Villains are usually evil presences in anime. They kill incompetent subordinates, shun ideals like camaraderie and charity, and revel in causing pain and suffering. Most of the time, this is done so that the audience can come to hate the villain so that the hero's eventual victory over them will be all the more cathartic.
Sometimes, however, villains show a more sympathetic side to them. They may still oppose the hero and threaten peace, but their personality or motivations might be more relatable, causing conflict as the audience tries to reconcile their support for the hero with their sympathy for the villain. Here are some of the kindest villains in anime.
8 Wamuu (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure)
Wamuu is the lowest-ranking of the Pillar Men, three ancient vampires that awakened in the modern day. As a warrior, Wamuu relishes in battle, using his wind-based powers to beat away any foe that would attempt to harm his betters.
Despite being rather callous towards normal humans, Wamuu does have a noble and honorable side to him. He does not fight those who are weak, and shows respect to the strong. While he is still a vampiric monster that has no qualms about killing his enemies, Wamuu is easily the most sympathetic and kind of the Pillar Men.
7 Tier Harribel (Bleach)
Tier Harribel is one of the Espada, a group of elite Arrancar that serve directly under Sosuke Aizen. Ranked 3rd, Harribel is easily one of the strongest Arrancar in existence, and has a number of strong subordinates below her.
While most Arrancar are quite vicious and cruel, Harribel in comparison is calm and collected. She dislikes killing, although she is not unwilling to if she must, and she cares quite a bit for her subordinates. Her good leadership qualities are what allow her to become the new ruler of Hueco Mundo after Aizen's defeat.
6 Dozle Zabi (Mobile Suit Gundam)
Dozle Zabi is the fearsome commander of the Zeon Space Attack Force, and his countenance matches his reputation. As a member of the Zabi family and a high-ranking member of Zeon's army, Dozle is one of the Earth Federation's greatest enemies and a constant threat to their forces.
Despite this, Dozle is easily one of the most likable members of the Zabi family. He is a competent leader who has earned the admiration of his troops due to his willingness to fight alongside them. In addition, he is quite the family man and dotes over his only daughter.
5 Kougaiji (Saiyuki)
The son of the demon Gyumaoh, Kougaiji is a fearsome demon with incredible magical powers. He is the main force opposing the Sanzo crew as they make their journey, and is one of their biggest rivals.
Despite this, Kougaiji is actually quite the sympathetic character. He is loyal to his allies and friends, almost to the point of stubbornness. In addition, he cares for his family deeply, which ultimately puts him on the path of opposition towards the Sanzo party.
4 King Bradley (Fullmetal Alchemist)
King Bradley is the Fuhrer of Amestris, making him one of the most powerful people in the country. In addition, he is a homunculus whose true name is Wrath, and is a ruthless man who is responsible for the deaths and suffering of many for the sake of Father's goals.
Despite this, King Bradley is quite an amicable man. He is polite and charitable to his soldiers and subordinates, and he cares about his wife quite a bit. In addition, he has always shown respect to warriors that prove their strength in battle.
3 Hideo Kuze (Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex)
Hideo Kuze is one of the most complex characters in the Ghost in the Shell series. Initially a member of the JSDF, Kuze soon became a leader of the refugee resistance movement, fighting against the authoritarian government oppressing them.
While Kuze's actions threaten the peace of Japan and bring him into conflict with Public Security Section 9, his motivations are actually quite noble: having seen the mistreatment of the refugees in Dejima, Kuze becomes a rallying figure for them. Eventually, he ends up helping Section 9 divert a nuclear strike, making amends with those that should have been his enemies.
2 Garou (One-Punch Man)
Once a student under Bang, the Silver Fang, Garou had always identified with villains over heroes. Obsessed with strength, Garou began to yearn to become a true monster and started attacking heroes indiscriminately to prove his strength.
Despite his desire to become a true villain, Garou is far more empathetic than he admits. His sympathy for villains comes from his trauma of being bullied and is demonstrated by how he refuses to torture others like he was. He never kills the heroes he fights, and has a soft spot for children, helping them out even while putting up a tough front.
1 Majin Buu (Dragon Ball Z)
Nowadays, Majin Buu is a harmless ball of fluff that rarely gets all that much screentime, but when he was first introduced he was an unpredictable ball of destruction that was as dangerous as he was childlike. Majin Buu killed many even before he became consumed by his evil side, having had little to no sense of morality.
Still, Majin Buu had a kind side to him even before Mr. Satan's influence. When he encountered a blind child in need of food, he happily gave him milk without much thought. He became even kinder after meeting Mr. Satan, swearing off violence and even starting a quiet life living in solitude. Unfortunately, fate had other things in store for him, and Buu soon became a fully-fledged villain.