Top 10 Times Anime Villains Saved The Hero

“Digimon Adventure” (2020-21)

Ogremon is a brutish henchman of Devimon, and constant thorn in the side of the DigiDestined. After losing to Greymon, the mean green bundle of data is out to avenge his wounded pride at any cost. However, Ogremon’s zeal causes his boss to lose faith in him, sending MetalTyrannomon, a much stronger Digimon, to replace him. Furious at this, Ogremon decides to point the DigiDestined in the right direction to escape, while apparently sacrificing himself in the ensuing scuffle. Honor is apparently something you can’t just Alt-Delete.

“Hellsing Ultimate” (2006-12)

As a Catholic priest and monster hunter, Alexander Anderson doesn’t see eye to eye with the Hellsing Organization, given that they employ vampires. However, when Millenium and its undead Reich turns London into a battleground, Anderson saves Sir Integra when she’s surrounded on all sides. With a rousing speech, infinite supply of bayonets and fanatical followers in turn, the Iscariot’s secret weapons lays siege to the Nazi vampires. Good to know it only took an invasion of bloodsuckers to bridge the gap between religious ideologies.

“Berserk” (1997-98)

A legendarily warrior who thirsts for battle, Zodd was nearly responsible for bringing Guts’ struggle to an early end, though it seemed he made a decent enough impression regardless. When Guts’ sword breaks in battle against the Purple Rhino Knights, he finds himself at a distinct disadvantage. To stop a potential rival from dying too soon, Zodd throws Guts his own, very distinctive sword from an incredible distance away. He may be a battle hungry beast, but Zodd respects game when he sees it.

“Bleach” (2004-12)

Ichigo collects plenty of enemies during his tenure as a Substitute Shinigami. One of these is Grimmjow, the sixth Espada. A hotheaded fighter, Grimmjow loses to Ichigo and gets his arm cut off in the bargain. After having it restored by Orihime, he repays the favor to her after she’s beaten by two lower level Arrancar. However, he has an ulterior motive. After learning of Ichigo’s defeat against Ulquiorra, he demands that Orihime heal him. Not out of kindness, mind you. He just wants another fight, and the best way to prove that he’s stronger is if Ichigo is at full strength – and alive. Simple minds, simple pleasures.

“Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood” (2009-10)

A philosophical killer, Kimblee is the Crimson Alchemist – so nicknamed for his love of wanton violence. After joining the Homunculi, Kimblee appears to get his just desserts when Pride has him for his own dessert. Yet, during Pride’s final battle with Edward Elric, we see that death was not the end for Kimblee. After Pride declares his desire to abandon his homunculus body to possess Edward’s, Kimblee’s soul reveals that he has survived inside of Pride. He berates Pride for abandoning the quality he was named for, and his distraction proves enough for Ed to break free and win. He’s a terrible person, but Kimblee being willing to die permanently rather than live in the body of a hypocrite is just badass!

“Fairy Tail” (2009-19)

A mage specializing in time magic, Ultear caused Natsu and the rest no end of trouble. However, she does start on the path towards redemption. Unfortunately, a disaster involving dragons at the Grand Magic Games sees most of the extended cast in danger or dying. Ultear, despairing that she contemplated killing a man to avert the event, ultimately decides to perform a bit of magic that rewinds time, at the cost of years of her life. While she’s disappointed that she only rewound everything by a minute, this gives most of the others the time to save themselves or their friends.

“One Piece” (1999-)

A former Warlord of the Sea, Crocodile is one of Luffy’s most notable foes. In order to break out of Impel Down prison, the two of them reluctantly team up. But upon getting involved in the massive war at Marineford, Crocodile proves surprisingly helpful…sometimes. The sand user is the only one able to reach Luffy’s brother, Ace, when he’s about to be executed prematurely. Crocodile’s surprising heroism continues later, when he intervenes and saves Luffy from certain death too. Sure, Crocodile claims he wants to stop the Navy from achieving their goals, but we get the feeling there’s a grain of decency buried in there.

“My Hero Academia” (2016-)

It might seem impossible that someone dubbed “the Hero Killer” could ever value heroic qualities, much less save someone, but Stain does both. Disgusted that his society has turned heroism into a career, Stain kills the heroes he feels don’t live up to the ideals of selflessness inherent in the word. During his fight with Deku and his fellow classmates, Stain is impressed by the young man’s heroism. So when young Midoriya is nearly kidnapped by a monstrous Nomu, Stain escapes capture to save one of the kids who defeated him. He may have a twisted sense of morality, but Stain knows a good hero in the making when he sees one. He’s still terrifying though!

“Dragon Ball Super” (2015-18)

A genocidal galactic dictator, Frieza isn’t a nice guy. That’s probably why he went to hell. But with the fate of Universe 7 on the line, Goku and friends need strong fighters, and Frieza is certainly that. While Frieza certainly isn’t thrilled to be working with the people who killed him, multiple times, he at least draws the line at the universe being destroyed – if only because that’s where he lives. The chilly tyrant saves the other Universe 7 fighters several times during the Tournament of Power, eventually teaming up with Goku to take on the mighty Jiren in the grand finale. It’s nice to see him do the right thing, even if it’s for utterly selfish reasons.

“Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai” (2020-)

A former Dark Lord, Hadlar is the initial opposing force to both Dai, and his master Avan. While he’s initially obsessed with power, he eventually shifts focus to having a worthy duel with the tiny hero. After losing to Dai, he’s infuriated when Kill-Vearn snares him, Dai, and Popp in a fiery trap. Instead of simply accepting the cruel twist of fate, Hadlar goes out of his way to save those he once swore to destroy, resulting in him passing away in the arms of his eternal rival. Hadlar may be a demon, but honor is a universal concept.