Everyone knows how the world of anime is full of iconic villains, but sometimes there are a few side villains (just like side characters) who actually steal the show. Although a series like One Piece has a vast array of iconic side villains, it’s Kohei Horikoshi’s My Hero Academia that ultimately takes the spotlight.
It is the Gentle Criminal, we are talking about! What’s so crazy about him is how uncannily relatable he can get, with a backstory that’s nothing short of phenomenal. If Itachi is the undisputed 1st placeholder in the list of side villains in anime, then Gentle Criminal would easily come in the second spot. What exactly is it about his character that makes him so compelling?
What makes Gentle Criminal so great
On the surface, Gentle Criminal seems like your run-of-the-mill troublemaker, but scratch that surface and you’ll find a guy who’s actually trying to make a point. He always goes around trying to highlight the little injustices in life, like convenience stores selling expired products or the vulnerability of UA’s students. By taking a stand against these issues, doesn’t it make him more of a vigilante?
Or maybe “antihero” or “anti-villain” would be a better fit for the Gentle Criminal. After all, he just always craves attention, and it’s always in a weird way! Even he knows that he’s completely harmless, but never likes to admit it.
He’s not out to cause chaos or destruction; he just wants to make a statement and bring about some change. So, doesn’t that make him easily one of the best side villains ever? Here, the kind of ideology that he bears toward creating a better world exceptionally stands out as well, which gives him more of a humane persona.
The ideology of Gentle Criminal that stands out from the rest
The Gentle Criminal’s ideologies are definitely a breath of fresh air compared to the other villains in the My Hero Academia universe. While everyone else is trying to take over the world, destroy humanity, or reshape society in their image, the Gentle Criminal is just chilling. His goals are much more relatable.
Shigaraki wants to destroy society, Overhaul wants to erase all quirks, and Redestro wants quirks to be free to use in society. Those might be some pretty intense, world-changing ambitions, but the Gentle Criminal is just here trying to make a name for himself on YouTube and enjoy a good cup of tea. It’s hilarious, but also so much refreshing to see.
This kind of laid-back vibe that he emits is definitely something that you don’t easily get to see in many shows. He’s like an anti-villain villain, and his quirky (pun intended) personality is definitely worth appreciating. One can only wish for Gentle Criminal that his YouTube videos would always be fire, and his tea always be strong.
My Hero Academia is available to watch on Crunchyroll.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
