10 Anime Villains Who Were Forgiven Too Easily, Ranked

We’ve all cheered for a good redemption arc, but anime has a habit of sweeping literal war crimes under the rug. Think of Dragon Ball‘s Vegeta, who went from blowing up planets to a cozy family life, or Kabuto, who instigated a horrific ninja world war by using the Edo Tensei and now happily runs an orphanage filled with the very clones he helped manufacture in Boruto. Kishimoto let Kabuto go scot-free. It is a bizarrely common trope: a villain commits mass murder, torture, or abuse, only for the narrative to give them a pass because of a tragic backstory or a sudden change of heart.

Here are 10 anime villains who were let off the hook far too easily:

10 Akaza’s Tragic Past Could Never Erase What He Did to Rengoku

Akaza’s heartbreaking human backstory in Demon Slayer explains how Hakuji became a demon, but explanation isn’t absolution. Long before regaining his humanity in the Infinity Castle Arc, he willingly slaughtered countless humans over centuries and personally killed Rengoku after the Mugen Train battle. His final act of rejecting Muzan earns emotional weight, yet some fans treat his past as if it excuses his crimes. However, shedding tears for his human grief cannot erase centuries of devouring innocent people.

He ranks here because his tragic backstory earns sympathy, but the story never fully excuses his centuries of slaughter or Rengoku’s murder.

9 MHA Redeemed Endeavor Despite His Domestic Abuse & Sinful Child Rearing

Endeavor (Enji) subjected his wife to severe physical and psychological abuse, shunned or beat up his “failed” children (Touya, Natsuo), and physically abused young Shoto to turn him into a perfect successor. When he becomes the Number One Hero, My Hero Academia dedicates immense panel time to his redemption arc. While his family explicitly states they haven’t fully forgiven him, the public narrative and the hero society elevate him as a tragic, striving symbol of hope.

He ranks ninth because his redemption arc felt forced, and the narrative shifted toward forgiveness before his family’s suffering was fully addressed.

8 DanMachi Moved Past Lili’s Manipulation & Ruthless Selfishness Too Quickly

Liliruca Arde repeatedly manipulated Bell Cranel, stole from him, abandoned him to monsters, and intended to exploit his kindness for personal gain. Her traumatic upbringing under Soma Familia explains why she distrusted others, but Bell forgives her almost immediately after learning the truth. She becomes one of his closest allies with relatively little fallout. Bell’s naive, toxic optimism forces the narrative to forgive her almost instantly.

Lili ranks eighth because Bell’s immediate forgiveness left very little room for lasting consequences after her repeated betrayals.

7 Code Geass Softened Cornelia’s Bloody Legacy Too Quickly

Cornelia li Britannia earned the moniker “Goddess of Victory” by mercilessly crushing rebel areas, famously ordering the brutal slaughter of thousands of innocent civilians in the Saitama Ghetto. However, once she opposes Lelouch and uncovers the Geass conspiracy, the narrative pivots to paint her as a tragic, protective older sister. By the series finale, she joins the resistance, faces zero legal or social consequences, and is framed as a heroic liberator.

Cornelia ranks here because the story pivots toward her heroism without spending enough time confronting the victims of her imperial campaigns.

6 Hendrickson Nearly Destroyed Britannia, Then Was Forgiven

In The Seven Deadly Sins, Hendrickson orchestrated a coup, poisoned the Great Holy Knight Zaratras, and injected himself with demon blood, nearly annihilating Liones. His excuse? Fraudrin was manipulating him. But Hendrickson still chose to pursue that path. Remarkably, by the Seven Days arc, the kingdom entirely forgives him. He slides back into a trusted advisor role, fighting alongside the very sins he tried to execute.

He ranks here because his genuine atonement came after crimes so catastrophic that many fans felt his acceptance happened far too easily, but he’s still way behind compared to the top-tier on this list.

5 SAO’s Kayaba Was Forgiven After Annihilating Thousands

Akihiko Kayaba trapped 10,000 players inside Aincrad, directly causing the real-world deaths of nearly 4,000 people. Despite this mass slaughter, Sword Art Online treats his legacy with bizarre reverence. In his final moments and during the Alicization arc, Kirito and Asuna speak of him with philosophical nostalgia rather than absolute disgust. Kayaba’s digital ghost is even allowed to play the savior.

Kayaba ranks fifth because later arcs increasingly celebrate his genius, while the deaths of thousands become a surprisingly distant memory.

4 Vinland Saga Made Askeladd Easier to Forgive For No Reason

Askeladd is a masterfully written character, but he is fundamentally a ruthless Viking warlord who pillaged defenseless English villages and executed Thors via a cowardly ambush. Vinland Saga brilliantly humanizes him through his Welsh heritage and his grand ambition for Prince Canute. However, this depth tricks the audience (and eventually Thorfinn) into viewing him with immense narrative sympathy. Dying a “heroic” death to protect Wales does not erase a lifetime of cold-blooded slaughter.

Askeladd ranks this high because his unforgettable final sacrifice often overshadows years of calculated murder, manipulation, and cruelty.

3 Scar’s Bloody Revenge Was Forgiven Too Quickly in FMAB

Driven by the Ishvalan Civil War, Scar systematically assassinated State Alchemists, including Shou Tucker and Winry Rockbell’s parents. While his grief is poignant, his bloody crusade is forgiven with jarring speed by the Promised Day arc. Ed and Winry choose to break the cycle of hatred (a powerful thematic choice), but the surviving military elite quickly accept Scar as an ally.

Scar ranks in the top three because his understandable motives never erased the innocent and morally complex lives lost during his revenge campaign.

2 Hunter × Hunter‘s Hisoka’s Predatory Behavior Was Ignored Too Easily

Hisoka Morow is a bloodthirsty sadist whose entire existence revolves around grooming and fighting powerful opponents. During the Hunter Exam and Heavens Arena arcs, his deeply unsettling, predatory fixations on Gon and Killua are played for dark comedy or tension rather than receiving genuine condemnation. The characters tolerate his presence out of pure necessity, and the narrative treats him as a bizarre wildcard rather than a dangerous monster.

Hisoka ranks in the top two because neither the story nor many fans treat his deeply disturbing predatory behavior with the seriousness it arguably deserves.

1 Naruto‘s Orochimaru Committed Sins No One Should Forgive

Orochimaru conducted gruesome human experimentation, murdered the Third Hokage, assassinated the Fourth Kazekage, and terrorized Konoha. Yet, by Boruto, he is effectively granted narrative tolerance. He walks free under light surveillance, attends parent-teacher conferences, and his synthetic son, Mitsuki, is allowed into the Leaf Academy. Acknowledging his scientific utility is one thing, but granting comfortable freedom to a genocidal madman who spent decades body-snatching children completely trivializes his victims.

Orochimaru sits at the top because no other villain on this list committed so many atrocities while ultimately facing so few lasting consequences from the ninja world.

Here’s a ranked table:

RankCharacterAnime

1	Orochimaru	Naruto / Naruto Shippuden / Boruto: Naruto Next Generations
2	Hisoka Morow	Hunter × Hunter
3	Scar	Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
4	Askeladd	Vinland Saga
5	Akihiko Kayaba	Sword Art Online
6	Hendrickson	The Seven Deadly Sins
7	Cornelia li Britannia	Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion
8	Liliruca Arde (Lili)	Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? (DanMachi)
9	Enji Todoroki (Endeavor)	My Hero Academia
10	Akaza	Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba

Which anime villain do you think got off way too easily? Comment below!