Animeshows thrive on entrances, whether it’s the main protagonist making a flashy entrance that sticks with the viewer for a long time, or a menacing villain that turns casual viewers into die-hard fans of the series. While these kinds of villains tend to appear in Shōnen anime, they can also be seen in other genres thanks to talented writers.
These introductions typically feature an antagonistic figure annihilating an entire town after going insane, or someone fighting for peace andopting for bloodshedinstead. While some remain for one or many seasons, others cease to exist in a matter of few episodes, yet leave a similar legacy for viewers to talk about. Ultimately, their appearances in anime shape how viewers perceive them. To that end, here are 10 of the best anime villain entrances ever.
10Queen Gives Birth to Meruem — Hunter x Hunter
Meruem is arguably one ofthe best Shonen anime villains, owing to his rapid character growth over the span of 40 episodes. During the Chimera Ant arc, as the Hunters try to prevent the Queen from giving birth, an unusual phenomenon unfolds — that of Mereum being born prematurely. He goes on to become one of the best characters in the entire series, mainly due to his complexity.
What Makes This Entrance Great?
Meruem’s entry to the world ofHunter x Hunteris harrowing, as he kills the Queen as well as those loyal to her, seizing complete control of the Chimera Ant colony. For the most part, the birth of Meruem was widely anticipated, and the newborn ant monarch did not disappoint, leaving an indelible impression on audiences' minds by exhibiting unnatural physical prowess.Stream on Prime Video.
9The Beast Titan Traumatizes the Survey Corps — Attack on Titan
Attack on Titanis a gripping anime that relies on plot twists to keep viewers engaged, and the introduction of Beast Titan did just that. The Beast Titan first appears in the second season, when the Titans unexpectedly breach into the Wall Rose and are discovered by Miche Zacharius, who notices its abnormal characteristics. However, before he can unravel the mystery behind the Beast Titan, he is killed by other man-eating giants.
The Titans were shown as mindless creatures during the anime’s first season, but the Beast Titan proves to be something of an outlier due to its traits of speaking and taking control of other Titans. Its entrance was flawless, with just theright amount of dread and surprise, laying the groundwork for the major events that will unfold around it in the following season.Stream on Hulu.
8Savage Gilgamesh Exterminates the Assassin — Fate/Zero
Gilgamesh is not only the most arrogant, but also one of the strongest characters in theFateuniverse. When Kirei instructs his summoned servant, Assassin, to eliminate his master, the servant displays impressive skills by sneaking into the enemy’s manor with little effort. However, after being engulfed by Gilgamesh’s Gate of Babylon, he is slaughtered without even having a chance to fight back.
While most servants are introduced well in the anime, Gilgamesh is the only one who truly stands out because of his unusual behavior towards his master. In this single sequence, his arrogance, individualism, and refusal to back down from a fight are all put on display. Furthermore, it becomes apparent that no other servant is capable of matching Gilgamesh in a fight unless all of their trump cards are used.Stream on Hulu.
7The Upper Moon Akaza Joins the Battle — Demon Slayer: Mugen Train
Demon Slayer: Mugen Trainisthe highest-grossing anime film of all time, and it would be a crime not to mention the anime’s first Upper Moon battle. With the combined efforts of Tanjiro, Zenitsu, Inosuke, Nezuko, and Rengoku, all the passengers on the train are saved from Lower Moon One, Enmu. The actual fight, however, begins with Akaza making a glorious entrance adorned with glowing eyes and a menacing aura.
Related:Demon Slayer: The 10 Most Outstanding Battles in the Anime, Ranked
SinceDemon Slayer: Mugen Trainis a sequel to the first season of the anime, the most fearsome adversary we’ve seen was Rui, who was even weaker than the lower moons. Akaza, on the other hand, is an Upper Moon and ranks third. It was a startling occurrence for anime fans, and his entrance was wonderfully animated by Ufotable, adding another layer of intrigue to the scene.Stream on Crunchyroll.
6All For One’s Fear Paralyzes Everyone — My Hero Academia
My Hero Academiahas some ofthe best-written characters in animeand All For One is no exception. During the Hero Killer Arc, the heroes raid the League of Villains' stronghold in the hopes of catching Shigaraki off guard and ultimately putting an end to their organization. But, just as the heroes gain momentum in the battle, All For One intervenes and nearly kills every pro hero until Best Jeanist reacts just in time to save everyone.
