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What if the hero doesn’t save the day—but becomes the enemy?
Anime often features character growth and redemption arcs, but some of the most powerful stories come when the main character embraces darkness.
Whether due to trauma, betrayal, god complex, or ideology, these protagonists lose their moral compass and shift from heroes to villains.
In this blog, I’ll walk you through 10 anime where the MC becomes the villain, either gradually or by shocking revelation. These are the stories that stay with you long after the credits roll.
Table of Contents
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1. Death Note – Light Yagami
Genre: Psychological Thriller, Supernatural
Main Traits: God complex, sociopath, strategic villain
Streaming On: Netflix, Crunchyroll
Light starts as a brilliant student with a strong sense of justice. But after gaining the Death Note, his vision of justice turns into murder.
He believes only he can fix the world—by killing anyone he deems “evil.”
As Kira, he manipulates, lies, and kills with no remorse.
He becomes the villain in a world chasing him as a criminal.
Why Watch?
- Iconic antihero-to-villain transformation
- Philosophical debate on power and morality
- Gripping psychological warfare
2. Code Geass – Lelouch vi Britannia
Genre: Mecha, Psychological Thriller
Main Traits: Master strategist, morally gray, tragic villain
Streaming On: Netflix, Crunchyroll
Lelouch fights against a corrupt empire—but becomes a masked revolutionary who lies, kills, and sacrifices everything.
His ideals are pure, but his methods are ruthless.
By the end, even he sees himself as the villain—by choice.
He becomes the tyrant… to destroy tyranny.
Why Watch?
- Deep political and moral complexity
- One of the most unforgettable endings in anime
- Brilliant use of power, sacrifice, and deception
3. Attack on Titan – Eren Yeager (Final Season)
Genre: Dark Fantasy, Drama
Main Traits: Cold, militant, genocide-driven
Streaming On: Netflix, Crunchyroll
Eren begins as a passionate freedom fighter. But after learning the truth about the Titans and the world beyond the walls, he embraces a path of destruction.
By the final season, he’s ready to kill billions through the Rumbling to protect his people.
To the world, he’s the villain.
Why Watch?
- Legendary character transformation
- Ethical dilemmas and shifting perspective
- War, revenge, and the cost of freedom
4. Future Diary (Mirai Nikki) – Yuno Gasai / Yukiteru Amano
Genre: Survival Game, Psychological
Main Traits: Manipulation, betrayal, moral collapse
Streaming On: Hulu, Crunchyroll
Yukiteru starts off weak and kind. But when caught in a deadly diary survival game, he slowly loses himself.
To win and reunite with Yuno, he kills friends and innocent people, abandoning his morals entirely.
Why Watch?
- Fast-paced mind games
- Romance turned deadly
- A twisted journey from weak to wicked
5. Monster – Dr. Kenzo Tenma
Genre: Psychological Thriller, Crime
Main Traits: Guilt-driven, slow moral erosion
Streaming On: Netflix, Prime Video (region dependent)
Tenma is a brilliant surgeon who saves a child’s life. Years later, that child becomes a sociopath responsible for mass murders.
Tenma’s quest to stop him gradually transforms into a dark, obsessive pursuit where he questions his own morality and humanity.
While Tenma doesn’t become a villain outright, the line between right and wrong becomes increasingly blurred.
Why Watch?
- Philosophical depth and realism
- Chilling moral questions
- Slow-burning psychological evolution
6. The Rising of the Shield Hero – Naofumi Iwatani
Genre: Isekai, Fantasy
Main Traits: Revenge-driven, morally gray, antihero
Streaming On: Crunchyroll, Netflix
Naofumi is falsely accused and abandoned by the kingdom he was summoned to protect.
The betrayal breaks him—and he becomes ruthless, distrusting, and borderline villainous in how he fights back.
Although he never fully becomes evil, many see him as the antagonist of the system.
Why Watch?
- Transformation fueled by injustice
- Redemption through pain
- Complex power dynamics
7. Devilman Crybaby – Akira Fudo
Genre: Horror, Psychological, Supernatural
Main Traits: Demon-host, emotional collapse
Streaming On: Netflix
Akira fuses with a demon to protect humanity, but his emotional sensitivity makes him unstable.
He slowly loses control, causing destruction and even becoming the reason for the apocalypse.
He ends as a tragic villain, filled with regret.
Why Watch?
- Intense, emotional, and heartbreaking
- Distinct animation and soundtrack
- Biblical themes of good, evil, and identity
8. Parasyte: The Maxim – Shinichi Izumi
Genre: Sci-Fi, Horror, Psychological
Main Traits: Emotionally numb, morally shifting
Streaming On: Netflix, Crunchyroll
Shinichi is a normal teen until a parasite infects his body.
As the show progresses, he becomes colder, more analytical, and less human in behavior.
He doesn’t turn evil—but the way he kills and distances himself emotionally raises the question: Is he still a hero?
Why Watch?
- Body horror meets emotional breakdown
- Strong moral and identity conflict
- Great blend of action and philosophy
9. The Saga of Tanya the Evil – Tanya Degurechaff
Genre: Military, Isekai, Psychological
Main Traits: Strategic villain, soulless child
Streaming On: Crunchyroll
Tanya is a salaryman reborn as a little girl in a war-torn world after challenging “God.”
She becomes a cold, ruthless commander who manipulates, destroys, and executes with no empathy.
Her goal? Survive—and defy divine punishment.
Why Watch?
- Unique character concept
- Mix of military war drama and supernatural elements
- Cold, calculated villain MC
10. Vinland Saga – Thorfinn (Season 1)
Genre: Historical, Action, Drama
Main Traits: Revenge-obsessed, emotionally blind
Streaming On: Netflix, Crunchyroll
Thorfinn starts as a child seeking justice but quickly becomes a violent, vengeful killer.
He loses his soul in the pursuit of revenge, becoming no better than the men he swore to destroy.
Though he eventually redeems himself, he spends much of Season 1 as the villain in his own story.
Why Watch?
- Grounded, historical evolution
- Amazing art and philosophy of violence
- Redemption arc rooted in real emotion
PAA (People Also Ask)
Why do some anime protagonists become villains?
It reflects the impact of trauma, power, or disillusionment, offering a complex narrative arc rather than traditional heroism.
Is turning the main character into the villain popular in anime?
Yes. It’s a growing trend in modern anime, adding psychological depth and moral ambiguity.
What’s the difference between antihero and villain MC?
Antiheroes still try to do right by questionable means. Villain MCs embrace evil or destruction, knowingly or unknowingly.
Which anime has the best villain MC arc?
Code Geass, Death Note, and Attack on Titan are top picks for villain transformations.
Conclusion
When the hero becomes the villain, it creates unforgettable stories.
These anime show how power, trauma, loss, or obsession can twist even the best intentions into something dangerous.
Whether it’s for revenge, justice, survival, or ideology—each of these MCs walks a path that leads to darkness, forcing viewers to rethink what heroism really means.
If you like character depth, moral dilemmas, and psychological tension—this list is your goldmine.
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Read | 10 Isekai Anime Where the Main Character Is a Villain
Read | Top 10 Best Anime Where the Main Character Is the Villain
Read | 10 Anime Where the MC and Villain Fall in Love
Read | Top 10 Anime Where the Main Character Is OP (Overpowered)
