8 Best Villain Monologues in Anime, Ranked

Villains in anime have this peculiar darkness and charisma when it comes to monologuing, which transforms pivotal scenes into milestones fans never forget. These antagonists often use this chance to reveal a twisted worldview, lay bare the scars of their past, or challenge everything viewers think they know about right and wrong.

Think of these monologues as the anime equivalent of a villain stealing the show—equal parts theatrical performance, narrative climax, and psychological manipulation. Sometimes it’s the chilling calm of a monster’s nihilism, other times the fiery rhetoric of a conqueror obsessed with chaos. Either way, these speeches linger, raising the stakes for heroes and shaking audiences to their core.

8

“My friends, it has often been said that I like war. No, friends, I LOVE WAR!”

The Major – Hellsing Ultimate

When it comes to villainous monologues, the Major’s speech in Hellsing Ultimate is pure, unfiltered chaos. Delivered to an army of artificial vampires, this monologue isn’t about ideology or power—it’s an ecstatic love letter to war itself. With chilling joy, the Major declares war as the ultimate thrill, revealing a philosophy so twisted it makes even monsters like Alucard seem sane by comparison.

This speech is the starting gun for Hellsing Ultimate‘s central conflict, erasing any doubt about the Major’s sanity or the terrifying extent of his joyous obsession with destruction. The speech, and his entire philosophy of finding the ultimate expression of his “human will” through endless, willed conflict, sets a terrifying standard for villains motivated by pure nihilism and destruction.

7

“Justice will prevail, you say? But of course it will! Whoever wins this war becomes justice!”

Donquixote Doflamingo – One Piece

Cynicism has rarely sounded as slick as it does in Doflamingo’s Marineford speech. With the world watching the clash between pirates and marines, Doflamingo laughs off the notions of good and evil, declaring that “justice” is just a story written by the victors. Born a fallen Celestial Dragon and scarred by loss, Doflamingo knows firsthand how power shapes morality.

Doflamingo’s words, “Pirates are evil? The Marines are righteous? These terms have always changed throughout the course of history!” directly challenge the simplistic good-versus-evil narrative often propagated in the One Piece world. This monologue resonates deeply because it hints at the direction the show’s headed and the morally gray adventures to come.

6

“Every living human being is a slave to something.”

Askeladd – Vinland Saga

The cunning Viking mercenary leader Askeladd drops this wisdom in a bar as he observes a slave owner beating his servant. Askeladd exposes the universal nature of bondage, not just physical, but psychological and ideological. At that moment, every character in the series – warrior, king, or commoner – is seen as enslaved by something: gold, revenge, love, or duty.

It’s not just a critique of those wielding whips, but a challenge to viewers to reflect on their own motivations and chains. For Thorfinn and others, this became a defining moment of self-awareness, shaping their journey long after.

5

“Komugi, are you still there? Will you stay by my side… until I wake up?”

Meruem – Hunter x Hunter

Hunter x Hunter

Release Date

2011 – 2014

Directors

Hiroshi Kôjina

Writers

Atsushi Maekawa, Tsutomu Kamishiro

The Chimera Ant King and the ultimate predator, Meruem’s dying moments reveal a creature transformed by love, vulnerability, and remorse. Gone is the prideful tyrant; in his place is someone desperate for connection, asking a simple, heartbreaking question as his world fades to black.

Related

12 Most Riveting Speeches In Anime

These speeches from anime shows left a lasting impression on fans for years thanks to their epic nature.

Set against the backdrop of an apocalypse, Meruem’s quiet emotional moment isn’t just a farewell—it’s the culmination of one of anime’s most astonishing character arcs. The intimacy and humility of this moment redefine the very concept of villainy, proving that even the darkest beings are capable of profound humanity.

4

“Wake up to reality! Nothing ever goes as planned in this accursed world.”

Madara Uchiha – Naruto Shippuden

Delivered to a broken Obito Uchiha, this monologue is a masterclass in villainous logic, laying out a nihilistic worldview built on endless suffering and the inevitability of conflict. He says that in this “accursed world,” concepts like peace and love inevitably birth conflict and hatred, a cycle from which only his artificial utopia, the Infinite Tsukuyomi, offers escape.

This speech is the philosophy that drives the entire latter half of Naruto Shippuden, leading directly to the Fourth Shinobi World War. Madara’s words, “The longer you live, the more you realize that the only things that truly exist in this reality are merely pain, suffering, and futility” resonate with Obito’s fresh trauma, forging a dark bond and making Madara’s extreme solution seem almost merciful.

3

“I’m going to eliminate you now before you have a chance to speak, so I can sleep soundly again tonight.”

Yoshikage Kira – JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure

This is not an outburst of rage or a grand philosophical declaration, but something far more unsettling: a calm, meticulous self-introduction by a serial killer. Yoshikage Kira, an unassuming office worker who secretly indulges a fetish for women’s hands and murders to protect his “quiet life,” delivers this monologue to the terrified Shigechi, a young student who has just stumbled upon his gruesome secret.

At this moment of dire threat, Kira doesn’t panic; he calmly details his mundane daily routine, his address, his bedtime, and his aversion to “trouble”. The speech serves as both a character study and psychological horror, revealing that the most terrifying evil can hide in plain sight.

2

“I’m the one who’ll become the god of a new world that everyone desires. All those who would oppose that god, they are the ones who are truly evil.”

Light Yagami – Death Note

Light Yagami drops this declaration and proves that his moral compass is broken beyond repair. Enraged after figuring out that L used a decoy to denounce his murderous crusade as “evil,” Light kills the decoy on live television and immediately proclaims his own divine righteousness. Every word radiates arrogance, fueling debates about morality, power, and the danger of unchecked ideals.

This is not just Light being unmasked in terms of ideology, but also an open declaration of war on L, the beginning of one of the most legendary feuds in anime history. The speech is chilling because Light genuinely seems to believe his egotistical claims, showcasing his terrifying blend of intelligence and delusion.

1

“There’s nothing special about being born. Not a thing. Most of the universe is just death, nothing more.”

Johan Liebert – Monster

When it comes to existential terror, no one does it better than Johan Liebert in Monster. Delivered to a hopeful orphan, Johan’s calm assertion that life is meaningless and death is the only certainty shows the audience his twisted and nihilistic psyche. Being a product of the traumatic eugenics experiment Kinderheim 511, he embodies a profound emptiness, and he seeks to draw others into that void.

This isn’t just a statement of belief; it’s an active attempt to poison Milos’s perception, showcasing Johan’s monstrosity and complete lack of empathy. The simple language, delivered with detached clarity, diminishes the value of human life and hope, not through overt threats, but through persuasive, soul-crushing despair.

More

My Hero Academia: 11 Strongest Villains, Ranked

Over the course of My Hero Academia’s story, these are the villains who proved to be the hardest for the heroes to beat.