Best Shounen Antagonists

A shounen (Or Shōnen) is a manga genre directed towards a younger male demographic (Usually teenagers). This genre has become a staple in Japanese culture, with several shounen series being adapted into anime where many have achieved great success and popularity in Japan and the wider world.

The character that you intend to add in must originate from a shounen manga, otherwise, they are likely to be unable to qualify. Keep in mind that some of the most well-known anime characters (E.g. Goku and Luffy) have originated from a manga series as well.

This list will be solely based on villains who made their debut in Shounen manga or while they may be an anime exclusive, they appeared on a source material based on a manga. Which villain from a shounen manga do you think stood out the most?
The Top Ten
1 Frieza Freeza (Pronounced "Frieza" in the Funimation dub) is fictional character in the Dragon Ball series by Akira Toriyama as the primary antagonist of the Freeza Saga. He is a galactic tyrant who governs the Planet Trade Organization and is feared by the universe for his sadistic and brutal nature. He is... read more

A total complete monster. Frieza may not be the best villain ever, but man did he set up standards for how evil one character could get. Even if he didn't change the series's mood, he is still one of Dragon Ball's most vile and sadistic villains.

2 Meruem

Watch the damn show. He doesn't need explaining.

3 Light Yagami Light Yagami is a fictional character and the protagonist of the manga series Death Note, created by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata.

What makes Light stand out is that he is the main protagonist. He may be the primary villain, but he was the protagonist anyway as Death Note centered around on him, a villain protagonist. A lot of people (Myself included) rooted for Light, but the more he kept using the Death Note, the more villainous he became until he ultimately became irredeemable in the end. That's saying a lot when it comes to character writing.

4 Madara Uchiha Madara Uchiha (うちはマダラ, Uchiha Madara) was the legendary leader of the Uchiha clan. He founded Konohagakure alongside his rival, Hashirama Senju, with the intention of beginning an era of peace. When the two couldn't agree on how to achieve that peace, they fought for control of the village,... read more
5 Envy

He killed Hughes, started the Ishval Civil War by gleefully murdering a child and acts like a bratty sociopath. You can hate him all you want, but I think that's what makes him a great villain. The Original 2003 anime version of Envy is actually even worse if you think about it. What he does, in the end, is so petty it's actually unforgivable.

6 Nagato/Pain Nagato (Also known by his alias "Pain") is a fictional character from the manga and anime franchise Naruto, created by Masashi Kishimoto.
7 Orochimaru Orochimaru is a fictional character from the Naruto universe created by Masashi Kishimoto and developed into a media franchise, which consists of a series of manga, anime, soundtracks, OVAs, movies, video games, and other collectibles.

I miss him as a villain. Yeah, he's more of an on-and-off villain now, but back in the day, his creepiness and sometimes disgusting characteristics really made him stand out, and that's saying a lot considering how diverse Naruto characters are.

There is no anime Antagonist that has scared me like orochimaru in real life. I literally used to feel the fear when he would make appearance or even whenhis theme was played especially in chunin arc.

8 Akainu Sakazuki, formerly known by his admiral alias Akainu is a fictional character in the One Piece franchise created by Eiichiro Oda. He is the current fleet admiral of the Marines. Because of his actions, Akainu was one of the main antagonists of the Marineford Arc and after his promotion, he became one... read more

One Piece has a lot of vile villains, but while some were at least able to defeat Luffy, the tone of the manga and anime didn't change much. Akainu transcends that due to his merciless and extremist-like personality which he never attempts to hide and showcasing how vile and untrustworthy a government could get. He is also the VERY FIRST character to destroy Luffy emotionally, completely changing the tone of the series and even a few antagonists openly hated him. And surprisingly, this makes Akainu all the more, an effective villain.

9 Shou Tucker Shou Tucker is a fictional character from the Fullmetal Alchemist manga series and its adaptations created by Hiromu Arakawa.

Everyone hates him and so do I. But Shou Tucker needs to be mentioned considering how he affected Ed and Al for the reminder of Full Metal Alchemist. He's just hated because of what he does in the plot and that's totally understandable. But in a critic's viewpoint, Shou Tucker stands out as he changed the tone of the series very early on and showcasing a possibility of a person like Tucker existing in real life. What Arakawa (The author of FMA) does with him in a manga OVA is SO satisfying because that's how much of a villain he really was.

10 Johan Liebert Johan Liebert is a character in the anime and manga series Monster, created by Naoki Urasawa. He is the twin brother of the main character, Dr. Kenzo Tenma, and serves as the primary antagonist. Johan is a highly intelligent, manipulative individual with a mysterious past, capable of bending people... read more

I haven't watched Monster, but the reason why I want to watch the anime (Which is by the way, based on the manga of the same name) is because of this guy. And like Shou, the possibility of a person like Liebert living in the real world is frighteningly possible...

