Heroes Who Became Villains In Anime And Why We Still Love Them

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I find a mesmerizing, poignant charm in observing characters or heroes who initially possess noble hearts or are motivated by righteousness gradually transform into something sinister. It’s not merely the surprise of their transformation that captivates me, but rather the underlying motivations that keep me engaged.

The emotional turmoil driving these characters’ descent into villainy occasionally lends a tragic and compassionate dimension to their metamorphoses. Remarkably, as these former heroes transition into antagonists, it’s not uncommon for audiences to develop affection for them due to empathy towards the causes of their actions.

Here are some anime heroes who became villains, but we still loved them.

9.
Light Yagami

When Justice Become Corrupted

In a twist of events, when Light stumbled upon a death note, his ambition was to establish a crime-free society. Yet, as his perception of justice morphed, the power he unexpectedly gained led him down a path of insanity.

As someone captivated by his power over life and death, I must confess that at times, he veers beyond acceptable boundaries. Yet, there’s no denying his extraordinary intellect, particularly when pitted against the enigmatic L. The moment Light met his end, it stirred a mix of fulfillment and melancholy within me.

The combination of his brilliant intellect and the notion deep within him that he could reshape the world while preserving his identity, made him endearing and worthy of support. Additionally, his later descent into villainy underscores the idea that noble intentions can occasionally result in negative consequences, thereby making him relatable.

8.
Itachi Uchiha

The Silent Sacrifice

Initially, we all admired Itachi for his charisma and the way he dominated every scene he was in. However, once the real reason behind the Uchiha clan massacre was disclosed, it became clear that Itachi was a man bound by duty, forced to shoulder the weight of being seen as a betrayer by his brother and labeled a traitor.

He belonged to Konoha’s Anbu Squad, a group dedicated to safeguarding the village, and was adored by numerous Naruto fans due to the magnitude of his selflessness. He harbored a conviction that his sibling, Sasuke, would eventually surpass him and avenge their clan. Despite knowing that his demise would serve as the impetus for his brother’s development, he was prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice.

7.
Slaine Troyard

A Villain Born Out Of Love

Initially, Slaine was shown as a dedicated pilot for the Vers Empire, serving under Princess Asseylum. Following her narrow escape from an assassination attempt, Slaine resolves to take action, aiming to establish a tranquil realm for the princess, regardless of whether his actions might label him as a villain in the process.

I found myself embracing the role of a warlord, driven by a misplaced conviction to reshape the Vers Empire. Unfortunately, my choices led to a chain of unlucky circumstances. For instance, I entered into an agreement with the wicked Count, Saazbaum – a decision that now haunts me.

In the final analysis, he is labeled a war criminal, yet his efforts to build a better future for Asseylum often go unacknowledged. Essentially, he is a complex character whose actions, clouded by sorrow and fixation, stem from love and a strong sense of justice – qualities that define our humanity. Despite his imperfections, he strayed from the right path.

His actions eventually label him as a war criminal, but the positive impact he aimed to create for Asseylum often goes unnoticed. Fundamentally, he is an enigmatic figure whose intentions were tainted by grief and fixation, yet they were motivated by love and justice – principles that resonate within us all, making him familiar. Ultimately, he represents a fallible human who lost his direction.

6.
Sasuke Uchiha

The Thirst For Revenge

Since Sasuke first appeared, his life and purpose have primarily been centered on avenging the Uchiha clan by eliminating his brother, Itachi. He is willing to acquire power through whatever methods available, and goes so far as to collaborate with the sinister Orochimaru.

When he discovers the real facts concerning his sibling, his wrath shifts towards the Konoha village, leading him to ally with the malevolent group, Akatsuki. Regardless of his slide into darkness, it’s difficult not to feel a sense of understanding for his struggle.

Despite his mistakes, there’s something about him that keeps me loving him – he’s a young man burdened by the heavy weight of his sorrow and unable to fully heal from his past wounds. His resilience in moving forward is admirable, and his redemption seems genuine, even though it’s a long and challenging journey.

5.
Seguru Geto

The Man Who Saw Too Much

Initially, Geto was accustomed to championing the defenseless, bantering with Gojo Satoru, and squabbling as though they were siblings. However, his perception of what it means to be a jujutsu sorcerer starts to change when Riko Amanai, the designated star plasma vessel, perishes not at the hands of another sorcerer.

