Every good story needs an antagonist. Whether it be a workplace drama or an adventurous epic, the heroes of a story always need something or someone to fight against. While an antagonist can be anything, including the earth itself, only a defined character can truly be a villain.
Even amongst villains, there are further distinctions to be made. Some are solo actors who prefer chaos on their own terms or begrudging bad guys looking for a way out. Some, though, not only choose villainy but pursue it on a massive, influential, systematic scale that earns them the title of ‘overlords.’ And anime has no shortage of them.
7 All For One (My Hero Academia)
In My Hero Academia’s world of superheroes, the specific abilities of each character play a big part in who they are. So when a man appears with the ability to give and take superpowers at will, it’s easy to guess what kind of person he will become.
As one might expect, All For One is the biggest threat in MHA. He’s a man who has cheated death and aging and who wields a massive reserve of powers nobody can predict. Almost every criminal act in MHA can be traced back to his actions, and as the series draws to a close, his massive bank of abilities will be the biggest hurdle the heroes must overcome.
6 Muzan Kibutsuji (Demon Slayer)
All For One might be the source of a lot of misfortune, but Muzan holds responsibility for every single demonic event in Demon Slayer. Every demon comes from him and holds his blood, making him an extremely fitting final boss, as taking him out will take out every demon still roaming the land.
While the Demon Slayer anime has yet to adapt Muzan in a proper fight, manga readers know too well how unstoppable a force he is. His power has been hinted at though, as even seemingly unkillable demons like Akaza can be dispatched easily if they upset him. Nothing short of the combined strength and hatred of every demon slayer could even hope to take him out of the picture.
5 Eren Jaeger (Attack On Titan)
It’s very unusual for a protagonist to become the villain of their own story. For most of Attack on Titan’s run, Eren was the energetic protagonist, seeking to avenge his mother by eradicating the titans.
Now, however, Eren has become the biggest threat to the world. The last time anime watchers saw him, he was leading an army of colossal titans to trample the world while his devout followers did his will on the ground. And with access to the founding titan’s powers, the boy who once wanted to kill all titans now has control of all titans.
4 Ainz Ooal Gown (Overlord)
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The overlord of Overlord himself, Ainz is one of the more unique ‘isekai’ protagonists in the anime landscape. Like many of the others, he’s an average nerd who got trapped in his favorite MMORPG. He, however, prefers to play the villain.
There are more than enough overpowered protagonists in the isekai genre, but Ainz manages to earn his power and prestige through consistently smart and tactical thinking. He prefers to go overboard on his enemies, removing any chance of failure, and has fun manipulating the rules of the game he’s trapped to impressive effect.
3 Meruem (Hunter x Hunter)
Hunter x Hunter’s ‘chimera ant’ story arc is often brought up as one of the best in all of anime and manga history. Praise of this level can partially be attributed to the strength of the arc’s main villain, Meruem, the chimera ant king.
Having literally forced his own birth, Meruem is a character who pursues his own goals with little regard for others. He orchestrates the conquering and culling of an entire nation and is shown to learn at absurd rates. Taking down the chimera ants is a task that pushes Hunter x Hunter’s main cast to its limits, and it’s all due to Meruem’s sheer power as a villain.
2 Sousuke Aizen (Bleach)
Most overlord-type villains are set up and revealed to be the big bad from the start. However, Bleach forever showed that a strong twist villain can really give a story some much-needed energy.
Aizen is possibly the most famous twist villain in anime history. His initial death was a massive shock to the rest of the cast, as he was known as a kind leader at the time. Once his true villainy is revealed, however, Aizen takes Bleach by the throat, manipulating the events of the series for several more arcs before being eventually defeated.
1 Dio Brando (Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure)
Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure’s premier villain himself. Dio Brando is a character who is hard not to know and even harder not to love. Growing up in the slums of London, being powerful was all a young Dio ever wanted, and he jumped at the chance to become everyone’s favorite evil overlord.
With the power of vampirism and stands, Dio creates a network of influence that continues to affect the Joestars long after his death. Everything in Jojo is set off by his actions, and whenever he is around, his terrifying presence and unshakable charisma make it hard not to want him to be in every single scene.