In almost every anime and manga, the main antagonist is almost equally as responsible as the main protagonist in moving the narrative forward. But there are some shows where the imbalance of power resonates far and wide enough, reaching the show’s fans.
It is usually caused by the main protagonist, but sometimes there are shows where the main antagonist is almost as equally, if not way more important, far outclassing the protagonist.
Some of these antagonists are at times even successful in their plans, completely wiping out all of the cast. In the list below, we will take a look at some of these important antagonists from their respective shows.
Main antagonists who far outshine the protagonists
Frieza (Dragon Ball Z)
Technically, Vegeta should be the antagonist who outshone the main character Goku, in Dragon Ball Z. But, he eventually turned into one of the protagonists, similar to Piccolo.
There is one main antagonist in the franchise who has been important throughout the history of the show, and that is Frieza. He is one of the earliest intergalactic and powerful villains we get introduced to in the show. He has stayed a villain to date, even catching up to our protagonists in terms of power levels.
Currently, in the plot of Dragon Ball Super, which continues the history of the franchise, Frieza has yet again unlocked a new power that has able to overthrow our main characters. He is most definitely the one antagonist who far outshines the protagonists at times.
Naraku (Inuyasha)
Inyasha is one of the best shounen anime series one can watch from the early 2000s. It is a bit niche, but it is also special for being created by Rumiko Takahashi. The legendary manga creator is known for franchises such as Ranma 1/2 and Urusei Yatsura.
The story of Inuyasha follows a modern-day day highschool girl who gets isekai’d to a medieval fantasy world. Now she has to deal with demons and all sorts of threats around her. She meets Inuyasha, a half-demon, and embarks on a quest to stop the sacred shards from falling into the wrong hands.
By wrong hands, we mean the main antagonist of the show, Naraku. A demon who far outshines the main characters. He is responsible for many of the important events in the show. Such as important characters dying and Inuyasha getting a seal placed on him.
Dio Brando (Jojo’s Bizzare Adventure)
Everyone probably saw this one coming. Dio Brando has to be the most popular villain, completely outshining the protagonists in an anime. Introduced in the very first part of the franchise, Dio was a character who slowly assimilated into the Joestar Family.
He is a character who earned his fandom through working his way up the path to become one of the most intimidating villains to some of the most popular protagonists in the whole franchise.
Even throughout the series, the parts in which he does not appear in, his presence is felt all over the story and that keeps fueling his legendary status through the series.
Char Aznable (Mobile Suit Gundam)
Char is going to be the oldest antagonist we mention in this whole list, and a lot of young readers could be unfamiliar with this character. He made his first appearance in the very first Mobile Suit Gundam anime, remembered by his iconic face mask.
Without spoiling much of the history behind the character, it would be unfair to not mention one of the main reasons as to why the character is famous, and that is the mecha that Char pilots.
The Red Zaku is one of the most feared mobile suits in the franchise, as well as one of the most popular mechs in anime history in general. Char Aznable, being its pilot rightfully earns his name as the Red Comet.
Hisoka Morow (Hunter x Hunter)
Hunter x Hunter is a series where multiple antagonists may outshine the main protagonist, Gon. From Chimera Ant King to Phantom Troupe’s Chrollo Lucilfer, there are too many unforgettable characters. But the one antagonist who firmly stands out is Hisoka Morow
A pro-hunter with a lust for preying on strong opponents. Hisoka cemented himself as one of the creepiest and most intimidating antagonists in the franchise quite early in the series.
As a former high-tier member of the Phantom Troupe, he is also quite capable of taking on some of the strongest characters in the series. His fateful encounter with Gon during the Hunter Exam arc is a moment that established his fame in the fandom.
Meruem (HunterxHunter)
The HunterxHunter franchise doesn’t have a set protagonist who feels important. Obviously, Gon exists and has shown some incredible feats throughout the show that make him worthy of being the main character.
The show has lots of other characters, such as Kurapika and Killua, who are worthy of the main character mantle as well. But to be bluntly honest the show is filled with antagonists who far outshine the protagonists.
We have already talked about Hisoka, but there’s another character who deserves attention on this list. It’s Meruem, the main antagonist from the chimera ant saga in HunterxHunter.
Yoshihiro Togashi made sure to flesh out this powerful villain. He gave him a proper ending to his story, which speaks a lot about how important he is as a character.
Ryomen Sukuna (Jujutsu Kaisen)
Jujutsu Kaisen’s protagonist Itadori Yuji is not really a character who is much remembered by fans throughout all the events of the show, as this is a series where the main protagonist actually takes a back seat sometimes to let the other characters shine.
But the show’s main antagonist, Ryomen Sukuna is the kind of character to make a fond impression in the minds of almost everyone who watches the show.
Sukuna was one of the strongest jujutsu sorcerers in the series’ history, felling countless challengers before him, and presently in the anime he is considered one of the strongest curses.
Johan Liebert (Monster)
It can be argued that Johan Liebert may be the main character, or even the protagonist in the Monster anime series, as his presence carries way too much weight throughout the show, making people forget that the story actually revolves around Doctor Kenzo Tenma.
Johan Liebert is a killer psychopath who constantly toys around with the main character throughout the show, Kenzo Tenma, the same person who saved him as a child.
Anyone watching Monster for the first time may be duped by his polite expression, but underneath that facade lies the face of a serial killer, who made quite the mark on his fans.
More than half the reason why Monster is such a popular and highly recommended series everywhere is because of Johan Liebert.
Griffith (Berserk)
Griffith may not completely be overshadowing the main protagonist of Berserk, Guts. But he shares almost an equal amount of weight, if not more, in some of the discussion within the Berserk fandom. Significantly, around the ‘Griffith was right’ meme debates.
Originally a dear friend of Guts, fighting with him side by side in countless wars, the narrative flips him into turning back on his comrades by sacrificing them in exchange for greater power, marked by the eclipse event in the anime.
This particular event is considered to be one of the most controversial moments in all of popular manga and anime history, and also is the moment that perfectly marks Griffith as the main antagonist, causing a divide in the fandom.
Medusa Gorgon (Soul Eater)
Based on the Greek gorgon Medusa, she is the main antagonist in the anime Soul Eater, which is a show about young weapon meisters using their weapons, which are actually humans that can transform.
The main plot of Soul Eater centers around multiple characters from the Death Weapon Miester Academy. But mostly around the characters Maka and Soul, although both of them are often times completely outshone by the main antagonist.
Medusa Gorgon is one of the most important of the Gorgon sisters and a mad scientist. Harboring the deceptive personality of a caring nurse at the very academy where are main characters are established.
