5 Anime's greatest villains returned from the dead—Only to be humiliated again

Time of India

04-05-2025

5 Anime's greatest villains returned from the dead—Only to be humiliated again
(credit- Fandom)
Anime is particularly good at creating these over-the-top evildoers—plotters, ravagers, puppeteers—who tend to make even more of an impact than the protagonists. What about when these fan-favorite villains come back, only for their big return trip to totally suck.
In theory, bringing back a big bad A-list villain should up the stakes. It's an opportunity, if audiences can stomach it, to remind them why they were so scary in the first place. Most medium productions miss wildly—serving up bland, compressed arcs, clumsy prose or diminished characters that rob these figures of their past ferocity.
Here are five iconic anime bad guys who returned…and unfortunately, deserved to stay dead.
1. Frieza in Dragon Ball Super from threat to comic relief
Frieza (credit- Fandom)
Frieza was formerly the top villain in Dragon Ball Z —a galactic tyrant who destroyed planets, forced Goku to achieve Super Saiyan form, and made every battle feel like the world's end. To have had his defeat by Future Trunks be a brief but satisfying full stop to his monstrous reign.
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Undo
So naturally when
Dragon Ball Super
brought him back to life in the 'Resurrection 'F'' arc, the hype could not have been higher. With his new form, Golden Frieza, he should've been more of a threat than ever before. Unfortunate artistry and lack of technical finesse made him a laughing stock. Beaten in short order, his threat level melted away.
Not even in the Tournament of Power, where he did end up having some good moments, did
Frieza
feel like anything more than a utility player rather than a true villain. His return had no impact, no direction—more bang than boom.
2 Aizen's incredibly short role in Bleach: A Thousand-Year Blood War was disappointing.
Aizen ( credit- Fandom)
Very few
anime villains
were as clever or magnetic as Sosuke Aizen. He even played the Soul Society from within and almost destroyed it with unflappable efficiency. For all its flaws his original arc in Bleach developed him to a point where he was an unbeatable genius.
So when he returned in the Thousand-Year Blood War, fans were anticipating a big deal. Instead, Aizen ended up filling the role of the aloof, almost passive mentor figure, issuing a couple of wizards' chess lines from his throne and providing little helpful guidance.
For a villain of his scale, this 'return' was more like an extended cameo. He didn't influence the story in any substantial sense, and his addition felt more like a nostalgia grab than a game-changer.
3. Shou Tucker's return in FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST The Brotherhood was ethnic cleansing
Shou Tucker (credit- Fandom)
Get ready
Fullmetal Alchemist
antagonist revival, Shou Tucker resurrection
Shou Tucker is infamous for perhaps the most disturbing moment in anime history—turning his daughter into a chimera. His first appearance was short-lived but indelible.
So when he returned as an undead chimera later in Brotherhood, viewers prepared themselves for an apocalyptic battle. The exact opposite occurred. He had no big speech, no big fight scene, and just faded away without contributing anything of importance to the narrative.
Instead of taking his return as an opportunity to dig into things like guilt, madness, or redemption, the show made him into a cruel punchline.
4. Naraku's End in Inuyasha. The finalact seemed rushed
Naraku (credit- Fandom)
Naraku was a true manipulator, the kind that stalks Inuyasha from beginning to end. He was responsible for immeasurable ruination, poisoned souls, and always kept a mile ahead.
In The Final Act, his long-awaited defeat didn't pack the emotional punch fans were hoping for. The big finale was all chaos and no substance—big on action, little on payoff. After all the damage he caused, his death was not only too soon. It was without enough seeming consideration.
Naraku deserved an ending that befit the depth of his evil. Instead, the series simply skipped ahead.
5. Madara Uchiha's exit in Naruto Shippuden was a complete deception.
Madara Uchiha (credit- Fandom)
Madara Uchiha, a character who didn't even have a name until Naruto reached the final arc, was advertised as the end-all-be-all boss for Naruto. His power was difficult to fathom—calling down meteors, 1v100ing armies, demolishing the strongest of the world with ease.
At first, it truly seemed like he might exceed the expectations. The rug got pulled out from underneath him. He was suddenly betrayed, and replaced, by Kaguya—a villain with no partner emotional buildup, and no significant emotional investment by the audience or the cast.
Madara's lack of a true final battle was even more tragic. He did not lose because he was out-witted or out-muscled by the protagonists. He simply… was written out. It seemed a crass flip that soured the entire experience that had come before it.
Here's why great villains deserve better
Whether the hero or villain, every time someone returns it needs to count. These nefarious characters further developed the scope of their respective story worlds, tested their heroes in memorable and groundbreaking ways, and solidified their statuses in anime annals. Throwing them away—or playing them off as little more than MacGuffins—devalues their legacy and, more importantly, lets down the fans.
Not every villain deserves a comeback. If they do receive one, it should pay respect to the positive change they created—not whitewash over it.