All For One was built up as a terrifying antagonist for more than two seasons ofMy Hero Academia, but he never made an appearance until the third season. His well-dressed demeanor with a life-sustaining mask would trick anyone into thinking he was just another villain, but him knocking out all the pro heroes and floating in the air like some sort of demon made the scene more than impressive. Furthermore, Deku and his friends become paralyzed by his mere presence.Stream on Hulu.
5The God Hand Terrorizes Guts' Army — Berserk
SinceBerserkhad multiple anime adaptations, many of which were unsuccessful, it is easy to overlook the fact that it had one of the most intricately written storylines in anime history. InThe Golden Age Arcfilms, Griffith voluntarily triggers an event known as Eclipse, which sends the Band of the Hawk to a reality where a menacing God Hand emerges and slaughters every single member. The subsequent appearances of Conrad, Ubik, and the Void simply underscore how terrifying and powerful the God Hand is.
WithBerserk’s reputation as one of the best-selling manga of all time, the God Hand scene was already well-known among the audience. However, the anime dida terrific job of animating the sequence, with heinous music and horrifying character designs that will haunt the viewer eternally. The Void’s entrance, in particular, with all the apostles raising their hands to the sky as he descends like a demigod, is stunning and memorable.Stream on Crunchyroll.
4Kaido’s Descent From Sky Island — One Piece
What would it be like to see the world’s strongest creature fall from the sky in the hopes that it would kill him? Even the World Government, with its formidable marine forces, were unable to execute Kaido. Although he failed in his attempt to jump off the sky and die, his descent resulted in terror for the Kid Pirates, who would later become Luffy’s allies in theWanoArc.
Related:One Piece: Can You Skip Any Episodes in the Anime?
Kaido is probablythe best-written villainin the latter half ofOne Piece, and his entrance was solid, befitting his significance to the story. Dropping tens of thousands of miles from the sky and not sustaining an injury demonstrated the endurance of the King of the Beasts, cementing his status as one of the Four Sea Emperors. It also proves the fact why he is the world’s strongest creature and why only Luffy, in his Sun God form, was able to beat him.Stream on Netflix.
3Cell Decimating the Entire Gingertown — Dragon Ball Z
Dragon Ballwas known for being kid-friendly, thus the majority of its sequences incorporated comedy, action, and character introductions. However, the creators went the extra mile in introducing Cell to the audiences. Cell, created by Dr. Gero, appears in Gingertown, where Piccolo discovers that he has drained the life out of an entire village. This major antagonist would go on to become one of the most fearsome characters in theDragon Ballfranchise.
Cell, unlike many villains who become scarier as they evolve, is an antagonist who is an outright creepy extraterrestrial organism that feeds on human life. This sequence added a new horror aspect to the show, turning the slaughter at Gingertown into one of the mosthorrifying TV moments of the 1990sand 2000s.Stream on Crunchyroll.
2Goku Black’s Sinister Plan — Dragon Ball Super
In its four decades of existence,Dragon Ballhas had many incredible moments, but nothing has shocked its fans more than the appearance of Goku Black. Trunks, as a half-Saiyan, is constantly threatened in the future timeline, but when a sinister individual with earth-shattering power comes under his radar, he tries to protect Mai. Nonetheless, the mysterious person easily defeats him, revealing himself to be Goku, but the evil version that no one had envisioned.
Almost every single villain debut in the anime, including Vegeta, Frieza, and Piccolo, has been outstanding, but no one expected there to be an evil version of Goku, let alone one who targeted Saiyans. The shot of a black silhouette riding the clouds and attacking without even introducing himself adds a whole new level of intimidation, making Black Goku’s arrival one of the most memorable moments in theDragon Ballfranchise.Stream on Crunchyroll.
1Madara Uchiha Destroys the Entire Shinobi Alliance by Himself — Naruto
Madara Uchiha, who appears during theFourth Ninja Wararc, remains the most iconic anime antagonist of all time. While he was referred to as an Uchiha legend by Konoha’s successors prior to the anime’s final arc, he makes an official appearance in an undead form when Kabuto resurrects several historical figures to fight against the Shinobi Alliance. However, that wasn’t enough to keep Madara from storming into the army all by himself and slaughtering everyone as if they were nothing more than flies.
Since the beginning,Narutohas raised fans' expectations of Madara to an astounding level, and while most would imagine his introduction to be less grandiose, they couldn’t be more wrong. The Shinobi Alliance is the single most powerful thing in the world of Naruto, and Madara demolishes it bare-handed without even relying on his trump cards, revealing why he is the rival of Hashirama, the God of Shinobi.Stream on Netflix.