The Contenders
11 Donquixote Doflamingo Donquixote Doflamingo is a fictional character of the One Piece manga franchise created by Eiichiro Oda. Doflamingo was the captain of the Donquixote Pirates, a former Shichibukai with a frozen bounty of 340,000,000 Beli, the most influential underworld broker under the codename "Joker", and is a former... read more

Look into his backstory, and understand his motives. Though childish it may seem, he understands true human nature, and wants to wipe them all out. To point this out; one he is irritated at the Celestial Dragons (GODS), the Government and "Most" Pirates in general, so he uses them for his benefit. Another pointer is that his reason to destroy the world as well as the "HEAVENS" is because of the Celestial Dragons' actions, which mostly was reflected back to his family which took his mother's life the only if not the only person he first admired. At his young age obviously he thinks keeping slaves are like playing games just "like a child". Then witnessing all the actions people wanted to take on them because of the "HEAVENS'' made him open his eyes to the truth of the world.

12 Marshall D Teach - One Piece Marshall D. Teach, also known as Blackbeard in the anime and manga series "One Piece" by Eiichiro Oda, is a notorious pirate inspired by the real-life pirate Edward Teach, or Blackbeard. He is unique for wielding the powers of two Devil Fruits, a feat thought impossible, which grant him both darkness... read more
13 Hisoka
14 Zamasu Zamasu is a fictional character in the Dragon Ball series by Akira Toriyama, Although a Supreme Kai from Universe 10, he is the true main antagonist and the catalyst of the Future Trunks Saga in Dragon Ball Super, being responsible for Goku Black's existence, working alongside him to restore "justice"... read more

I'm calling it: Zamasu is Dragon Ball's best villain since Frieza. What's surprising about him is that his species are normally good guys who are mostly benevolent and seek peace. But Zamasu is an extremist who thinks that he is the only one who understands true "justice" and seeks to "purify" the world. He even kills his master and steals Goku's body during his goal, and to make matters worse, he kills Goku, Chi-Chi and Goten after stealing the former's body just to be a total jerk about it.

He reminds me of Light... Started out with good intentions and did everything to achieve his goal and what he believes is 'justice', then gradually turn evil in the process. Really well written.

15 Dio Brando Dio Brando is a fictional character from the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure manga series created by Hirohiko Araki. His name was inspired by musician Ronnie James Dio and movie star Marlon Brando.
16 Cell Cell is a fictional character in the Dragon Ball series by Akira Toriyama. He is the main antagonist of the Android Saga, being an android/artificial life form from the future, whose goal is to become "perfect" via absorbing Androids 17 and 18 and becoming the strongest fighter in the universe.
17 Majin Buu Majin Boo (Spelled "Majin Buu" in the English Dub) is a fictional character in the Dragon Ball series by Akira Toriyama. He is the fourth and final main antagonist of Dragon Ball Z, a being of pure evil created by the wizard Bibbidi to wreak havok upon the universe series before the series's beginning... read more
18 Sosuke Aizen Sosuke Aizen is a fictional character in the Bleach manga series and its adaptations created by Tite Kubo.

Deserves to be in the top 5. What I like about him is that he's always one step ahead of everyone. He shows that nobody can rival or equal him, heck he's so strong that he (Spoilers, "don't see if you don't want to) DESTROYED Bankai Ichigo (who was going toe to toe with bankai Byakuya) with ONE tap. He also planned everything, getting Rukia executed, Ichigo and his friends coming to rescue her, and more. Overall, badass villain who deserves to be in the top 10 - TheDarkOne_221b

Aizen is a genius he would deserve to be in the top 5, as well as being a genius he is very strong honestly one of the most interresting shounen vilain I ever saw.

19 Chrollo Lucifer - Hunter x Hunter
20 Griffith Griffith is a central character in the dark fantasy manga series "Berserk," created by Kentaro Miura. He is the charismatic and enigmatic leader of the mercenary band known as the Band of the Hawk. Griffith is characterized by his near-supernatural prowess in battle, his ambitious nature, and his desire... read more

What was once a character you bonded with and liked a lot instantly becomes of the vilest and most disgusting manga/anime villains, but it makes Griffith a lot more complex and although you can understand why he wanted to do something, in the end, it doesn't change that fact that what he did was downright unforgivable.

21 Yoshikage Kira Yoshikage Kira is the main antagonist from the manga JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable written by Araki Hirohiko.

A Vile Man who is disturbing JUST Because you get to know SO Deep into his life that it's honestly disturbing. And His Introduction and The Death Of Shugechi is still Heartbreaking.

22 Danzo Shimura Danzō Shimura is a fictional character from the Naruto universe created by Masashi Kishimoto and developed into a media franchise, which consists of a series of manga, anime, soundtracks, OVAs, movies, video games, and other collectibles.

I guess the fact that he is hated so much and manipulated much of the events that would lead to so much tragedy in the Naruto world makes him a good villain. And as much as I'm not a fan of Sasuke, it's still so satisfying to see him stab this excuse of a "well-intentioned" extremist.

23 Eren Yeager

Eren was a hero in Seasons 1-3 but in the Final season he decided to become an antagonist. And he is a really good one.

24 Crocodile
25 King Bradley King Bradley is a fictional character from the Fullmetal Alchemist manga series and its adaptations created by Hiromu Arakawa.
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