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This year has seen a host of new and returning popular animes, one of the most hotly anticipated being the adaptation of Bleach's One Thousand Year War. One of the big reasons for anime's popularity is the unique villains that it introduces to audiences. These villains, just like any other medium, run the gamut from scenery chewers to cold psychopaths.
In any case, anime has showcased how creative and clever Japan's writers can be. Even in the most intimate and personal of anime, there's always a sense of grandiose purpose that makes anime so engaging. Although there are hundreds of iconic villains, some quotes stand out from the rest.
"Their Souls Are Weighed Down By Gravity."
Char, Mobile Suit Gundam
The full quote is "The people on earth do nothing but pollute it. Their souls are weighed down by gravity." Char Aznable is the most iconic villain of the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise, bar none. He is the longest-standing threat against the heroes of the Universal Century.
Char isn't an effective villain just because he's an ace pilot who leads from the front. What makes him so effective is how set he is in his ways. His genuine belief in his own infallibility, and the "corruption" of those on Earth. Despite his outward charm, Char is a cynical and bitter man ready to do whatever it takes to attain victory.
"When Angels Are Thrown Out From Heaven, They Become Devils."
Vicious, Cowboy Bebop
The full quote is "When Angels are thrown out from Heaven, they become Devils; you agree, don't you, Spike?" In the battles with his old partner Spike, Vicious often goes into these kinds of platitudes in Cowboy Bebop. He's a subdued man when speaking, and seems like a cold person at first glance.
However, this stoicism hides a tranquil fury. The quote above best summarizes his black and white view of traitors. He sees himself as an "angel", and Spike, who left the syndicate, as a "devil". The stoicism and culture are merely a facade to mask his thirst for domination.
“Death Is A Normal Thing. So Why Live?”
Johann Liebert, Monster
The full quote is "Most of the universe is just death, nothing more. In this universe of ours, the birth of a new life on some corner of our planet is nothing but a tiny, insignificant flash. Death is a normal thing. So why live?” That entire monologue sums up Johann's most notable belief. To him, life is nothing special.
Despite his own intelligence, charisma, and ability to lead a "normal" life, he chooses not to. To him, it's pointless. Barring a few people, he has absolutely no compassion for life. Good, bad, race, gender, none of those things matter. He kills just because he can. He's the reason why the show is called what it is. Monster.
"Live Boldly. Even If It Is Only For A Few More Moments."
Frieza, Dragonball Z
The full quote is "That's right. Let it all out. Live boldly. Even if it is only for a few more moments". This aspect of Frieza is what makes him such a memorable Dragonball Z villain. He loves to play with his food. He could easily crush everyone in Namek without a thought. However, his thoughts are "where's the fun in that?" No point in being an intergalactic conqueror if there's no torture involved, as far as Frieza's concerned.
Fighting Frieza is terrifying not just because of his total power. It's because he'll savor every moment of sadism. Still, that is also his greatest flaw. Allowing Goku so much leeway is what eventually got him killed. Though to be fair, that's something Goku does a lot too.
"Do You Humans Ever Listen To The Cries Of Mercy.....?"
Meruem, Hunter x Hunter
The full quote is "Do you, humans, ever listen to the cries of mercy coming from the pigs and cows you slaughter?" Although there are a few exceptions, Meruem holds nothing but contempt for humanity as a whole. He views himself as the next step of evolution, and that humans are nothing more than livestock.
Still, this facade is broken down as he meets more and more exceptional human beings. Although he is prideful, he is no fool. If a human gives him a challenge, he will admit his own fault. A rarity among villains. It won't stop him from utterly annihilating villages, but it does give him more nuance than most.
"Justice Will Prevail, You Say?"
Doflamingo, One Piece
The full quote is "Justice will prevail, you say? But of course, it will! Whoever wins this war becomes justice!" Doflamingo is one of the more memorable villains in a long-running series full of memorable villains. He's in the running for the loudest of the Seven Warlords.
Despite his sadism, he also inspires genuine trust in his crew. He is under the full belief that pursuits of romanticism such as the One Piece are pointless. Instead, he's set on conquering the world around him. Might makes right, and the winners get to say what's good and what's not. A fantastic villain who pushes the Straw Hats to their absolute limits.
"I See Now That The Circumstances Of One’s Birth Are Irrelevant."
Mewtwo, Pokemon
The full quote is "I see now that the circumstances of one’s birth are irrelevant… It is what you do with the gift of life that determines who you are." Mewtwo is one of the more sympathetic villains in anime, and this quote best summarizes it. Throughout the movie, Mewtwo's strength is never sadistic. He does what he does because he feels it's necessary.
A villain who truly believes they are doing good, and taking no part in enjoying it, is both terrifying and hopeful. If he has good intentions, then that must mean a spark of good can be reached. That quote is the realization that his judgment is flawed. People should be free to carve their own way without being judged by their birth. Just as people judged him.
"To Realize My Dream, I Will Perch On Top Of Their Corpses."
Griffith, Berserk
Griffith is by far one of the most hated villains in anime history. Even anime fans who haven't seen Berserk are aware of how cruel the infamous "Eclipse" was for Guts. However, this was an even harder punch to the gut for people who did watch Berserk for the first time. Griffith was no mere villain.
He was also Guts' best friend. Despite his unscrupulous ways of achieving his dreams, he did hold a genuine fondness for Guts. Still, he was prideful and his misunderstanding of Guts' leaving as "betrayal" caused him to go down the wrong path. This degeneration into a cynical monster willing to do anything for power is as tragic as it is revolting.
"You're a third-rate duelist with a fourth-rate deck!"
Seto Kaiba, Yu-Gi-Oh
Anime fans have taken to using this quote to best describe the amazingly pretentious Seto Kaiba of Yu-Gi-Oh fame. As the hyper-competent heir to the Kaiba Corporation, he has restructured the former arms dealing company as one of gaming. However, do not mistake this for softness. If anything, the shift required far more brutality on Kaiba's part. The combination of being a prodigy as well as his status as the richest man in the world means all of his taunts are reminding the opponent of their low status compared to him.
A memorably over-the-top villain in an over-the-top anime. However, the quote above isn't directly from the anime series, but from a game where he says the line in a cutscene. Even in video games, Kaiba remains incredibly quotable.
"I Reject My Humanity, JoJo!"
Dio, Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood
When it comes to memetic mutation, few anime have the claim to fame that Dio has had this decade. Although anime fans are only just now enjoying Dio's egomaniacal outbursts, manga fans have been waiting with bated breath for years to hear that line delivered. Dio is the most iconic villain of the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure franchise, having a major influence on events even past his death.
It all started with this scene, the moment he threw his humanity away in pursuit of more power. The sheer joy with which he throws away his humanity for power is entertainingly hammy, and that makes it so easily quotable.