It’s about time for a new poll. So … who is the worst character in anime? I don’t mean who is the most evil — a good villain can be a pleasure to watch and is essential for some kinds of stories ((The loathsome Dolores Umbridge is perhaps the most memorable character in the entire Harry Potter franchise.)) — but, rather, who is the most poorly-conceived, unnecessary or pointlessly irritating? Who provides unfunny comic relief, pathological angst or repulsive fanservice? Who spoils every scene he’s in? List your nominations in the comments. You can nominate more than one, but please don’t get carried away.
Some possibilities:
Rei Hino/Sailor Mars (Sailor Moon) — She may be the best-looking of the Sailor Senshi and a magical miko, but she is also quarrelsome and obnoxious.
Tomo Takino (Azumanga Daioh) — AD should have been a great show. Unfortunately, there are a couple of problems. One is the insufferable Tomo.
NB (Tenchi Muyo GXP) — Never was comic relief so tedious. Or so unnecessary. Without Nabeshin’s self-insertion, TMGXP would be a solid four stars out of five; with him, the most I can give is three.
Barashishou (Rozen Maiden Traümend) — It’s obvious early on that she’s not a proper Rozen Maiden: ((Yeah, that’s a spoiler, but I don’t care. The show is a waste of time.)) there is no personality behind the smirk.
“Ms.” Aki (Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi) — I really, really don’t want to see middle-aged transvestites. Uninteresting footnote: Aki is voiced by the same voice actor as
Kimura (Azumanga Daioh) — I’ll just quote Steven from his legendary lost review of AD: “Someone please shoot him.”
My nominee is Jinnai Katsuhiko in “El Hazard, The Wanderers”. (Even his own sister wants him dead.)
“Repulsive fan service”? Wouldn’t that be Melona in the first episode of Queen’s Blade?
Gauron, FMP. Worst. Series. Villian. Ever.
Gauron, FMP. Worst. Series. Villian. Ever.
Happosai, from Ranma 1/2. While not the worst offender, he was pretty much the worst of the unfunny funny characters. Plus, despite being just as obnoxiously powerful as Cologne, his personality was that of a whiny brat.
I really don’t get all the Tomo hatred. Honestly can say I can’t think of a character I’ve despised that much, maybe I’m just too nice 😉
I really don’t get all the Tomo hatred. Honestly can say I can’t think of a character I’ve despised that much, maybe I’m just too nice 😉
Basera Nekki from Macross 7. A ‘hero’ who served to endanger the people of his own side repeatedly, insisted other people listen to his point of view, but was utterly contemptuous of any who did not agree with him, was a hair shy of being emotionally abusive to the Mylene a few times and caused a few other characters to become twisted shadows of themselves. He was temperamental, arrogant, and moody. Completely spoiled by the backing he was given, and never redeemed himself from any of it.
His inclusion, and the plot pretzels it required, turned a show which should showed every sign of matching it’s predecessor’s greatness into one that strove for mediocrity.
Amazing, it’s been the better part of a decade since I watched that show, and he still ranks as the anime character I always think of first when something like this comes up.
StargazerA5
I was thinking of nominating Onsokumaru (Ninja Nonsense) but he isn’t even remotely as obnoxious as Happosai, so there isn’t any point.
second Happosai. In the end, I made it almost 1/2way thru season 7, but it just became too much.
second Happosai. In the end, I made it almost 1/2way thru season 7, but it just became too much.
NB – agreed; he was little more than an irritant.
Sailor Moon – the entire cast?? (With the possible exception of the outer planets…)
Most others I can think of off the top of my head aren’t really bad; they are at times annoying, but have redeeming qualities. I’ll have to think on this for a bit more…
Dr. Kyogi Ogami from Amazing Nurse Nanako. He is enormously abusive to poor Nanako to the point of exploitation, but they try to portray him as the hero. Also, the story focuses on him way too much, to the point where he practically steals the show from Nanako.
Dr. Kyogi Ogami from Amazing Nurse Nanako. He is enormously abusive to poor Nanako to the point of exploitation, but they try to portray him as the hero. Also, the story focuses on him way too much, to the point where he practically steals the show from Nanako.
Is it too late to nominate the entire cast of Girls Bravo? Kazuharu should at least be on the list.
As for Melona… well, one man’s repulsive fan service is another man’s “lethal lactation” fetish… and if you watch more than the first episode (not recommended if you value your soul) there are characters that make Melona look goddamn noble in comparison. Like Menace, a lesbian necrophiliac who comes into possession of Reina’s dead body…
Re: Stargazer,
Basara, eh? Boy, that brings back memories.
When it look like he got killed of in Macros Seven, everybody in the anime group I was in cheered. That’s how obnoxious that lout truly was.
What about Shinji Ikari from Evangelion? Seriously. In a show full of unappealing characters he is the worst.
Also Nanami from Revolutionary Girl Utena. Great show. Worthless, irritating character.
What about Shinji Ikari from Evangelion? Seriously. In a show full of unappealing characters he is the worst.
Also Nanami from Revolutionary Girl Utena. Great show. Worthless, irritating character.
Pain from Naruto turned out to be the most lamely pathetic excuse for a bad guy. He started out pretty mysterious, world domination is standard villian boilerplate of course, but killing major characters and nuking the whole Konoha village was genius, but then it turns out he was just sad because his dog died???? WTF! And then he undergoes a 180 degree reversal in 2 panels, revives a bunch of his victims, and croaks? And so he wasn’t a bad guy after all in his heart? Bah! Where’s the conviction? The backbone? If you are going to set out to take over the world through brute force, pain, misery, and death, be prepared to see it through! You can have regret and repentance in the last seconds of your death scene, but until you’re crushed and laying at Naruto’s feet, cry defiance and keep nuking!