Certain anime series have concluded with the triumph of the villains, highlighting the despairing atmosphere or the narrative's demands. Well-known instances of this occurrence can be observed in anime like Berserk, Hellsing Ultimate, Shaman King, and Code Geass. The villains' victories in these cases span from the attainment of their objectives to situations where the villains are revealed to be the heroes through unforeseen plot twists.
There are numerous anime that conclude with the villains triumphing over the heroes, and here are 10 outstanding examples of anime with such storytelling.
Not all anime have the heroes defeating the villains. It is common for stories, in any medium, to end with the villains achieving their goals while the heroes unfortunately suffer varying degrees of loss. The reasons for this can vary from story to story. Some anime emphasize the hopeless nature of the story by having the villain win, while in others, it may be a pyrrhic victory where both sides get what they want. In certain cases, the villains win because it serves the best interest of the story.
Regardless of the reasons, there are plenty of anime where the villains emerge victorious, and a few are particularly noteworthy.
10 Berserk's Failure to Deliver Justice to Griffith The 1997 Berserk anime is a notable example of an anime ending with the villain winning. Griffith, in his quest for power, sacrifices the Band of the Hawk and becomes the God Hand Femto. He even rapes Casca in front of Guts, and the anime ends without revealing the consequences of his actions. In the manga, Griffith has yet to be punished, and it is unclear how long it will take for justice to be served.
9 Hellsing Ultimate's Villains Accomplish Their Goals The 2006 anime Hellsing Ultimate is another example of the villains winning. The main antagonists, Millenium, successfully engage in a massive and bloody war while also defeating Alucard, the protagonist. Although Alucard eventually returns after 30 years, Millenium achieves everything they sought to gain from their battle with Hellsing, making it a pyrrhic victory for the heroes at best.
8 Shaman King's Unstoppable Villain The 2021 anime Shaman King showcases a villain who is unstoppable. Hao is established early on as so powerful that no one can defeat him in a fair fight. As expected, Hao becomes the Shaman King without any hindrance, sparing lives only because he was convinced to postpone his plan to exterminate humanity. The original series portrays the heroes as hopelessly outmatched from beginning to end.
7 Cyberpunk: Edgerunners' Prequel Narrative Ensures Villain Success The 2022 anime Cyberpunk: Edgerunners features a villain who remains untouchable. David and his mercenary crew face increasing opposition from the Arasaka Corporation, and just when victory seems possible, Adam Smasher, one of the major antagonists from Cyberpunk: 2077, unexpectedly kills David and his remaining allies. This prequel to Cyberpunk: 2077 ensures the survival of the corporation and its villainous characters, concluding with a heart-wrenching outcome.
6 Iron-Blooded Orphans Turns Villains into Good Guys The 2015 anime Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans demonstrates that stories can also end with the villains becoming the heroes. Despite their efforts, the Tekkadan group is completely destroyed by Rustal and the Arianrhod Fleet. However, the timeskip at the end reveals that Rustal enacted the reforms Tekkadan had desired. Though motivated mostly by pragmatism, the villains achieve everything the heroes wanted, marking a sour ending for the series.
5 Code Geass' Villain as the Ultimate Savior The 2006 anime Code Geass features a villain who is revealed to be the hero in disguise. Lelouch becomes the definitive villain of the final act, committing increasingly heinous acts. However, the series finale unveils Lelouch's true purpose: to unite the world against a common enemy and bring about peace after his death. Although the movie continuity offers a less smooth outcome, it showcases the villain ultimately siding with good.
4 Devilman Crybaby Embraces the Villains' Triumph The 2018 anime Devilman Crybaby successfully modernizes the concept of villains winning. Like the original manga, Devilman Crybaby depicts Akira losing his loved ones to Satan's forces. Akira dies fighting Satan, and an evil version of God appears to destroy the Earth. Devilman's story is an undeniable triumph for its villains, and Devilman Crybaby effectively adapts it for a contemporary audience.
3 The End Of Evangelion's Devastating Conclusion The 1997 anime The End of Evangelion is a classic example of an anime ending with the villains prevailing. SEELE, the main antagonists, aim to unite humanity through the Third Impact, and despite Shinji's attempts to stop them, SEELE successfully initiates the Third Impact, destroying the world. Only Shinji and Asuka survive. While the film does not reveal if SEELE achieves its every desire, it concludes with the defeat of the heroes. The Rebuild of Evangelion series rectifies this ending.
2 Panty & Stocking's Absurd Twist The 2010 anime Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt features a twist ending that allows the villain to succeed. The series seems to conclude with the heroes defeating the villains, but at the last moment, Stocking kills Panty, revealing herself to be a demon. She then dismembers Panty's body and scatters the pieces throughout the world. This twist undoes the heroes' accomplishments but maintains the absurdist nature of the series.
1 Madoka Magica Rebellion's Unforeseen Villain The 2013 anime Puella Magi Madoka Magica The Movie: Rebellion is an example of the villain's triumph through a twist ending. While it initially appears that Kyubey is the sole villain, Madoka Magica: Rebellion reveals that Homura has become the true antagonist. Homura manipulates events to steal Madoka's powers and rewrite reality to be with her. This shift completely alters the franchise and solidifies the film as one of the best examples of the villain prevailing in anime.