Tokyo Ghoul is a dark fantasy anime that has cemented itself as one of the best due to its character, combat system, and social commentary. Nowadays, we are hard-pressed to find any media with an unbiased view of the world and the powers at play. This is due to the creators having opinions that might defer from the watcher. Tokyo Ghoul, in that regard, takes a very different approach as it focuses on the true nature of man and how he would deal with a creature that lived amongst it and whose only purpose was to devour humanity.
A good narrative can only take you so far, and for an anime or show to truly stand out, you need good villains with motivations and whose presence is felt in the story. Tokyo has such villains who not only appear as hurdles for the main character but also help him discover who he truly is.
1. Furuta Nimura
Furuta Nimura is one of the most surprising and formidable villains in the entire series. This is due to Furuta’s multiple identities, and he isn’t discovered until the end of the series. He did this to manipulate the events to get his desired result. He acts as an investigator of the CCG while also being a high-ranking member of the ghoul group named clown gang.
Due to his kind and calm nature, you might not suspect him, but rest assured, all of it is a charade as he is a genuinely evil and vile man behind that mask. He also is a One-Eyed Ghoul, just like Kaneki, and has the same powers as Rize, which allow him to regenerate in seconds, which makes him the strongest villain in the series.
2. Yakumo Oomori
Few antagonists are genuinely hated by the fans, as many love a good villain with a great story. But when it comes to the case of Yakumo, we have the exact opposite phenomenon inside of fans loving him, they hated him because he is a highly deranged madman in a show with a mentally psychotic main character. We are introduced to him early in the show as he is a high-ranking executive of Aogiri Tree. He also has become infamous for killing without remorse and is known as Jason to all. But his last mistake was torturing Kaneki Ken, as by torturing him, he made Kaneki accept himself as a Ghoul.
3. Rize Kamishiro
Rize might not be an antagonist for a long time, but she is responsible for many of the biggest plot points of the story as she is the one that takes Kaneki on a date only to try to eat him, which leads to Kaneki becoming a one-eyed Ghoul. She also returns later but soon losses the will to fight Kaneki after seeing how he has changed. She is one of the most infamous Ghouls, as he kills without regard for life, and also one of the strongest Ghouls, as she can quickly kill any Ghoul within seconds while also having one of the most potent healing abilities in the anime.
4. Eto Yoshimura
Eto Yoshimura is one of the most substantial Ghouls in the series, as she is a natural-born one-eyed Ghoul due to being the daughter of the One-Eyed-King. She appears as a beautiful green-haired girl who wraps her body in bandages. She is also the founder and leader of the Ghoul organization Aogiri Tree and has the respect of all of her members. Arima from the Ghoul investigators also is shown to have a connection with her. Her true identity is that of a novelist called Sen Takatsuki. Due to being a natural-born one-eyed ghoul, she possesses supernatural abilities which make other ghouls look like children.
5. Seidou Takizawa
Seidou is a character that has gone through many changes in the story, from being an investigator to a one-eyed ghoul from the ghoulification experiments and fighting the main cast. To again becomes a good guy after he meets Kaneki. Through all this, he advanced and became a better fighter by merging his ghoul-hunting expertise with his ghoul powers. One of which is Ukaku Kagune, the same head of the Aogiri Tree, while also retaining his ukaku quinque Douhi from being an investigator. In the end, he is shown to be a lost individual that needs friends to guide him in the darkest time.
6. Matasaka Kamishiro
Few characters on this list can be said to be good people, given the wrong hand at life. This cant is true for Matasaka Kamishiro as he is one of the only ghouls that uphold a code of honor and doesn’t kill any innocent people. He is also Rize’s foster father and had trained her due to possessing one of the strongest set of abilities in the series. But even with his powers, he was caught by the CCG investigators and later lost his life in a battle against the best investigator Arima Kishou. He was the only one to have defeated Kaneki twice without losing himself.
7. Roma Hoito
Roma might seem a harmless waitress at the Anteiku, but do not let that fool you, as she is by far the second-strongest female in the entire series. This is because of her fractured mind, which ends up with her having two different personalities, one of which she uses to act normal when with humans and the other when she needs to do her ghoul duties. She was also once the head of the Ghoul group Clown gang. She possessed a powerful kakuja alongside a potent healing ability, making her enemies give her the title of Dodgy Mother.
8. Tatara
Tatara is by far one of the most recognizable characters from the series, as his design and personality leave an impression on the watcher. Despite originating from China, he is a core member of the Aogiri tree and a close confidant to its leader, the one-eyed owl. Despite being a Ghoul, he is one of the calmest and most calculative people in the entire series and prioritizes talking over fighting. But he is no slouch when it comes to throwing down hands, as he possesses some of the most potent Ghoul abilities in the series.
Conclusion
The characters in Tokyo Ghoul are generally well-developed and diverse, each with their own motivations and conflicts. Kaneki, in particular, is a complex and relatable protagonist who undergoes significant character development throughout the series. The supporting cast is also strong, with memorable and multifaceted characters such as the charismatic ghoul leader, Tsukiyama, and the determined investigator, Amon.
The animation and soundtrack are top-notch, with action scenes that are intense and well-choreographed. The darker tone and themes of the series may not be for everyone, but they add to the overall atmosphere and intensity of the story.
That being said, Tokyo Ghoul does have some weaknesses. The pacing can sometimes be uneven, with some arcs feeling rushed while others drag on.
Overall, Tokyo Ghoul is a must-watch for dark and supernatural anime fans. Its unique take on the supernatural genre and well-developed characters make for a thrilling and thought-provoking viewing experience. Just be prepared for a rollercoaster of emotions and some intense themes.
In conclusion, Tokyo Ghoul not only has some of the most powerful and well-written villains in anime, but most of them are related to the discrimination the Ghouls face, which leads them to develop a deep-rooted hatred towards humanity. This hatred has also led them to their deaths, as they could not think straight and let their primal Ghoul nature take over.
