Creating a compelling anime villain will always present a difficult challenge. They must either have a morally justifiable cause or exude an aura of wickedness (in a captivating manner, of course). The world of anime is filled with such formidable villains, whose creation deserves recognition and admiration.
However, there is also the issue of villains reaching their peak. Some may peak too soon and lose their impact as the story continues, while others may linger for too long and peak too late to make a significant impact. This list examines anime villains who fell into either of these categories.
This article expresses the author’s opinion.
Anime Villains Who Peaked Too Soon
Stain (My Hero Academia)
Stain, the Villain Killer (My Hero Academia)
Despite his short appearance in My Hero Academia, Stain remains one of the coolest and most impactful villains in anime. His role in the Vs. Hero Killer Arc greatly contributed to the growth of Tenya Iida’s character and had a significant impact on Deku as well. Unfortunately, his message may have been overshadowed by the excitement of the story.
Despite delivering a strong criticism of the Hero System, he was quickly defeated. His confrontation with Iida, Todoroki, and Midoriya was well-timed but ultimately short-lived. There was a missed opportunity to further explore his ideology and its influence on other villains. While it was mentioned that Stain inspired many villains, the anime barely touches upon it, making it seem like his impact was minimal.
2) The Spider Family in Kimetsu No Yaiba: Demon Slayer
The Spider Family was introduced during the Mount Natagumo Arc, created by Rui for the popular anime series Kimetsu No Yaiba: Demon Slayer. Each member received ample screentime before their eventual defeat, culminating in Rui’s own downfall. Despite the arc’s significant impact, its concept and execution left something to be desired.
Despite the heartbreaking and tragic tale of the Spider Family, some members could have made a reappearance later in the story. It should be noted that the arc itself was well-executed, but it is understandable to feel that they were eliminated too soon to truly make an impact on the story.
Rize Kamishiro: A Character Analysis (Tokyo Ghoul)
The initial main enemy in Tokyo Ghoul was the infamous Rize Kamishiro, a powerful ghoul. Her involvement in Kaneki Ken’s life sparked a series of events that nearly resulted in the destruction of Tokyo. Despite her role in creating the One-Eyed Ghoul, her true potential was never fully realized.
Despite having a relatively small amount of screen time, her legacy has endured for a long time, making her the epitome of peaking too soon. The story alludes to her immense strength and danger, but fails to showcase her at her peak. This was likely a common criticism of Sui Ishida’s series.
Annie Leonhart (Attack on Titan)
Despite her initial mysteriousness and cool demeanor, Attack on Titan’s Annie Leonhart is likely to have no detractors. As the story unfolded and she regained her freedom, it became apparent that something was missing and left viewers wondering about the reasons behind her actions.
During previous arcs, she was primarily trapped inside her crystalline shell. It is highly probable that if she had not been captured, she would have been more successful than Reiner and Bertholdt in accomplishing their objective. She is a notable antagonist in the anime who reached her peak prematurely and was subsequently pushed to the background.
Character Profile: Wretched Egg from Deadman Wonderland
The enigmatic villain of Deadman Wonderland is known as Wretched Egg. Her first appearance was made by standing outside of Ganta’s classroom window. After incapacitating him, she proceeded to massacre all those present and left Ganta to bear the consequences.
As a result, the anime’s cancellation after only one season solidified the classroom massacre as the Wretched Egg’s most significant accomplishment as a villain.
Anime villains who failed to reach their full potential in time
1) Antagonist: Tomura Shigaraki from My Hero Academia
My Hero Academia’s Tomura Shigaraki is an iconic anime villain who cannot be overlooked. His tragic past and the influence of All For One (AFO) led to his transformation into the villain we know today, with his body having been manipulated and enhanced.
Despite the current state of the manga, Shigaraki has been overtaken by the cunning villain. AFO’s plan to possess his body appears to have been successful, presenting the Heroes with yet another obstacle to overcome.
However, despite Shigaraki’s increasing strength, he was unable to reach his full potential. He serves as an example of a villain who could not reach his peak in time.
Rob Lucci from One Piece
Known as “Massacre Weapon,”Rob Lucci is a familiar figure in the world of One Piece. He served as a Cipher Pol Agent for the World Government and was also a masked agent for the CPO. Over the years, he has made frequent appearances and played the role of the antagonist in several arcs, including the Water 7 Arc and Enies Lobby Arc.
During the Water 7 Arc, he and Luffy clashed and he was able to overpower him. However, in the Enies Lobby Arc, Luffy ultimately defeated Lucci and was able to escape with the help of his CP9 comrades. As time passed, he continued to grow stronger and their paths crossed once again during the Egghead Arc.
Despite putting up a strong fight in his awakened state against Gear 5, Lucci’s chances of winning are becoming increasingly uncertain. With Luffy now a Yonko, there is a high possibility that he may lose the battle. While their rivalry remains intense, it is evident that Lucci’s peak strength may have come too late as he has only recently pushed past his limits and even now, the outcome is uncertain.
My Hero Academia’s Twice
Twice, also known as Jin Bubaigawara, is a well-crafted antagonist in My Hero Academia. He possesses layers that require careful unraveling in order to fully comprehend his role and motivations. However, some may argue that his character development as an anime villain is delayed.
Despite being overwhelming, Sad Man’s Parade was a truly spectacular event. Unfortunately, Twice met a tragic and heart-wrenching end. Horikoshi did an excellent job portraying his character, but it seems he was unable to reach his full potential in time.
Furthermore, Toga’s ultimate move (Sad Man’s Parade) was proven to be extremely lethal when she utilized it later on. Just imagine the impact if he had been included in the scenario.
Kid Buu from Dragon Ball
Despite being a frightening and iconic anime villain, Kid Buu from Dragon Ball was no match for the Z Fighters. His numerous transformations posed a real challenge, but Goku and Vegeta were ultimately able to defeat him after a grueling battle.
Although each of his forms was distinct, the ultimate form lacked the fear factor that was hyped up. However, it seemed to be short-lived as Goku and Vegeta were able to find a way to defeat him once he attained it.
5) Sesshomaru (Inuyasha)
Sesshomaru, a character from the anime Inuyasha, is often perceived as a villain due to his fluctuation between heroic and villainous actions. He was initially introduced as a rival for the main character of the series but was unable to effectively utilize his time in the spotlight.
Despite not being one-dimensional, his character arc felt a bit forced and left something to be desired. His defeat lacked impact, and by the time he showed signs of improvement, it was already too late.
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