I loveMy Hero Academia.For almost the entirety of the past decade, it’s been one of the best shōnen series week after week, showcasing Deku’s rise from one of the weakest characters in the universe to one of the strongest. There are a ton of reasons to love the series. Deku himself is a lovable main character with plenty of charm, the right kind of stubbornness, and a deep loyalty to his friends that can never be shaken.
The villains inMy Hero Academiaare another reason why I can’t wait to tune in. They’re so much more than just generic bad guys. I’ve seen a lot of anime, and I’ve watched shōnen more than any other genre out there. One of the easiest ways a shōnen can bring itself down is through shallow, one-dimensional villains.My Hero Academianot only avoids this issue, but succeeds with some of the best-written villains in anime.Almost every villain in the series is understandable, with brutal backstories that make them hard to hate and the perfect antagonists for the story.
My Hero Academia Has the Best Villains in Anime
Shigaraki, Dabi, Twice, and More
I think it’s fair to say thatMy Hero Academiahas thebest villains in anime. Most other series have boring villains that are evil for no real reason. These villains seem more robotic than human, with one-track thinking that doesn’t really make sense once you break it down. Even series likeDragon Ballaren’t perfect in this category. Cell has no real reason to destroy. He just does it because it’s his natural instinct, as he wants to be perfect, and that’s about it.
Each of the villains inMy Hero Academiahas real reasons to commit evil. While no reason is really justifiable, it’s at least understandable. I know that I’m liable to be a worse person after I’ve had a hard day, and after looking at Dabi’s, Himiko’s, and Shigaraki’s pasts, it’s easy to see that they’ve had much more than a few bad days. Their entire existences have been troubled, creating a life filled with suffering that they can’t help but want to share with everyone around them.
My Hero Academia May Have Resolved One of Its Biggest Mysteries Without Anyone Noticing
The My Hero Academia franchise might have solved one of its most important mysteries without anyone realizing.
They say that “misery loves company”, and that’s exactly what the villains inMy Hero Academiaput forward. They’re all miserable people who have received the worst life has to offer.They share their pain with the world almost compulsively, creating some of the most relatable and understandable villains in anime.
Great Villains Can’t Be Just Mean
They Need Depth to Their Characters
For a villain to be great, they can’t just be evil. Sure, being evil can be core to a villain’s existence, but if that’s their only trait,they’ll just end up being boring.Villains don’t even need to be as deep as they are inMy Hero Academiato be compelling. Take Turbo Granny fromDandadan,for example, one of thefunniest anime seriesof the past few years. At first, she seems like an unhinged villain who will kill anyone who steps into her realm.
Seiko Ayase, Momo’s grandma, reveals that Turbo Granny actually existed as a way to help girls who had been assaulted in her tunnel. It’s a great addition to the character that not only explains her actions, but makes me root for her. Once I heard about Pain’s backstory inNaruto,it made me realize where he was coming from. I wasn’t a fan of what he did to the Jinchuuriki he captured, but hearing about how much he lost in the Third Great Ninja War made me realize that there’s a lot more going on in the world ofNarutothan I once understood.
Villains don’t have to be relatable to be enjoyable though. Frieza is cruel for cruelty’s sake. He couldn’t care less about the feelings of those weaker than him, and he has no problem showing his malice to friends and foes alike. That’s what makes me love Frieza. He’s so mean that it’s charming. He’s not just evil. He’s arrogant, cunning, and one of the most ambitious characters inDragon Ball,making him thebest villain in the seriesby a long shot.
My Hero Academia’s Villains Are the Best Because They Come From a Real Place
Each of the Villains (Bar All For One) Have Brutal Backstories
It’s crazy how much the villains inMy Hero Academiahave been through. They’re the direct result of the failings of the Hero Society. Before their backstories are presented, it’s easy to think that the League of Villains are a bunch of punks who just want to break stuff because they’re bored. Their backstories show that it couldn’t be further from the truth.Each of the members in the group has at least a half-decent reason to hate society, and while I don’t agree with their actions,I can see where they’re coming from.
Dabi had a bleak upbringing. He was raised by Endeavor, one of the strongest characters in the entire series. Endeavor only spent time with his son to train him, and when Shoto Todoroki was born, Endeavor stopped spending time with Dabi entirely. He only wanted a successor to hold his power, and because Dabi couldn’t use ice like Shoto could, he was worthless to his father. In an attempt to win his father’s favor back, Dabi let his power loose, losing control and nearly losing his own life.
Villains Can Be Victims: Why Twice Stands as My Hero Academia’s Most Complex Character
Twice’s character arc shows that some villains are victims and his madness and identity issues arose from abandonment rather than malice.
Spinner’s Quirk makes him look like a lizard, making him a “freak” to society. He can’t get a normal job, live a normal life, and isn’t treated like the human being that he is. He started to hate the society that treated him so poorly. Instead of rehabilitating him, or finding a place for him, the world threw him away like garbage. It’s not surprising that he decided to take his anger out on the world that took its anger out on him.
No Villains Are More Redeemable Than Shigaraki, Dabi, and Himiko
Their Backstories Make Them Sympathetic
The villains inMy Hero Academiaare at least half the reason to watch the show. IfDragon Ballis known for its iconic attacks and breathtaking transformations,My Hero Academiashould be known for its villains. They’re so relatable that it’s scary.They each have great backstories that highlight why they’ve become the monsters that they’re willing to be. Characters like Spinner, Shigaraki, Himiko, and more have had such horrible lives, they almost can’t be blamed for becoming evil.
Having quality villains is essential for a shōnen series to see success.My Hero Academiaproved that without good villains, the heroes don’t have a compelling reason to fight, and without bleak backstories, the villains don’t have a compelling reason to be villains in the first place.
