Misunderstood villains are annoying

[Fantastische Hure]

The Naruto type or even Zamasu (but him to a way lesser extent). Who cares about that? Why does a villain have to be sympathetic? Always?

Freeza was a garbage character (the person) I mean. That made it all the more impactful & kewl when Goku beat him up bad. You could feel every punch & kick. Oooooh yeah. When a piece of sheeeeet gets beat-up it’s so cathartic for all their atrocities. Sooooo good.

 

[Warmmedown]

Because it's more interesting and more realistic. And facilitates a widening of empathy in others and encourages suspension of judgement of other people (the guy who seemed bad no longer seems so bad, even though nothing jas changed about them - all that's changed is what information you have about them). There is benefit to a villain like Freeza or King Piccolo, but it would be stale if every villain was like that.

Sympathetic is in the eye of the beholder too. Some anime clearly aim to paint a character as sympathetic, but others it's not pushed or even when it is pushed, it still depends on the perspective of the viewer, though it's more likely they'll skew towards sympathy if it has sad music than if it doesn't, for example.

Is Arlong sympathetic? He wasn't sympathetic when first watching the Arlong Arc, but does watching Luffy illegally assault him feel any different after knowing his backstory?
I'm trying to think of villains where initially it only brought satisfaction seeing them beaten up, but after more information is revealed about them elements of their character may need to be compartmentalised in order to get the same satisfaction.

 

[Fantastische Hure]

Well, Arlong did have a good quality in that he cared for his “brothers”.

 

[sei'taer]

This is only something that really became a thing recently. We don't need to explain and humanize villains.

Sometimes people are just fucking evil.

 

[Papasmurf]

It's been a thing since series like Hokuto no Ken. It's more modern series like Naruto and Bleach that used this cliche so much it ruined the character writing of these villains rather than spicing them up

 

[Spiral-Force]

When a franchise goes on long enough, you tend to see both the pure evil and complex villains implemented, with intervals depending on writer preference. Sticking with the pure evil archetype is bound to feel like an overcorrection that would garner similar criticism eventually. I find there's pressure for the pure evil villain to make their mark in other ways (presence, reputation, competency, eye-catching power displays, etc.), but it's certainly possible for them to deliver. Both types are capable of considerable quality or disappointment.