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Konan from Naruto is one of the show’s most underappreciated villains. This article covers other underrated anime characters.
Some anime villains tend to be the show stealers, while others remain underappreciated despite their depth and unique powers. Konan from Naruto is a prime example of a villain who deserves more love. She was a strong and intelligent woman who was a member of the Akatsuki and was devoted to Nagato (Pain).
However, she is usually upstaged by others on the show. When it comes to anime, many villains fall under a similar umbrella—well-written but unappreciated. In this article, we highlight 10 underrated villains like Konan from Naruto, examining their strengths, motivations, and why they deserve more appreciation.
Note: This article reflects the author’s personal preferences.
Genthru (Hunter x Hunter)
In the Hunter x Hunter anime, the main bad guy of the Greed Island arc is called Genthru. Though not quite on the same level of fame as Hisoka or Meruem, he was a serious threat to Gon and his friends. As the leader of the Bombers group, Genthru had a deadly power that let him blow things up. His special move, Little Flower, creates close-range explosions, making him very hard to fight.
Like Konan, Genthru is often forgotten despite having amazing abilities. Both characters use explosive techniques—Konan with her paper bombs and Genthru with his Little Flower. They are both smart planners who think ahead rather than rushing into battle. Just as Konan spent a considerable amount of time preparing her ocean of paper bombs to fight Obito, Genthru spent time carefully planning his takeover of Greed Island. Both villains show that sometimes the most dangerous enemies are the ones who plan carefully, not just those with raw power.
Many fans forget about Genthru when talking about Hunter x Hunter villains, just like they overlook Konan when discussing Akatsuki members, despite both being clever and deadly opponents.
Zabuza (Naruto)
Zabuza Momochi was the first “real” villain in Naruto. He was a terrifying ninja known as the Demon of the Hidden Mist who had left his village to become a hired murderer. His big sword (Executioner Blade) and skill at silent killing made him very dangerous. When Team 7 fought him, it became one of the most touching battles in early Naruto.
Like Konan, Zabuza fought for someone he deeply cared about. Konan dedicated her life to Nagato’s vision, while Zabuza cared for Haku. They both seemed cold on the outside but had deep feelings they rarely showed. Both did not have the most fortunate upbringing—Konan grew up during the Hidden Rain Village war, and Zabuza grew up during the cold and blood-soaked era of Kirigakure.
Eventually, both characters found redemption in their final moments. Konan died while fighting to protect Nagato’s legacy, while Zabuza died next to Haku, finally admitting his care for his young partner. These emotional ends made fans see that both villains had good in them, even if they walked dark paths.
Gentle Criminal (My Hero Academia)
Gentle Criminal is unique as he is nothing like other My Hero Academia villains. He does not want to destroy the world or murder heroes. He just wants to be famous and remembered. His story is funny and sad, so he is easy to identify with.
Like Konan from Naruto, Gentle Criminal has a simple power that could be impressive through creativity. Konan’s paper jutsu and Gentle Criminal’s Elasticity are both versatile abilities that allow for surprising attacks and movements. Both characters also have deep personal motivations driving them rather than simple evil. Konan fought for Nagato’s dream of peace, while Gentle Criminal fought for recognition in a world that forgot him.
Both villains also have strong partnerships. Konan had Nagato and Gentle Criminal with La Brava. These partnerships show their human side and make them more than mere antagonists. Just as Konan was loyal to Nagato until the end, Gentle Criminal cares deeply for La Brava, showing that even villains can have meaningful connections. Both characters make us question if they are villains at all or just people with different ways of seeking their dreams.
Enel (One Piece)
In One Piece, Enel ruled Skypiea, even went so far as to refer to himself as a god, and used his lightning powers to keep everyone in check. His Devil Fruit, the Goro Goro no Mi, made him almost unbeatable since he could turn into lightning and shoot powerful bolts at his enemies.
Enel shares several similarities with Konan. Both characters possess element-based powers that make them nearly untouchable—Konan with her paper transformation and Enel with his lightning body. Just as Konan from Naruto could turn her entire body into paper to avoid attacks, Enel could transform into lightning to let attacks pass through him.
Like Konan’s massive paper ocean technique, Enel had powers that could destroy entire islands, yet both are often forgotten when fans discuss the strongest characters in their series. Both had grand plans involving ancient technology—Konan protected the Rinnegan, while Enel was fascinated by the Moon’s ancient civilization. Their stories show how powerful but overlooked villains can add rich details to anime worlds.
Rize (Tokyo Ghoul)
Rize Kamishiro might not seem like the main villain in Tokyo Ghoul, but without her, the whole story would not exist. She was the ghoul who attacked Ken Kaneki and from whose organs doctors were able to build a half-ghoul when they saved his life.
Like Konan, Rize has very little on-screen presence in the story, but her impact is felt throughout the entire series. Just as Konan’s actions after Nagato’s death continued to affect the Naruto storyline, Rize’s Kagune becoming part of Kaneki shapes the entire Tokyo Ghoul narrative. Both women are also known for their beautiful but deadly nature—Konan’s delicate paper butterflies hide explosive tags, while Rize’s attractive appearance conceals her predatory ghoul nature.
In their respective stories, both women appear as mental images that haunt the main characters long after their physical encounters—Konan as a memory of Pain’s legacy and Rize as Kaneki’s inner demon. Their lasting impact makes them far more important than their screen time suggests.
