Light Yagami and Pain: The Villains Who Made Us Question Everything
Anime has long been a medium where villains are more than just obstacles for the protagonist — they are deeply layered, thought-provoking characters with philosophies that challenge our own sense of morality. Two of the most compelling anime antagonists, Light Yagami from Death Note and Pain (Nagato) from Naruto, are prime examples of this. Though they come from different worlds and employ different methods, both share the same fundamental goal: peace.
Light believes that by eliminating criminals, he can create a utopia free of evil. Pain, on the other hand, asserts that true peace can only come through suffering — only when people understand pain can they truly work toward peace. These ideologies force us to question our own stance on morality, justice, and the means by which peace can be achieved. But beyond their words and actions, what makes these characters truly unforgettable is how their very essence is captured in their themes.
Each villain’s theme song is an eerie yet heavenly masterpiece — both evoke emotions that make their ideologies feel right. The choir-like compositions elevate their presence beyond that of mere antagonists, making them feel like something greater, something divine. When paired with their speeches, these themes become hypnotic, powerful enough to make us question whether the protagonist is truly on the right side.
Light Yagami: The God of the New World
Light Yagami, a brilliant high school student, comes into possession of the Death Note, a supernatural notebook that allows him to kill anyone whose name he writes in it. He takes it upon himself to rid the world of criminals, believing that by doing so, he will create a utopia free of evil. His transformation from an idealistic student to the self-proclaimed “God of the New World” is one of anime’s most fascinating descents into villainy.
What makes Light such an unforgettable character is his conviction. He does not see himself as a murderer — he sees himself as a savior. And to many viewers, his argument is persuasive. Who wouldn’t want a world without crime? Wouldn’t the elimination of evil-doers deter others from committing crime? Light’s philosophy taps into our innate desire for justice, but his downfall is his growing arrogance and inability to see the moral gray area in his actions.
The Power of “Low of Solipsism”
CC: SamjiHizu
Light Yagami’s theme song, “Low of Solipsism”, is nothing short of chilling. The choir’s haunting voices, rising and falling in an almost religious chant, make him feel like an untouchable deity. It’s not just a villain theme — it’s the theme of a ruler, a god-like figure who stands above humanity.
When Light speaks about his vision for the world, this music plays in the background, and suddenly, his words become hypnotic. The eerie grandeur of the theme convinces us, just as it convinces the citizens of his world, that maybe he really is the rightful ruler of this world. The song elevates his ideology, making it sound less like a dictatorship and more like destiny.
With each name he writes in the Death Note, the theme plays like a holy ritual, making his justice feel divine rather than criminal. It forces the audience to ask: If we had Light’s power, would we not do the same?
Was Light Right?
Light’s ideology is based on control — he determines who deserves to live and who deserves to die. While his actions were extreme, his initial reasoning wasn’t entirely unjustified. Even today, governments and societies struggle with crime and punishment. Light sought to eliminate corruption from the root, an act that many might consider noble if not for the immense power it placed in his hands.
Had Light been less consumed by his god complex and more strategic in his approach, could his vision of peace have been sustainable? Or was his downfall inevitable because peace built on fear is never true peace?
Pain: The Cycle of Hatred and the Necessity of Suffering
Pain (Nagato) was once a kind-hearted boy who dreamed of bringing peace to the world. However, after suffering great losses, including the death of his closest friends, he became disillusioned with the idea that peace could be achieved through words alone. Instead, he adopted the belief that true peace can only come through pain.
Pain’s ideology stems from the endless cycle of hatred in the world. He believes that people do not truly understand suffering until they have endured it themselves. By inflicting massive destruction upon nations, he seeks to create a world where people fear war so much that they choose peace. His most famous quote encapsulates his philosophy:
“Just because you understand them doesn’t mean you can come to an agreement. That’s the truth.”
Pain does not kill out of malice — he sees himself as a necessary force of destruction to break the cycle of hatred. His method is brutal, but his words resonate. History has shown that humanity often only changes after great suffering. Wars, revolutions, and catastrophic events have often been the catalysts for major societal shifts.
The Weight of “Girei”
CC: Action X Now
Pain’s theme, “Girei”, is otherworldly. The deep, haunting choir and slow, deliberate tempo make it feel as if he is not just a man, but an unavoidable force of nature. The song carries weight, reinforcing the gravity of his ideology.
When he delivers his speech about pain — about how people only change when they experience suffering firsthand — the choir swells, and suddenly, his words do not feel like the ramblings of a madman. They feel like prophecy. Like the truth we refuse to accept.
The song alone makes us hesitate. It makes us think: Is he really wrong? Or have we just been too blind to see reality?
The Beauty of Their Villainy
What makes both Light and Pain outstanding villains is not just their intelligence or power — it is the truth in their words. They are not driven by petty greed or meaningless destruction. They fight for a world they believe in, and their arguments hold weight. This is why fans often find themselves sympathizing with them, or at the very least, questioning whether their methods were entirely wrong.
But their themes amplify their messages to an almost religious level. The haunting choirs, the eerie yet divine tones, the overwhelming presence of their songs — these elements make them feel less like villains and more like gods trying to reshape the world.
The music makes us believe. It convinces us that Light is righteous, that Pain is correct. The speeches they give, timed perfectly with their themes, send chills down our spines. It’s no longer about whether they are heroes or villains — it’s about whether we would have the strength to choose differently in their place.
At the core of both characters is a simple yet powerful question:
Is peace truly possible without radical action?
The fact that we continue to debate this question long after their stories have ended is a testament to their brilliance as characters. Perhaps they weren’t entirely right, but they weren’t entirely wrong either.
And that is what makes them some of anime’s greatest villains.
