With season 4 part 3 of Attack on Titan slated for 2023, the newest twist villain in anime will soon meet his final confrontation with his former friends.
Along with the return of Bleach and Aizen Sosuke in Fall 2022 and a recent Black Clover manga reveal, so-called “twist villains” are back on the rise in anime. Twist villains are a longstanding tradition that animated companies like Pixar have occasionally been criticized for, but when pulled off successfully, they can make a season or even a series much greater.
Mai Valentine (Yu-Gi-Oh!)
Mai Valentine is a friend of the main cast and Joey’s love interest throughout most of the original Yu-Gi-Oh! series, mostly known for her use of Harpie monsters.
Mai is one of the group’s most trusted companions, going so far as to help risk her life in the first virtual world arc and against Marik. This made it even more surprising when she joined Dartz and Rafael in the Waking the Dragons arc, where she used the power of the forbidden Seal of Orichalcos.
Ryo Asuka (Devilman Crybaby)
Ryo was the genius childhood friend of Devilman Crybaby protagonist Akira. Ryo was the deuteragonist of the story throughout most of the tale.
Ryo was never the most trustworthy character and was the one who orchestrated the Sabbath Party that changed Akira in the first place. Towards the end of Devilman Crybaby, Akira and the audience learn that Ryo is actually the fallen angel Satan reborn as a human raised by his guardian “Psycho Jenny,” a demon in disguise. Ultimately, the twist was more the extent to which Ryo’s nefariousness actually went.
William Vangeance/Patolli (Black Clover)
Yami’s friend and the captain of the Golden Dawn, William Vangeance was foreshadowed to have a connection with the eye of the Midnight Sun early on.
However, it wasn’t until confronted by Julius Novachrono that William Vangeance revealed he and Patolli (under the guise of Licht) were two people in the same body. Vangeance was never necessarily evil, but allowing the Eye of the Midnight Sun to conduct their business knowing what was going on made him a traitor to the Clover Kingdom.
Rei Batsubami (Kakegurui)
The Momobami clan’s subordinate Rei appeared as a young servant who helped the other clan members participate in Kirari’s competition for control of the family.
In the end, Rei turned out to be a banished member of the Momobami plan who had come back in the guise of a servant. As the final boss of the season, Rei nearly took down the entire Momobami plan. Thankfully for all sides, Jabami Yumeko wins and Kirari was so impressed by Rei that she allowed the former member to rejoin the Momobami clan.
The Warrior Candidates (Attack on Titan)
Annie, Reiner, and Bertholdt began the series as a group of friends from a mysterious town. It wasn’t until later that they were revealed as Warrior Candidates from Marley who were given three of the Nine Titans.
Annie fulfilled the role of season 1’s antagonist after being revealed as the Female Titan, a twist that many saw coming. However, it was a surprise to many fans that Reiner was the monstrous Armored Titan and Bertholdt, one of the meekest cadets, was arguably the strongest of the Nine Titans in the Colossal.
Sosuke Aizen (Bleach)
Originally a captain of Soul Societies’ 5th Squad, Aizen was presumably assassinated during Ichigo’s invasion of Soul Society to save Rukia.
In reality, Aizen was preparing to betray Soul Society and leave for Hueco Mundo with his followers Gin and Tousen. Many of the following seasons even revolved around the final battle against Aizen, one of the most dangerous villains in the series. Aizen’s “death” and eventual betrayal were both surprising and a central part of arguably the three best arcs in the series.
Shark/Nash (Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal)
Starting off with a similar role as Joey from the original Yu-Gi-Oh! Shark grew as a person and duelist throughout early Zexal, growing closer to Yuma and gaining friends.
In the second half of Zexal, Shark learns that he’s actually Nash, the leader of the infamous Barians. The reveal is as much of a surprise to Shark as it is to Yuma and the audience, but he ends up becoming arguably the best villain in the series (and possibly the franchise) after he embraces his role as leader of the Barians.
Enoshima Junko (Danganronpa)
One of Danganronpa‘s most memorable students, Enoshima Junko was initially introduced to the students as the Ultimate Fashionista before her seemingly untimely death at the hands of Monokuma.
It wasn’t until the final act that the truth was unveiled and the crew realized it wasn’t Junko that died early on, but rather her sister Mukuro. Instead, it was Junko who had been controlling Monokuma all along and was the true mastermind behind the killing games. It was then that her final title, the Ultimate Despair, was revealed.
Heathcliff (Sword Art Online)
After his shocking defeat of Kirito in the challenge over Asuna’s freedom, the leader of Asuna’s guild and the game’s strongest player seemed to be capable of some suspicious maneuvers.
The revelation that Heathcliff was both the game’s creator and the true final boss was well foreshadowed, but still surprising to some viewers. Heathcliff’s final battle against Kirito and Asuna was a solid climactic end to the first arc of Sword Art Online, and Heathcliff was a fitting antagonist to the beginning of a long franchise.
Eren Yeager (Attack on Titan)
The protagonist of Attack on Titan had to endure intense betrayal from multiple allies throughout his youth. Then, after a shocking moment with Historia at the end of season 3, everything changed for Eren.
Exposed to his entire past and future at once, Eren chose the path he believed would lead to freedom for the people of paradise, even if it meant sacrificing his own future. The resulting actions Eren took turned him into the final villain, with Armin and Mikasa banding together with forces from both sides to stop their best friend from trampling the world outside the walls.
