The Shocking Villain Transformations: 8 Anime Adaptations that Deviated from the Manga

Adapting manga into anime allows for creative adjustments to be made for the screen, including alterations to popular villain characters. However, such changes may not always be well-received by fans. While some anime adaptations stay true to their manga source material, such as Fairy Tale or Demon Slayer, there are also those that opt to make significant modifications to the villain's role or personality within the series. These changes can range from the removal of graphic violence to the addition of new story arcs, resulting in a notable shift in the character's impact on the overall narrative - for better or for worse.

8 Death Note

Light Yagami, the protagonist of Death Note, embarks on a journey to change the world by eliminating those he deems as evil using the Death Note. However, the portrayal of his character differs between the anime and manga. In the anime, Light is depicted as a darker and more corrupt character, harbouring hatred towards his classmates and everyday life, and demonstrating no remorse for his killings. In contrast, the manga portrays a softer version of Light, who is merely bored with his mundane life. He even experiences physical and emotional distress, exhibiting more regret for his actions than his anime counterpart.

7 One Piece

The level of violence and gore portrayed by the villains in One Piece is noticeably more intense in the manga as compared to the anime. Arlong the Saw, for instance, is depicted as considerably more gruesome in the manga version. In one of his most infamous acts, Arlong kills Bell-mere, the adoptive mother of Nami and Nojiko, who was also an ex-Marine. While the anime portrays this scene with a shot to the chest, the manga shows Arlong shooting Bell-mere through the head in a much more disturbing and graphic manner.

6 Dragon Ball Z

Fans have mixed emotions towards Garlic Jr, the reincarnation of Garlic, who is the main antagonist in the Dead Zone and the Garlic Jr. Saga in Dragon Ball Z. While he plays a significant role in the anime and the movie Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone, it's interesting to note that Garlic Jr and the entire Dead Zone arc are not part of Akira Toriyama's manga.

5 Soul Eater

In Soul Eater, the villains display a significant difference between the anime and manga versions, particularly in the case of Crona's storyline. Regardless of the medium, it is apparent that Crona had a difficult childhood under the care of Medusa. However, the anime had to make several alterations due to censorship issues, resulting in the softening of numerous scenes, including the replacement of a bunny with a dragon to minimize the level of gruesomeness. Furthermore, the anime had Crona turning against her mother and getting seriously hurt, whereas the manga portrays her as an antagonist for a more extended period, culminating in the death of Medusa.

4 Tokyo Ghoul

In the Tokyo Ghoul series, Ken Kaneki experiences a significant transformation after enduring torture at the hands of Yamori, the villainous alias of Yakumo Oomori. In the manga, Yamori deceives Kaneki by offering to save a mother and child and instead subjects him to ten days of torture. Kaneki is forced to choose between saving the mother or child, resulting in a disturbing scene where he mutilates his own skin and eyes. However, in the anime adaptation, this scene is excluded entirely and Yamori simply kidnaps Kaneki instead of tricking him. This alteration has left many fans disappointed, as it diminishes the impact and significance of Kaneki's traumatic experience and subsequent character development.

3 Twelve Kingdoms

In contrast to her limited role in the manga, Yuka Sugimoto is given a more prominent and antagonistic presence in the Twelve Kingdoms anime. As a rival to Youko, she sees herself as more deserving of a place in the Twelve Kingdoms and is ultimately convinced by the King of Kou to challenge Youko. Even after being sent to Heki Rakujin, Sugimoto remains determined to defeat Youko.

2 Naruto

Gaara is a compelling Naruto villain, but his portrayal in the anime differs significantly from the manga. As one of the Three Sand Siblings and a shinobi of Sunagakure, Gaara initially serves as a major antagonist before eventually aligning with Naruto. While many fans appreciate his character development, those who have only read the manga may struggle to reconcile his violent past with his eventual redemption. Unlike the anime, which downplays his more gruesome actions, the manga depicts Gaara as a much more brutal figure who has killed numerous people. As a result, his transformation from villain to hero is less seamless in the manga than in the anime.

1 Hunter X Hunter

Hunter x Hunter anime enthusiasts may be left wondering about the fate of Gyro, the former king and founder of the Neo-Green Life organization, who was a malevolent character plagued by a tragic past. Gyro's nefarious intentions included spreading chaos and evil through the D2 drug that he created. While the anime provides extensive insight into Gyro's troubled upbringing, his character is not mentioned after The Chimera Ant arc. However, the manga reveals that Gyro was devoured and then reborn as an Ant, still retaining his human memories. He departs from the hive with the intention of rebuilding his lost kingdom, but this storyline remains unexplored in the Hunter X Hunter anime.