Villains. Sometimes, they’re simply over-the-top evil-doers with bombastic personalities and twisted hearts. Other times, they’re a walking tragedy, a living image that begs the question: what would it take to become this person? What would it take for ME to become this person? Just as often as we see ourselves in heroes, we see ourselves in villains. And this November, Crunchyroll wants to celebrate the countless incredible anime villains that have graced our screens (or manga pages) over the genre’s long history. Get ready for the villains to ARRIVE in a brand new “release the villains” campaign.
Crunchyroll has some specific anime villains in mind to celebrate, of course—names like Zeke Jaeger and Shogo Makishima—but there’s a never-ending wealth that Crunchyroll hopes you’ll be inspired to explore during its “Release the Villains” campaign. The villains will be taking over Crunchyroll’s everything for the next month, from the landing page on the streaming app to their social media presence. So get ready! We have an exclusive look at this villainous campaign just for you—we hope your favorite anime baddie is featured!
That’s not all, though, the voices behind some of our favorite anime villains will be hands-on during Crunchyroll’s “Release the Villains” celebration, with interviews, social surprises, and even some original content. Their featured villain list is: Tomura Shigaraki from My Hero Academia, Askeladd from Vinland Saga, Rize Kamishiro from Tokyo Ghoul, Zeke Jaeger from Attack on Titan, Shogo Makishima from Psycho-Pass, and Ainz Ooal Gown from Overlord. If you’re not already a Crunchyroll subscriber, you can keep your eyes out for a very villainous free trial experience as well!
Here’s the lowdown on what each of these characters represents… Which one is your favorite?
- Tomura Shigaraki — My Hero Academia: Destruction, grievance, and the desire to dismantle the world.
- Askeladd — Vinland Saga: A charismatic strategist whose loyalties and motivations resist easy definition.
- Rize Kamishiro — Tokyo Ghoul: Allure, appetite and danger.
- Zeke Jaeger — Attack on Titan: A character whose extreme convictions are shaped by inherited trauma and distorted ideals.
- Shogo Makishima — PSYCHO-PASS: An intellectual antagonist whose worldview challenges the systems around him.
- Ainz Ooal Gown — Overlord: An imposing ruler whose grandeur and absurdity make him uniquely entertaining.
For fans living in Latin America, the hype is even realer—Crunchyroll is literally bringing its anime villains to life. Anime villains will be invading Arena México to overtake lucha libre, a genre of wrestling best known for its acrobatic and theatrical style. And of course, their rudos; the villains. Crunchyroll is also planning some high-profile and very visible outdoor promos in Mexico, sure to be visually impressive in their own right. And oh! A jaunt over to Brazil and you’ll find that the villains have overtaken their public transit.
“Crunchyroll’s Release the Villains is about more than giving anime’s bad guys their moment. It’s about celebrating the extraordinary storytelling that makes anime unique, recognizing the complex relationships fans develop with its characters, and creating new ways for those stories to be discovered.” —Scott Donaton, Crunchyroll Senior Vice President, Brand & Community
We’re excited to see what Crunchyroll has in store for us this November! Anything is possible when it comes to these villains. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna go listen to the Major from Hellsing Ultimate’s “I love war” speech for the hundredth time.
