Last month, Sanrio announced their second collaboration with Funimation's My Hero Academia, and this time, Dabi and Shigaraki made the roster of included characters. How these villains made the cut for such an overwhelmingly cute collaboration isn't clear, but their importance to the fandom certainly is as fans anticipate the Sanrio x My Hero Academia drop on July 1st, 2022. It was another standout year for fans, as both new series like the Yakuza-centric anime Tokyo Revengers, as well as longstanding favorites like MHA, continued to explore the age-old conflict between good and evil.
Examining what makes an anime antagonist the "best" isn't always determined by their physical strength, but rather how low they will stoop to destroy the happiness and futures of others. The best antagonists become the characters that frustrate yet intrigue viewers who just want to see their best boys and girls succeed. Anime simply wouldn't be the same without the antagonists - the baddies that do their best at being the absolute worst.
Medea Pideth Machina: The Rising Of Shield Hero
Protagonist Naofumi hasn't had it easy since being summoned as a Cardinal Hero of the world and all of his misfortunes can be traced to the overarching antagonist of The Rising of Shield Hero, Medea Piedth Machina, aptly called, "The Goddess of Betrayal," who spends her days causing death and destruction throughout the Eight Worlds solely for her enjoyment.
Naofumi's denouncement as a hero after false allegations of sexual assault early in the show set the stage for Medea's apathy. Her cruel tactic of bringing back the souls of the deceased, most notably Queen Miriella Q. Melocarc, and then tricking their former allies into believing they had survived, made for some of the most heartbreaking moments this season. Medea's complete lack of remorse and suffocating selfishness makes her an unforgettable antagonist.
Kai Chisaki "Overhaul": My Hero Academia
In the world of My Hero Academia, alive with pro heroes and those in training, villains are to be expected. However, there are some whose villainous ways surpass the average bad guy looking to get their way. Kai Chisaki, known to society as "Overhaul," is a terrifying example of the evil within Musutasfu, Japan.
Chisaki's child abuse, through his attempt to create quirk-destroying bullets, required Eri's body to be disassembled and reassembled at his will - a despicable act, even for a yakuza leader. In the scenes that followed, he would gaslight Eri, making her feel as though his mistreatment was her fault, illustrating his complete lack of empathy. Chisaki's misanthropic nature is reminiscent of Dabi, another MHA villain who shares the same goal of ruling the underworld.
Akito Sohma: Fruits Basket
The story of Fruits Basket, which is adapted from its highly rated shoujo manga, showcases the beauty of life in rural Japan, and since the 2019 anime remaster, this classic has become even more aesthetically pleasing. However, within the idyllic exterior of the Sohma Estate lies Akito Sohma, the god of the zodiac who seeks to disrupt the happiness of her fellow zodiac members however she can.
Where Akito's physical strength is lacking, her psychological manipulation shines. She torments Kyo with her looming threat of lifelong solitary confinement, a gambit that Akito happily watches him struggle against. Though Fruits Basket concluded this spring, there is more for fans to look forward to with the release of Fruits Basket: Prelude.
Mahito: Jujutsu Kaisen
Jujutsu Kaisen is a shonen that sticks to its roots, featuring hoards of monsters pitted against teenagers trying to save the world. Despite its predictability, the show has forged its unique path through the use of horror-inspired antagonists such as Mahito, the self-proclaimed manifestation of humanity's transgressions and hatred.
Mahito aspires to extinguish humanity and rule the world with cursed spirits like himself. After murdering Junpei, he laughed in the face of Yuji's despair, for he doesn't simply want to kill, but first break Yuji mentally, a chilling distinction that sets him apart from antagonists like MHA's Chisaki, who does his dirty work as cleanly as possible.
Muzan Kibutsuji: Demon Slayer
Tragic backstory? Check. Archnemesis to the heroes? Check. Lord of all demons? Check! Demon Slayer's Muzan Kibutsuji aspires to bring death upon the Demon Slayers and to devour their beloved member Nezuko, becoming the driving dark force behind the Entertainment Arc of the show, as well as the Demon Slayer movie.
Demon Slayer has become one of the most popular anime of the decade, so fans' loyalty to the Kamado family make Muzan an antagonist that viewers take seriously, despite the Michael Jackson memes he has inspired. As the creator of every demon in existence, this antagonist's demise brought a great sense of satisfaction to viewers of the 2021 season.
Dabi: My Hero Academia
The universe of My Hero Academia has no shortage of villains that exist to threaten the lives and actions of the heroes, both the professionals and those in training. One of the most threatening members of the League of Villains, Dabi is an antagonist only the bravest heroes dare to face off against.
Utilizing his quirk, which matches his destructive demeanor, Dabi can set anything alight, explaining the Japanese translation of his name, "Cremation." He is fully invested in the destruction of the heroes, caring very little about the damage he inflicts upon himself in battle. Because of this weakness, Dabi uses psychological warfare in addition to his physical power. He chose the path of destruction while he watched his family rise as heroes, symbolizing what becomes of those who defy justice rather than protect it.
Tetta Kisaki: Tokyo Revengers
Tokyo Revengers was a welcomed addition to Crunchyroll's 2021 lineup where antagonist Tetta Kisaki has many opportunities to prove himself as a villain, through murder, manipulation, or any shady operation that will bring him closer to his selfish pursuit of power.
Kisaki's malice hinges on his time-leaping abilities, meaning that the suffering he causes is multiplied across the timelines he meddles in. Unlike MHA's Dabi and Chisaki who while evil, still manage to maintain loyalty to their gang of villains, Kisaki is the embodiment of deceit, caring very little to maintain such loyalty. Kisaki is an antagonist to be feared through his power and influence over the criminals he commands.
Riz: Beastars
The world of Beastars brims with drama and rife, much of which can be linked to the show's cute but deadly antagonist Riz. Initially a kind side character, Riz is revealed to have murdered his best friend Tem, sparking conflict with the non-human main characters of Beastars.
Unlike most anime antagonists, Riz was genuinely a good bear before he murdered Tem and made the decision to hide his crime. He loses his taste buds and resorts to self-harm over the guilt of killing Tem, who many fans suspect was also his love interest. This sets him apart from the majority of 2021 antagonists that sought influence over humanity, as all Riz desired was to protect others from himself.
Echidna: Re:ZERO
The Witch of Greed, Echidna was fully fleshed out in 2021's season of Re:ZERO. Her mastery of magic allows her to teleport and heal, making her a nearly unstoppable antagonist who, despite her poised appearance, made a major impact on the show's fourth season.
Like Demon Slayer's Muzan, Echidna desires immortality and will commit any atrocity to achieve it, and through their goals are the same, she never comes across as quite as malicious. She's the only antagonist seen in a school uniform, and definitely, the only antagonist who calmly serves the protagonist unidentified "body fluid" tea. Regardless of her crimes, she's a unique anti-hero that defied conventional tropes.
Hitogami: Mushoku Tensei
In Mushoku Tensei, the antagonist is a literal god known as Hitogami, the "God of Humanity." Initially introduced as a minor character who aids the protagonist, Hitogami rises to become the largest threat to the colorful cast of sorcerers and magicians.
It's Hitogami's demeanor that defines him as more than the faceless entity he appears as. He takes pleasure in causing people to destroy what they most value, an admittedly original pastime. The fate of Hitogami was one of the few pending storylines, confirming that this antagonist will cause more strife in the next season.