The boys don’t always get all the fun as the unruly rapscallions on a mission to disrupt the narrative; girls are just as competent at causing chaos (even better perhaps, depending on who gets asked!) Unsurprisingly, thesefemale villainsare not above using sex appeal to their advantage, not counting the kiddos, of course!
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Some of these feisty females perfectly encapsulate what it means to be anIsekai villainess, displaying the deplorable and diabolical characteristics befitting of this role. Others, however, are rather loose withtheir definition of the term villainess, and somehow end up in the protagonist position whilst somehow maintaining their sinister title.
9Good (Well, Kind Of): Jahy (The Great Jahy Will Not Be Defeated!)
The Demon Lord’s second-in-command has been unceremoniously booted out of the Dark Realm (moments before it was blown to smithereens) and forced to live in the human realm, indefinitely! To make matters worse, Jahy’s usual seductive form has been replaced by a pre-adolescent body, while she has virtually no minions to boss around anymore.
Fortunately, Jahy can get her bosom back for a few hours each day, which she takes full advantage of as the local pub’s seductive server. Needless to say, this whole “living expenses” business is far below her status; but if she collects enough mana crystals, Jahy could return things to normal. The only problem is, this villainess needs to behave herself to earn these life-changing gems, but everyday issues andthose pesky Magic Girlsare making the task terribly difficult, indeed!
8Evil: Satella, The Witch of Envy (Re: Zero)
Although Satella remains behind the scenes for most of the action inRe: Zero(only showing face in Season 2, episode 9), her mere existence is a relentless, foreboding cloud hanging over everyone’s heads, Emilia’s in particular. Why so much trepidation? Oh, the Witch of Envy is only the sole cause of the apocalyptic Great Calamity, which nearly brought about the end of the world, that’s all!
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The infamous Witch was subsequently trapped away in the Evil Sealing Stone Shrine, but her colossal powers were not efficiently contained. Satella is responsible forSubaru’s Return by DeathIsekai Bunus (which has its assets and liabilities) and gatekeeps his freedom of speech, forewarning the suffering hero from revealing his secret. She also has way too much sway over her doppelgänger, Emilia’s life, who is constantly berated for being the Witch, while Satella pulls the sadistic strings behind the curtain.
7Good: Aileen Lauren d’Autriche (I’m the Villainess, So I’m Taming the Final Boss)
When Aileen initially crosses over into the “Regalia of Saints, Demons and Maidens” realm, she has little to complain about, as the fiancee of the highly admired Prince Cedric. However, her villainous journey begins when Lilia Reinoise unceremoniously claims the role of the beloved heroine, casting Aileen out into the cold.
After carefully assessing the situation, Aileen quickly changes course and aligns herself with the dark side, captivatingthe seemingly coldhearted Demon King’sattention in the process. Despite her selfish intentions, Aileen’s compassionate charm shines through, while she uses her business savvy to benefit not only herself but those around her as a bonus perk.
6Evil: Alicia Crystella (How NOT to Summon a Demon Lord)
Diablo’s major nemesis (in Season 1, anyway) is not who most expect, seeing as the biscuit-loving Demon Lord of Krebskulm or the loyal Action Girl Edelgard could easily qualify for the part. The underhanded Alicia poses as an ally and noble Imperial Knight, keeping up the act for quite some time until she cannot contain her excitement (and ensuing frustrations) during Klem’s reincarnation.
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After an abusive childhood led Alicia into theoppression that accompanies a femaleKnight’s very existence (involving whips, chains, and forced nudity), it’s no wonder the sultry swordman grew to hate humanity and the rest of the mortal races. Renouncing her own people and joining the Fallen forces, Alicia seeks a Demon-run world, free of the parasitic degenerate who made her life hell.
5Evil: Quinella (Sword Art Online: Alicization)
The famedKirito has been trappedin yet another VRMMORPG universe! This time around, he is fighting for his life in the Underworld alongside Eugeo, whose sister has essentially been kidnapped and brainwashed by the Axiom Church zealot, Quinella. This self-entitled Administrator has worked her way up the AI ranks of Seijirō Kikuoka’s Soul Translator system, dominating all who oppose her by simply meddling with their Fluctlights, subsequently becoming the unrefuted leader of the realm.
Quinella has built a potent army of mindless soldiers and devout God-fearing followers, all dedicated to her Feudal System ideologies. With her Thermal Arrow technique, the Administrator became the first AI capable of killing and eventually surpassed all the limitations imposed on her, rendering her virtually immortal.
4Good (Well, Kind Of): Albedo (Overlord)
Ainz Ooal Gown is the de-facto Demon King of Nazarick and, after succumbing to his Isekai fate, is trying his best to fulfill the antagonistic role. In contrast, villainy comes second nature to his right-hand-woman, Albedo, as her sugary-sweet persona is all a facade, covering her truly dark and twisty nature that simply loves to come out and play.
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Originally created by Tabula Smaragdina to be a sexual deviant, Momonga mixes things up a bitby reworking Albedo’s programming, making himself the object of her obsessive affection. The leader of the seven Floor Guardians is therefore always ready to fight for her king’s honor, so much so that Ainz Ooal Gown often has to calm her temperament, before too much blood is unnecessarily spilled.
3Evil: Malty S Melromarc (The Rising of the Shield Hero)
It’s probably safe to say that all Naofumi fans despise this hatefulWitch, as Malty S Melromarc doesn’t try and hide her villainous side, after the initial stages of episode 1, that is.Being the Shield Herois apparently not difficult enough (with its preexisting tarnished reputation), Malty just has to make things worse by framing the darling Naofumi as a sexual deviant.
From there on out, it seems that this entitled redhead goes out of her way to torment the Shield Hero while ensuring to raise the blonde and beautiful Motoyasu Kitamura on a pedestal. Besides her alluring character design, there is arguably nothing admirable about the former First Princess of Melromarc, as she truly fits the villainess title to a tee.
This cutie pie otaku essentially set the tonefor otome villainess narratives, receiving rave reviews after her debut in 2020, initiating a ripple effect of anime anti-heroines in her wake. However, besides that wicked smile of hers, Katarina only claims the villainess title due to an unfortunate reincarnation mishap and is hardly indicative of her newfound personality traits, which aren’t exactly befitting of her antagonistic role.
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Knowing full well what fate lies before her in this “Fortune Lover"world, Katarina desperately attempts to avoid her deathbed, subsequently disrupting many other storylines (specifically, Maria Campbell’s) and inadvertently becoming everyone’s paramore. Her internal moral debates are an entertaining delight, while her passion for farming never ceases to amaze, either.
1Evil: Tanya von Degurechaff (Saga Of Tanya The Evil)
In a dated, wartorn European-inspired realm, an unlucky salaryman finds himself reincarnated into the bloodthirsty body of a nine-year-old “Aryan” girl, who wastes no time in becoming the Empire’s Second Lieutenant. This Nazi-esqueloli looks to be havingthe time of her life amidst all the chaos and destruction and has built up a reputable track record, arguably making Tanya the most skilled child combatant in anime history (or at least in terms of Isekai!)
Tanya overwhelms the battlefield with her presence, inspiring her (older, larger, and supposedly stronger) troops to at least attempt to match her “Mad Dog” energy. If only all the troops were empowered by the same streamlined magical enhancements as their Lieutenant, but they weren’t brave enough to oppose God himself, and thus, cannot revel in the rewards of such power. Season 2 ofSaga of Tanya The Evilwas confirmed in 2021; however, details regarding its release date are yet to be revealed.
