First off, Toguro Ani is no ordinary villain. I'm not just referring to the niftyness of his incredible shapeshifting abilities, used to such effect that most fictional shapeshifters could only look on in helpless envy. Nor his power level, which while more than enough to fillet, say, the entire Kenshin cast, is barely worth noticing in the light of something like Dragonball.

No, what makes Ani stand out immediately as a villain is how fricking EVIL he is. Yuu Yuu Hakusho is notable that nearly all its villains have redeeming or mitigating characteristics in their backstories that evoke some sympathy and understanding in how they became the monsters they are. Even Ani's own brother gets a sob story and some very cute quasiromantic tension with a woman one fifth his height. But not Ani. No bleeding-heart sappy redeeming crap sullies his villainhood. He's evil, DAMN evil, through and through, an utterly sadistic murdering psychopath, and enjoys it immensely. You need a cute little birdie tortured and chopped to bits to make Hiei's sister cry? Ani's your demon. You want a villain who, given any wish in the world, chooses to ensure that none of the heroes escape their horrible deaths? It's right here, baby.

But of course, evil alone, even distilled and concentrated as it is here, does not make a truly stupendous villain. No, you need STYLE. And when you've got a being that can look like anything he wants choosing to look like a two-foot tall trenchcoated freakshow, you know there's style aplenty to be found. Add to that his neverendingly creative ways to slaughter new foes, and the BEST FRICKING LAUGH IN THE UNIVERSE, and you know you have something special.

Which is good, since he's also about as unkillable as the Gundam franchise. And when he gets out of that plant, oh boy, there's gonna be hell to pay.

Toguro Ani Pictures