-dressed villain Marie. She even had a reverse harem to enjoy.
6/10 Dio Brando Gladly Abandoned His Humanity
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
The blond villain Dio Brando knew what he was doing when he donned the stone mask in JoJo’s first story arc. Dio was desperate to crush the hated Joestar family, and he reveled in his new powers as a vampire before destroying the Joestar estate. Then he took things to the next level as a male himedere.
Dio, later DIO, identified strongly with his vampiric villainy and found it highly empowering. Such villainy was his way of escaping the frustrating poverty of his youth, and he wouldn’t ever go back. He spoke highly of himself to the very end, when he finally lost to Jotaro Kujo.
5/10 Grimmjow Jeagerjaques Lives For The Hunt
Bleach
The ten Espadas in Bleach joined Sosuke Aizen so they could find salvation, or at least, they respected Aizen’s power and intelligence as the leader of the Arrancars. A few Espadas just did their duty, such as Starrk and Harribel, but the 6th Espada, Grimmjow Jeagerjaques, loved being a villain.
Grimmjow had a personal mission to prove himself Hueco Mundo’s apex predator, and defeating Ichigo could prove it once and for all. Grimmjow also personally enjoys combat, especially if he is fighting a worthy rival. For Grimmjow, battle is a sport, not just a duty.
4/10 Orochimaru Enjoyed Conducting Forbidden Research
Naruto
Orochimaru is a brilliant scientist, but his brutal, questionable methods got him kicked out of his Hidden Leaf Village home in Naruto‘s backstory. This didn’t stop Orochimaru, though. He conducted this dark research for his own benefit, not for the village’s.
Orochimaru was thrilled every time he made a bold breakthrough in his research, and he couldn’t wait to test out his new bodies or jutsu. This strong, if frightening, passion is what kept Orochimaru going, and it motivated him to do whatever it took to achieve immortality.
3/10 Demon Lord Clayman Has Too Much Fun As An Isekai Villain
That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime
Rimuru Tempest’s worst enemy in That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime is demon lord Clayman, a well-dressed villain who uses every dirty trick in the book. Clayman is almost cartoonishly evil, and he takes great pleasure in plotting Rimuru’s downfall or abusing his subordinates.
Clayman had fun picturing Rimuru’s downfall, but it never came to pass. Instead, Rimuru confronted Clayman during Walpurgis and defeated him, and a shocked Clayman was soon destroyed for good. That was the only moment when Clayman regretted being a villain.
2/10 Envy Enjoys Deceiving Humans
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Unlike Sloth, who resents doing work, or Wrath, who feels like he can’t control his own life, the shapeshifter Envy loves being a homunculus villain in Fullmetal Alchemist. Envy will gladly accept any mission from his creator and boss, Father, and find ways to torture humans in the process.
Envy finds it amusing and gratifying to fool, manipulate, and kill humans with his tricks. He savored his role in igniting the Ishval Civil War, and he thought it was a riot to shoot Maes Hughes while looking like Maes’ wife. Envy actually boasted more than once about how fun it is to trick humanity.
1/10 Akaza Appreciates A Good Challenge
Demon Slayer
Akaza is the Upper Moon 3 in the Demon Slayer world, and he can’t resist a good challenge. Akaza’s strength as a human was limited, but as a demon, he can live forever and fight one worthy opponent after another. Only with the power of villainy can Akaza savor, and win, so many fun battles.
Akakza tried to get Kyojuro Rengoku involved, too. Akaza offered to make Kyojuro a demon so they could be eternal rivals, savoring their feud forever, but Kyojuro refused. Now that Kyojuro’s dead, Akaza must find another worthy rival to enjoy the thrill of combat with.