Summary
TheNarutoseries has produced some of the most recognizable villains in all of shonen. Whether it’s the mysterious and creepy Orochimaru, the immensely intimidating Pain, or the larger-than-life Madara, the story features a plentiful selection of iconic antagonists, but while they’ve all been compared in terms of strength, their designs often go underlooked. Author Masashi Kishimoto has a knack for creating effortlessly cool and eye-catching character designs, and the villains are arguably the greatest example of this.
A good villain designwill be able to tell the viewer a little bit about the character, their personality, and their affiliation, without giving away too much in the process. Of course, considering these villains live in a world of ninja, they also need to look cool and interesting to stand out from the vibrant cast of characters that surround them, but when ranking all the antagonists, who have the best design of all? Before jumping in, this list will focus on major villains, so only those who act as the main villains for at least a fair portion of a story arc, rather than entire groups or factions.
8Zabuza Momochi
A Fairly Plain But Still Intimidating Design For The Hidden Mist Swordsman
Zabuza is the first major villain in the entire series, and while his appearance admittedly isn’t all that interesting, there are still a few nice touches that help to show what thisdeadly swordsmanis all about. For example, the mask covering his mouth, paired with the gigantic sword strapped to his back, makes Zabuza appear like a genuinely intimidating assassin who is as mysterious as he is deadly.
Another subtle addition is his headband being skewed to the side, highlighting his rebellious attitude and awkward relationship with his village. Despite being Kishimoto’s first stab at a villain design, he did an admirable job with Zabuza’s appearance, though the best designs would admittedly come a lot later.
7Obito Uchiha
Obito Can Fill An Entire Room With Fear Thanks To His Hellish Design
Obito has had many appearances throughout the story, but his most recognizable and well-known is this one, which is seen after he decides to ditch the mask during the war. Just from a single glance, viewers can clearly see this is a guy who’s had it pretty rough with half his face being disfigured, but what makes the design so terrifying is the eyes.
Having both aMangekyo Sharingan and Rinneganpresents Obito as a true force to be reckoned with, and though his actual outfit is pretty basic, this is still an iconic design for the villain turned hero. Kishimoto also did a good job at showcasing Obito’s underlying pain through the sadistic smirk that can always be seen on his face, as if he’s just itching to burn the world down for what he’s been through.
6Kaguya Otsutsuki
Kaguya’s Otherworldy Design Gave Fans A Peek Into The Revamped Aesthetic Of The Boruto Series
WhileNarutocan definitely get pretty outlandish at times, many of the character designs tend to be at least somewhat grounded in reality, that is until Kaguya showed up. Kaguya’s design is a lot more alien-like and otherwordly than any of the other villains, especially with her pale skin and the third glowing red eye which can be seen at the top of her head.
She’s also sporting a kind of traditional high-collared kimono which is decorated with an assortment of weird and intriguing symbols. This sort of design aesthetic would be seen a lot more prominently in theBorutoseries, and while it can seem a bit over the top, it’s still very eye-catching and perfectly conveys Kaguya’s immense underlying power.
5Orochimaru
Orochimaru’s Eerie Snake-Like Appearance Grants An Insight Into His Sick And Twisted Mindset
It’s easy to see why Orochimaru gives so many peoplethe creepsfrom his appearance alone. Orochimaru’s pale skin provides a striking contrast with his long dark hair, but another noticeable aspect is his devious eyes, which are made to resemble that of a snake so he can effortlessly pierce the souls of his victims.
There’s also a ton of small eerie details that invoke this aura of dread that Orochimaru always carries with him, such as his unusually long tongue, which he feels a little bit too comfortable about showing off. It’s evident that something is a little off about Orochimaru from his unorthodox design, and that’s a testament to just how effective it is.
4Pain
Pain’s Inner Turmoil Is Shown Through His Facial Decorations And Expressions
It’s amazing just how much can be gleaned about Pain from his appearance alone. The abundance of piercings covering his face shows that he clearly has some twisted affiliation with his namesake, while thedouble Rinneganensures viewers that this is a man who possesses an incredible level of power; as proven when he utterly obliterates Konoha with a single Jutsu.
While Pain dons the signature Akatsuki robe, keen-eyed viewers will also be able to spot the spikes jammed into his arms every now and again, further feeding into his obsession with pain and nihilistic view of the world. He could have potentially been given a different version of the Akatsuki getup to show his dominance in the group, but it’s clear Kishimoto still spent a lot of time creating the perfect design for Pain, putting a particular focus on the character’s face.
3Kabuto Yakushi
The Corruption Of Kabuto Manifests Into His Creative Hooded Design
Kabuto’s design at the beginning of the series is nothing to write home about, but it’s after he acquires the power of Orochimaru that he receives a major glow-up. Kabuto truly looks the part of a villain when rocking this design, with the obscure red hood and the cracks in his skin showing just how corrupted he has become over the course of the story.
He manages to retain just enough of Orochimaru’s signature features while still looking like the Kabuto everyone is familiar with, but this is such an intimidating appearance that it succeeds in presenting him as a much bigger threat this time around. While Kabuto doesn’t get to showcase this outfit for too much of the story, it’s still a memorable design for how drastically different it is from his original appearance, and because of the villainous aura it gives off.
2Itachi Uchiha
Itachi’s Iconic Design Shrouds The Uchica Murderer In Mystery
Though Itachi is technically more of a villain for Sasuke than Naruto, he’s still prominent enough in the story to be considered an antagonist, and one who certainly knows how to dress in style. While he sports the same robe asthe other Akatsuki, Itachi’s design is packed full of small personal additions that make for a jaw-dropping appearance overall.
Whether it’s the single arm resting out from the center, the bead necklace hanging on his neck, or even the slashed headband, all of it comes together to create an effortlessly cool design that even those unfamiliar with theNarutoseries can recognize. It’s also just a design that adds so much mystery to the character, especially since he usually shows no emotions in his face, and tends to hide as much of himself behind the cloak as possible.
1Madara Uchiha
The Legendary Uchiha Certainly Lives Up to The Hype With His Immense Power And Breathtaking Design
Madara Uchiha is mentioned here and there as some kind of boogeyman before he eventually shows up in the story. As a result, the hype leading up to his debut was palpable, but thankfully, he blew fans away with his unparalleled strength, unique powers, and frankly, outstanding design. One moment, Madara can look like an isolated and mysterious Uchiha with his hair covering a single Rinnegan and the stoic look on his face, while the next, he will look downright terrifying when his eyes glow and he unleashes his menacing smile.
Madara also comes equipped with a traditional set of Uchiha armor, which makes him look like a hardened warrior who has seen his fair share of battles. There’s a demanding presence about Madara’s design which oozes unrivaled power and charismawithout him even needing to say a word. Overall, this is a truly epic design that stands as one of the best thanks to the attention to detail, alongside its memorability.
