These moments challenge our perspectives and remind us of the complexity of storytelling in the vibrant world of anime.

We'll look at examples that serve as a reminder that even in the realm of fiction, we can secretly root for anime villains to emerge victorious.

So without further ado, let’s get started.

10. Kirei Kotomine – Fate/Zero

Kirei Kotomine, the Master of Assassins, felt happiness when he saw other people suffer.

However, it's not his fault that he's the way he is, because Kirei spent most of his life trying to pursue something he lacked from the start, fighting his anguish and blind devotion to bring no salvation.

He could find no greater pleasure than the pain of others and harbored a sense of anger at something unknown behind his years-long reward.

Despite being evil, Kirei still maintains a moral compass that does not quell the guilt he feels for being born that way.

9. Reiko Tamura – Kiseijuu

A parasite living as a human and devouring human flesh is a type of creature that someone would want to eliminate from the face of the Earth, but Reiko Tamura gives a reason to let it live. Her main goal, besides staying alive, is to discover the purpose of the parasites' existence.

She is not just a mindless eating machine, she is a philosophical being who wishes to perpetuate her species. Reiko even kills dozens of humans and is a great threat to Shuichi Izumi, but in the end, she redeems herself by sacrificing herself to protect the human child she gave birth to.

8. Team Rocket – Pokémon

“No matter how many times you fall, never give up” – Team Rocket stays true to this and is still trying to steal Pikachu, even though it’s been over two decades. Jessie, James and Meowth work so hard that it’s unreasonable not to expect their plans to bear fruit.

Being part of a criminal organization that profits from other people's Pokémon, they are just trying to make enough money to put food on the table. They rarely do anything truly evil and are always rooting for Ash and Pikachu to win whatever tournament they are in.

7. Ulquiorra Cifer – Bleach

Espada was supposed to be one of the greatest evil anime organizations under Aizen's guidance, but not all members of the group were so interested in subjugating Hueco Mundo.

Unlike most Espada, Ullquiorra Cifer is unique in that he is always trying to understand what it means to have a heart.

Ulquiorra is a villain who barely shows emotions and expresses disinterest in most things.

But throughout the series, he asks quite philosophical and seemingly simple questions. It is only in his final moments that Ulquiorra finally finds a purpose in life and feels love for another person.

6. Shogo Makishima – Psycho Pass

Shogo Makishima is a man full of passion who genuinely cares about the world he lives in. Although his methods were horrific, he was genuinely trying to free society from the Sibyl System, as he believed it was turning its citizens into unthinking automatons.

To fulfill his desire to create a world where other people can make free choices, he transformed himself into a criminally asymptomatic person as he slit throats, incited riots, and attempted to cut off his country's food supply.

Shogo's intentions may seem noble, but he's still the epitome of serial killers in anime.

5. Esdeath – Akame ga Kill

Esdeath is a ruthless and sadistic killer who is often bent on inflicting as much pain on people as possible.

As a high-ranking general of the Empire, Esdeath takes her job very seriously and allows no mercy towards her enemies.

But while it's hard to forgive her more outlandish behavior, Esdeath's kindness and generosity towards her love interest Tatsumi shows that despite her outward cruelty, she is actually capable of tender feelings. Knowing this makes it hard not to root for her.

4. Garou – One-Punch Man

Garou serves as the main antagonist in the second season of One-Punch Man and was a very honorable and sympathetic anime villain.

As a perceived social outcast, Garou felt a familial connection to monsters, and his constant death at the hands of heroes led him to hate the growing superhero population.

In fact, he trained in martial arts to fulfill his promise to avenge all the monsters he saw die while growing up.

Although his ideology seems flawed, as he has no problem with other people killing heroes, Garou has a strong sense of justice and morality, often protecting the outcasts of society.

3. Stain – My Hero Academia

My Hero Academia's hero society has its fair share of exciting vigilantes. Stain is one of them known for his notorious crimes involving murders of Pro Heroes.

A hero turned villain Stain is a cruel, ruthless, and merciless man with a sense of duty to cleanse society of false heroes.

Going against the society of corrupt and lying heroes, he took it upon himself to become the “Hero Killer: Stain” to stain his own hands with blood to purge fake heroes and eradicate the threat from society, eventually making it a better place to live.

2. Obito Uchiha – Naruto

Obito plunged the Hidden Leaf Village into chaos, killed Naruto's parents on the day he was born, and started the Fourth Great Ninja War that resulted in countless innocent deaths.

Despite all his unjustified actions, he is still loved by fans for his emotionally troubled past.

After a childhood filled with constant warfare, he was crushed under a giant boulder and soon after brainwashed by Madara into thinking the world was a horrific hellscape.

If it weren't for the death of his childhood sweetheart, Obito wouldn't have walked the path of total destruction.

1. Light Yagami – Death Note

Eliminating crime is an intoxicating goal, but young diabolical genius Light Yagami has made it look like child's play.

Soon, after stumbling upon the “Death Note”, he followed his perverse sense of justice with the ultimate goal of cleansing the world of all evildoers.

Light started out with good intentions, but ended up being so swallowed up by his ambition that he forgot his own morals and killed hundreds of people over time, in fact, he didn't even hesitate to eliminate those close to him just to save his neck.

Which of the following anime villains were you rooting for to win?

Feel free to comment your thoughts and be sure to recommend some other characters like the ones listed above, also don't forget to share this article with your otaku friends.