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sara_tanaquil) wrote2011-06-12 12:08 pm
sara_tanaquil) wrote2011-06-12 12:08 pm
Anime meme revives from the dead
On the road back to CT today!
While I'm procrastinating on packing up the car, I thought I'd get a start on the "favorite villain" post. Even though I've been back in DC for a couple of days, and would have had the time to update, I've been thoroughly stuck on what to choose. This post is therefore full of waffle.
Day 25: Best anime villain
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wednesday_10_00 remarked in the comments on her meme, it's hard to choose a favorite villain if you don't LIKE villains very much. (I will never, ever understand the appeal of Muraki in Yami no Matsuei.)
The way I figure it, there are at least three types of memorable villains: the supremely evil villain you want to see die horribly and painfully (Muraki in Yami no Matsuei, Shishio in Rurouni Kenshin, Arlong in One Piece); the villain that is either sympathetic or reforms at the end (in which case I'm not sure they count as true villains) (Dilandau in Escaflowne, Aoshi in Rurouni Kenshin); and the kind that is just so over-the-top that you enjoy every minute they're flaunting their evilness on screen. (Buffy the Vampire Slayer excelled at this type of villain. Actually, Angel during Season Two was arguably all three types at once, but Glory and the Mayor were both wonderful villains of the over-the-top kind. Kuno from Ranma 1/2 might be a good example of the over-the-top villain, if it weren't for the fact that he's more idiot than villain.)
I despise the first category except as a plot catalyst for MAJOR DRAMA, so I can't really imagine having a favorite in that category (plus, all the ones I can think of are for series I've already featured). So, in an effort to feature a series I haven't touched on yet, I'll go for:
Sesshoumaru from Inuyasha probably belongs in the second category; I never did follow that series all the way to the end, but he was clearly developing sympathetic characteristics very early on, especially after Rin appeared. But he is excessively easy on the eyes, and it was always fun when he showed up. (Naraku, by contrast, was the "DIE HORRIBLY DIE" type. Bleh.)
Runner up:
DIE FLASHILY! (Hade ni shine!!)
Buggy the Clown annoyed me when he first showed up, but he grew on me, and now I think he's hilarious. As of episode 60 or so, he's still in the over-the-top villain category, though he and his crew are so relatively sympathetic compared to most One Piece villains that I wouldn't be surprised to see them turn into allies at some point. (Don't tell me if they do! I was afraid to even visit the One Piece wikipedia for fear of being spoiled.)
Hopefully once I'm back in CT I can wrap this meme up properly. (If I'm not too busy reading all that manga I've been separated from this entire time.)
While I'm procrastinating on packing up the car, I thought I'd get a start on the "favorite villain" post. Even though I've been back in DC for a couple of days, and would have had the time to update, I've been thoroughly stuck on what to choose. This post is therefore full of waffle.
Day 25: Best anime villain
As
wednesday_10_00 remarked in the comments on her meme, it's hard to choose a favorite villain if you don't LIKE villains very much. (I will never, ever understand the appeal of Muraki in Yami no Matsuei.)The way I figure it, there are at least three types of memorable villains: the supremely evil villain you want to see die horribly and painfully (Muraki in Yami no Matsuei, Shishio in Rurouni Kenshin, Arlong in One Piece); the villain that is either sympathetic or reforms at the end (in which case I'm not sure they count as true villains) (Dilandau in Escaflowne, Aoshi in Rurouni Kenshin); and the kind that is just so over-the-top that you enjoy every minute they're flaunting their evilness on screen. (Buffy the Vampire Slayer excelled at this type of villain. Actually, Angel during Season Two was arguably all three types at once, but Glory and the Mayor were both wonderful villains of the over-the-top kind. Kuno from Ranma 1/2 might be a good example of the over-the-top villain, if it weren't for the fact that he's more idiot than villain.)
I despise the first category except as a plot catalyst for MAJOR DRAMA, so I can't really imagine having a favorite in that category (plus, all the ones I can think of are for series I've already featured). So, in an effort to feature a series I haven't touched on yet, I'll go for:
Sesshoumaru from Inuyasha probably belongs in the second category; I never did follow that series all the way to the end, but he was clearly developing sympathetic characteristics very early on, especially after Rin appeared. But he is excessively easy on the eyes, and it was always fun when he showed up. (Naraku, by contrast, was the "DIE HORRIBLY DIE" type. Bleh.)
Runner up:
DIE FLASHILY! (Hade ni shine!!)
Buggy the Clown annoyed me when he first showed up, but he grew on me, and now I think he's hilarious. As of episode 60 or so, he's still in the over-the-top villain category, though he and his crew are so relatively sympathetic compared to most One Piece villains that I wouldn't be surprised to see them turn into allies at some point. (Don't tell me if they do! I was afraid to even visit the One Piece wikipedia for fear of being spoiled.)
Hopefully once I'm back in CT I can wrap this meme up properly. (If I'm not too busy reading all that manga I've been separated from this entire time.)
no subject
I've historically claimed Folken to be my favorite. The part of me that can't take this category 100% seriously wants to say Piyoko, from Di Gi Charat/Leave it to Piyoko, but I think it's really the manga that works her villainy cuteness so well. And trying to think of one from a more current crop of serial anime leads me only to several villains-turned-allies, which I think should be disqualified. I think Folken wins again.
Definitely not a favorite character or anything, but someone who comes to mind quite readily as a villain I've loved to hate? Nakago.
PS: My favorite member of Buggy's crew is probably Ritchie the Lion.
no subject
For a reformed villain, I will pick Hiei. He started off as an evil demon...
Runner up: Hisoka from Hunter × Hunter. He fits in the over-the-top category.
no subject
I choose *spoiler* from Bleach. No anime character approaches the masterful villainy of Kaiser Soze (The Usual Suspects), but *spoiler* managed to break my heart in a shameful way. I will never ever forgive him for existing and refusing to be nice.
no subject
;_;