Yammy (Bleach)
Yammy Llargo seemed like the weakest Espada in Bleach at first. Marked as number 10, many characters underestimated him. What people didn’t know was that Yammy had a special secret: he was the strongest Espada when at full power.
Like Konan from Naruto, Yammy represents a hidden power that others fail to recognize. Konan appeared to be another Akatsuki member until she revealed her true strength against Obito, using 600 billion paper bombs in her ultimate technique. Similarly, Yammy seemed to be the weakest Espada until revealing his true form as the strongest. Both characters surprise enemies who underestimate them, proving appearances can be deceiving.
They both also save their most impressive techniques for crucial moments. Konan prepared for a long time to use her Paper Person of God Technique against Obito, while Yammy’s true release form was saved for when he needed it most.
Both characters demonstrate extreme dedication—Konan through avenging Nagato and Yammy to serving Aizen. Despite their incredible powers and important roles, both remain overlooked by many fans who focus on more flashy characters, making them perfect examples of underrated villains with hidden depths.
Jogo (Jujutsu Kaisen)
Jogo was a powerful cursed spirit in Jujutsu Kaisen who could control fire and lava. With a volcano for a head, he looked scary and had the power to match his appearance. He could move extremely fast and burn almost anything with his flames.
Jogo and Konan share remarkable similarities in their stories. Both served powerful leaders they deeply believed in—Jogo followed Geto, while Konan was devoted to Nagato. Both were fighting an uphill battle but gave their all for their cause. When facing much stronger opponents (Gojo for Jogo, Obito for Konan), they still gave everything they had despite knowing they might lose.
Both characters also control powerful elemental abilities—Jogo’s volcanic powers and Konan’s paper techniques. They use these powers in creative ways that show their intelligence in battle. Both also fight for ideological reasons rather than personal gain—Jogo for the freedom of cursed spirits and Konan for Nagato’s vision of peace. Both remain in the shadows of more popular villains, even though they are both loyal and powerful, making them ideal examples of characters who deserve more love.
Deidara (Naruto)
Deidara brought art to fighting in Naruto. This blonde Akatsuki member believed explosions were the highest form of art because they were beautiful but lasted only a moment. Deidara used special clay, which he shaped with his own hands, to create explosive animals and birds that he could command.
Deidara and Konan have a lot in common since they are both members of the Akatsuki. Both use seemingly harmless materials as deadly weapons—Deidara with clay and Konan with paper. They both transform these materials into different shapes for various attacks. Their fighting styles focus on long-range attacks and explosives, making them dangerous even from a distance.
Both characters also showed extreme dedication to their beliefs. Konan remained loyal to Nagato’s vision even after his death, while Deidara was so committed to his view of art that he turned his own body into a final explosion. They both died fighting for what they thought was right. Konan tried to kill Obito to get back at Nagato, and Deidara tried to beat Sasuke to show that his art was better. Both are strong and complicated Akatsuki members, but members like Itachi or Pain get more attention.
Coyote Stark (Bleach)
Coyote Stark was unlike any other villain in Bleach. As the First Espada, he was incredibly powerful, but he did not act like it. Stark was lazy, and often seen napping instead of fighting. This calm personality hid a sad truth. He was lonely because his power was so great that other hollows died just by being near him.
Like Konan from Naruto, Stark’s life was shaped by isolation and loss. Konan lost her parents and friends during the war, while Stark was so powerful that no one could survive near him. Both joined their respective villain groups seeking connection—Konan found a family with Nagato and Yahiko, while Stark joined Aizen to find companions who would not die around him.
Both characters also have split aspects of their powers. Konan could separate her body into countless sheets of paper, while Stark split himself into two beings—himself and Lilynette. Both fought with ranged attacks—Konan’s paper projectiles and Stark’s energy bullets. Despite their high ranks in their organizations (Konan as Pain’s right hand and Stark as the First Espada), both remained overlooked compared to other members.
Sasori (Naruto)
Sasori of the Red Sand was a master puppeteer who converted himself into a puppet to transcend human weaknesses. His story began with great sadness—losing his parents made him create puppets that looked like them to fill the hole in his heart. This pain drove him to make his art eternal, unlike his partner Deidara, who loved fleeting beauty.
Sasori and Konan have some important similarities as members of Akatsuki. But they both had tragic childhoods marked by war—Sasori lost both parents, and Konan became an orphan. These experiences shaped their paths to becoming villains.
They both kept physical reminders of loved ones—Sasori with puppets of his parents and Konan with the origami rose representing Yahiko. Despite being powerful and having emotional depth, both Akatsuki members receive less attention than others like Itachi or Pain. Their tragic motivations and unique abilities make them standout characters who deserve more recognition from fans.
Conclusion
Like Konan from Naruto, these villains added a distinct flavor to their series. Whether through rare powers, motivations, or tragic backstories, they deserved more praise. Though they are not the primary villains, their impact is there, showing that even underrated baddies can be iconic.
They share Konan’s fate of being overshadowed by more prominent villains despite their significance to the story. Just as Konan’s incredible paper ocean technique and her sacrifice to protect Nagato’s legacy deserve more appreciation, these characters’ contributions to their stories should be remembered and celebrated by fans who look beyond the most obvious villains.
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