Additionally, he grew weary of consuming imprecations as their flavor was revolting, and it seemed no one grasped his predicament. Upon discovering that imprecations were invented for non-sorcerers, he became increasingly certain that the jujutsu realm harbored faults and pondered why he ingested imprecations to aid the non-sorcerous population.

Geto reached his breaking point when he witnessed Nanako and Mimiko, two sorcerers, being cruelly mistreated by non-sorcerers. In response, he took extreme action by ending the lives of everyone in the village. While his subsequent actions may be debatable, he is not a flat-out villain; instead, his character is complex and relatable. It demonstrates how well-meaning intentions, when pushed to their extremes, can lead one down a dark path.

4.
Ken Kaneki

The Monster Within

The scene in the series that has left an indelible mark on me is when Kaneki, tied to a chair, endures brutal torment at the hands of the cruel ghoul, Jason. Over several episodes, the original character of Kaneki gradually erodes until he ultimately breaks, transforming into a white-haired ghoul.

Yet, it’s crucial to acknowledge that despite his initial revulsion towards his ghoul identity and his efforts to maintain his humanity, this aspect cannot be overlooked. His confrontation with Jason drove him to the brink of collapse, as embracing the ghoul world required him to abandon everything he previously believed in. Consequently, he did whatever was necessary to endure.

As a gamer, I can’t help but be captivated by Kaneki’s story. His descent into darkness is largely influenced by events beyond his grasp, yet remnants of the innocent boy he used to be still surface. Even though he’s lost some of his purity, his journey remains strikingly human, and this complexity is what keeps us rooting for him amidst everything else.

3.
Lelouch Lamperouge

The Revolutionary

Lelouch’s intense drive for justice, his determination to rescue his sister, and his compassion for those enduring pain provide powerful motivations for making tough choices, given the corrupt nature of the world he lives in. However, this journey towards justice has caused Lelouch to stray from his peaceful, gentle disposition.

Once he obtained the power of Geass, he initiated drastic actions to attain his objectives. Over time, Lelouch’s character transforms under the influence of power, becoming manipulative, heartless, and merciless. He ends up forfeiting numerous lives in pursuit of his agenda.

His sister, Nunnally, openly declares him as her adversary, recognizing the need to curb his insanity. Yet, it’s the inherent goodness that he strives for, trapped in a struggle between upholding justice and succumbing to darkness, that makes him endearing. This internal conflict, played out as his actions grow increasingly darker and destructive, keeps us hooked.

2.
Eren Jaeger

The Desire For Freedom

As I navigated through the game, Eren Jaeger’s epic quest left me pondering questions of morality, liberty, and the heavy price we pay for pursuing a cause. After the fall of Wall Maria claimed my mother’s life, Eren became determined to obliterate all titans at any cost – no matter what it took.

Initially, I backed him since his goal was liberating the world from titans. Yet, as events unfolded, his aspirations shifted, and an objective to safeguard mankind morphed into a quest to fundamentally alter our world.

Eren’s conviction that the goal was worth any means added depth to him, as it seemed plausible to me that he was correct, or at least, had no other options to genuinely put an end to the cycle of animosity. In his last moments, what remains is a shattered young man shaped by war and hatred, who yearns to safeguard those he cherishes, and this type of antagonist I can empathize with and even admire.

1.
Griffith

The Price Of Greatness

Griffith exudes a captivating charm, with an otherworldly demeanor that instills trust in his vision. Just like others, I found myself buying into his dream as well.

His aspiration revolved around constructing a realm and designing a place where people could live without enduring pain. With such charm and admirable goals, he becomes an individual one can wholeheartedly support.

Yet, Griffith’s relentless pursuit of his ambition transformed him into a person ready to sacrifice anyone for success, and unfortunately, his followers, the Band of the Hawk, endured much hardship because of it. What captivates me about Griffith isn’t just his charming allure, but my comprehension that his intentions stemmed not from malice, but an intense yearning to accomplish something extraordinary, despite the fact that the outcomes of reaching those goals were devastating.

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2025-05-14 21:14