Best Anime That Are Notorious For Turning Villains Into Heroes

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There are many fantastic anime villains who seem to act maliciously without any apparent reason. For instance, Dio in “JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure” is a vampire driven by an insatiable thirst for power, All For One from “My Hero Academia” aims to bring chaos and destruction upon the world, and Frieza from “Dragon Ball Z” yearns to rule over the galaxy.

Each of these anime antagonists is remarkably well-crafted, however, they remain evil throughout their storylines. Contrastingly, some other anime villains do undergo transformations, shifting from adversaries to champions – albeit momentarily. These anime productions skillfully portray a gray area between allies and enemies by providing their villains with complex backstories that explain their motivations for fighting.

There will be spoilers.

Attack On Titan

Blurring The Lines Of War

In simpler terms, the story of Attack on Titan commences with a battle between righteousness and wickedness. The remaining humans live in fear behind fortified walls, constantly threatened by towering Titans that resemble humans. Over time, it’s revealed that certain individuals can metamorphose into Titans and have been covertly residing among the people.

Over time, it becomes increasingly challenging to tell allies from adversaries in this series. Eventually, they all band together against a common threat aiming to annihilate mankind. Regardless of past conflicts such as treachery, homicide, and deception, they align themselves to ward off impending disaster. The conclusion is grim, leaving spectators in a state of confusion regarding their emotions.

Bleach

Becoming Hollow

In the opening scenes, a high school student named Ichigo encounters a Shinigami, or grim reaper named Rukia, one fateful night. During their encounter, Rukia gets wounded while battling an evil spirit known as Hollow. To save her life, she transfers some of her Shinigami abilities to Ichigo, effectively turning him into a grim reaper too. The story concludes with Rukia being forcibly taken by other Shinigami towards the Soul Society, which serves as their heavenly realm, and they intend to sentence her to death there.

In this narrative, Ichigo and his companions make a solemn promise to save her, by sneaking into the Soul Society where numerous Shinigami, who wish them harm, are present. This prolonged storyline culminates in Ichigo and many other Shinigami finding mutual respect and forming alliances with each other. Although there are additional antagonistic twists within Bleach, this initial arc serves as an excellent illustration of these events.

Dragon Ball Z

Planet Destroyers One Day, Daddies The Next

In the realm of popular anime, Dragon Ball Z remains a timeless classic that leaves many fans in disbelief due to its character transformation plotlines. Among these transformations, the initial arc of Dragon Ball Z, known as the Saiyan arc, offers the most compelling example. Herein lies the invasion of Earth by three Saiyans, leading to the brutal slaying of numerous humans, ranging from common farmers to close associates of Goku like Yamcha and Tien.

In an unexpected twist of events, I, once the chief antagonist during a particular storyline, was eventually welcomed as an Earth citizen post-Namek Saga. Shocking, right? Even my union with Bulma followed! It’s mind-boggling how things change in this Dragon Ball universe. Similarly, during the Android Saga, mechanical foes morphed into friends for Goku and the gang. Now, Buu, who turns people into candies before devouring them, seems like a friend you wouldn’t want. Yet, he too found camaraderie with Goku and company within the Majin Buu Saga. Quite peculiar, isn’t it?

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure

Building The Team

In most storylines of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, the protagonist often finds himself gathering his team, initially composed of adversaries who engage in destructive acts that border on terrorism. These actions are so severe that it can be surprising to see them acting amicably with the hero in subsequent episodes. For instance, the fourth arc in the manga is Diamond is Unbreakable, which corresponds to the third season of the anime series.

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In JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, heroes frequently assemble their teams from adversaries who have committed appalling acts of violence. It can be shocking to witness these enemies acting friendly with the hero in subsequent episodes. An example is Diamond is Unbreakable, the fourth arc in the manga and the third season of the anime series.

In the early stages of the series, the main character, Josuke, encounters a peer named Okuyasu. Initially, Okuyasu and his brother Keicho attempt to eliminate Josuke entirely, but following their confrontation, any lingering tension seems to vanish as if it never occurred. This forgiveness without lengthy discussions about repercussions is unlike many other anime, such as _Dragon Ball Z_ with Vegeta. Yet, this quick resolution is part of the quirky appeal that makes _Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure_ stand out.

Mobile Suit Gundam

Charred Battlefields

In the past, prior to “Attack on Titan,” the original “Mobile Suit Gundam” series presented the complexities of both sides in the conflict. While there was undoubtedly a hero in the anime, a young pilot named Amuro, the antagonistic Principality of Zeon also had a valid case or compelling figures that audiences could support. Leading this group was Char, Amuro’s adult counterpart who later emerged as a hero in the sequel series, “Zeta Gundam,” under the alias Quattro.

In the initial storyline, characters initially portrayed as heroes turned corrupt, while villains switched sides, adding depth and intrigue to the Gundam series as space opera. The underlying message was that no one involved in war is completely innocent. However, this does not imply that soldiers blindly obeying orders are inherently evil, making it a valuable lesson to grasp.

One Piece

Can’t Resist Luffy’s Energy

In the realm of Shonen anime, One Piece stands tall as one of the longest-lasting series ever, thus accumulating numerous instances. This pirate-centric universe often portrays pirates in a negative light, mirroring their historical image. However, against the grain of traditional piracy, the Straw Hat Pirates led by Luffy, deviate from this norm. Unlike their ruffian counterparts, they thrive on adventures and are not hesitant to lend a helping hand to those in need.

Due to their notorious image, the Marines are always on the hunt for pirates, seen as heroes by some but portrayed as antagonists by Luffy, who views them as obstacles to a good time. The anime subtly illustrates this moral gray area, with Luffy often encountering evil or misguided pirate crews, and occasionally even forming alliances with former villains. This complex dynamic is particularly evident during the Alabasta saga, which consists of multiple story arcs, featuring characters like Vivi, Nico Robin, and Bentham who begin as enemies but eventually join forces with Luffy.

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2025-08-19 13:36