Naruto has some of the best villains in anime, and they’re a large part of just how massive the franchise has become. While other major shōnen series might have a decent villain or two, Naruto has several, with a myriad of antagonists bringing something interesting to the table.
Naruto has unquestionably cemented itself as not only one of the greatest shōnen series ever made, but one of the best anime in general. It’s a thrill ride from the beginning of Naruto to the end of Naruto: Shippuden, and the villains of the series are a major reason why.
There are several standout villains in the franchise, but one is better than the rest. He’s a morally complex villain who can even generate sympathy from some fans. He’s a rare villain that feels understandable in a lot of ways, even if his actions were horrific.
Naruto Has a Litany of Great Villains
The Shōnen Giant Is Known for Its Top-Tier Antagonists
There are a ton of villains in Naruto that could be considered the best in the series. From antiheroes turned villains like Itachi Uchiha to complex characters straddling morality like Orochimaru, there’s no shortage of top-tier antagonists. While he’s not exactly a complex character, Madara Uchiha is one of the most exciting villains around.
For most of the series, Madara was spoken about like a mythical creature. It’s one of the rare instances in anime where a character’s hype actually pays off, as Madara is electric from the moment he touches the screen.
Madara is a pretty simple character without a lot of depth, separating him from the greatest villain in the series. Sure, he’s an enigmatic powerhouse, but even one of the strongest Uchiha in Naruto can’t hold a candle to this morally complex villain.
Pain Is the Most Complex Villain in Naruto by Far
His Reasoning Is (Somewhat) Grounded In Reality
Pain is easily the best villain in Naruto in terms of motivation. Madara is a powerhouse, but he had a relatively unreasonable goal of wanting the world to be in an infinite dream-like state. Pain’s goal is much more reasonable (in a dark way): he just wants the world to feel his pain.
Nagato, the man behind Pain, lost everything brutally. He lost his parents due to shinobi from Konoha, lost his best friend to a warlord, and watched the world turn its back on him. He didn’t want to dominate the world, he didn’t have a master plan, he just wanted his pain to be known.
He’s a horrifyingly simple character that is willing to kill thousands just so others understand what he feels. During one of the best fights in anime, when he takes on Naruto, he’s asking Naruto if he “finally feels pain” the entire time. He’s so straightforward that viewers can’t help but resonate with his angry persona, making him the best villain in all of Naruto.
- First Episode Air Date
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October 3, 2002
- Cast
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Junko Takeuchi, Maile Flanagan, Noriaki Sugiyama, Chie Nakamura, Kazuhiko Inoue, Nana Mizuki, Hideo Ishikawa, Yûko Sanpei
