What is an Anti-Villain (With Definitions and Examples)

What is an Antis) What is an Antis) A Song of Ice and Fire has held the hearts of fantasy-readers for the past 20 years, and Marvel movies have been dominating movie screens for a decade. So you might be wondering: what makes these franchises so compelling? The answer? Anti-villains.These days, people want more than black and white characters (protagonists who are inherently good and antagonists who are inherently bad). They want flawed heroes who struggle to carry out their goals, and complex villains with backstories and motives that show their humanity. Enter: anti-heroes and anti-villains. In other words, characters who defy their literary conventions.This post will cover the latter character type, and we’ll start by answering the question... What's an "anti-villain" and why are they so popular these days? What is an anti-villain?Anti-villains have noble characteristics, values, and goals, but how they strive for those goals is often questionable - or downright abhorrent. Like traditional villains, anti-villains stand in the way of the hero’s goal. But unlike a traditional â€Å"bad guy,† the anti-villain isn’t necessarily evil. Starting to wonder about every villain you’ve ever read? What was Maleficent’s childhood like? Did Bane just need a hug? Perhaps the Sheriff of Nottingham was just misunderstood?To help you plot out your own morally grey characters, check out the following helpful blog posts all about crafting memorable characters.Character Development: How to Write Characters Your Readers Won't Forget 9 Common Types of Fantasy Characters (With Examples) How to Write a Compelling Character Arc 12 Character Archetypes Every Writer Should Know How to Create a Character Profile: the Ultimate Guide (with Template)Did we miss any major anti-villains you think deserve a mention! Drop their name - or any other thoughts or questions - in the comments below!