A strong opinion has shaken the comment forums in Japan, generating an intense debate among anime fans. In a post that has gone viral, a user expressed his discontent with the representation of villains in isekai and recent anime series.
The author of the opinion argues that the enemies that appear in these series seem to have lost their malevolent character and their ability to represent a true threat. Rather than being antagonists with complex motivations and an agenda that significantly challenges the protagonist, today’s villains seem designed solely to serve as a springboard for the hero to demonstrate his might.
- «The enemies that appear in isekai and recent anime series seem to exist for the sole purpose of the protagonist displaying his immense power and easily defeating him, rather than being so evil as to actually threaten peace or people who think differently than him. them, which is sad. It’s hard to put into words, but current anime villains only exist to show off the protagonist, and are not a real threat. In the end, it seems that the protagonist is the true villain, a physical abuser who takes advantage of his immense power.».
This criticism raises concerns that conflicts in contemporary anime series have become predictable and lacking emotional tension. According to the author, the antagonists lack depth and do not represent a genuine threat to the peace or integrity of the characters who oppose them.
The idea that the protagonists could be seen as the true villains also stands out in the opinion. The user suggests that rather than being heroes fighting evil, the protagonists could be interpreted as physical abusers who take advantage of their power to subdue their enemies with relative ease, raising questions about the morality of their actions and the message that these narratives convey.
This reflection has generated a mixed response among anime fans, with some agreeing with the criticism and expressing their desire to see more complex and challenging villains in future series, while others defend the current direction of the genre and enjoy the focus on the power of the protagonist:
- «After reading this, I am convinced that there is no real villain today».
- «I don’t think I’ve ever had contact with creative writing, much less can you find something like that in anime».
- «In creative writing in general, how many stories do you remember where the villain succeeds until the end?».
- «What I’m saying is that he’s a delusional idiot. But there’s something about having an enemy that gets in the protagonist’s way over and over again that people don’t like. If they don’t beat them quickly, fans will think the author is extending the story.».
- «So do you prefer a manga like Jujutsu Kaisen where Sukuna is killing everyone and each chapter is increasingly repetitive?».
- «Generally a story where an unemployed person is reincarnated always has the same development. It would be nice to have more stories where the protagonist actually faces problems».
- «I guess they prefer shonen mangas where the protagonist keeps fighting an invincible villain until he magically receives powers to defeat him.».
- «When the protagonist fights, he wins easily. Maybe you want a story where there is a description of how the friends try to defeat the enemy until the protagonist arrives and solves everything.».
- «Popular works also do not have memorable antagonists, it is not something that only happens in isekai».
- «Honestly, it’s true. Even in Rimuru’s story, enemies of the flock appear so that the protagonist can slaughter at will.».
Fountain: Yaraon!
