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Villains in anime have evolved far beyond the mustache-twirling caricatures of the past. Today’s antagonists often come with tragic pasts, complex motivations, and morally gray actions that leave fans questioning what makes a villain—and whether they can be justified. One of the most compelling examples of this is Makima, the enigmatic and terrifying antagonist from Chainsaw Man, created by Tatsuki Fujimoto.
At first glance, Makima appears composed, soft-spoken, and even caring. She takes protagonist Denji under her wing, offers him food and a place to live, and gives his chaotic life structure. But as the story unfolds, Makima reveals herself to be a master manipulator—cold, cunning, and capable of horrifying cruelty in pursuit of her goals.
The twist? Her endgame isn’t world domination or chaos for chaos’ sake. Makima seeks to eradicate human suffering—to create a peaceful world free of fear, pain, and death. And she believes absolute control is the only way to achieve it.
This contradiction—between her noble goal and horrific means—raises one of anime’s most fascinating moral dilemmas: Can a villain be justified if they genuinely believe they’re saving the world?
we’ll explore:
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Who Makima is and what drives her
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Her manipulation of Denji and the public safety division
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The philosophical foundations behind her ideology
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Whether her actions align with the “necessary evil” archetype
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If she’s truly evil, or just a flawed savior figure
Who Is Makima, Really?
Makima is introduced as a high-ranking devil hunter in Japan’s Public Safety Bureau. She is calm, intelligent, respected—and feared. But Makima is no ordinary human. She is later revealed to be the Control Devil, the embodiment of the human fear of being dominated or manipulated.
Her powers include:
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Absolute control over those she deems beneath her
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The ability to use others’ skills, contracts, and even their lives
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Psychic control over enemies—she can crush them with a thought
She is charming and polite, but everything she does is strategic. From her relationship with Denji to her handling of threats, Makima never acts without purpose.
Makima’s Goal: Peace Through Control
Unlike villains driven by personal vengeance, greed, or nihilism, Makima’s motivations are terrifyingly noble. She desires a world:
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Free from fear, suffering, war, and death
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Where loved ones never leave and happiness is guaranteed
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Governed by her—because she believes only she can bring that vision to life
She believes that through total control, she can eliminate humanity’s pain. And if that means killing, lying, and manipulating to get there—so be it.
This puts her in the same philosophical realm as characters like Light Yagami (Death Note) or Eren Yeager (Attack on Titan): leaders with a twisted utopian dream who are willing to crush others in the name of salvation.
The Denji Dilemma: Weapon or Pawn?
Makima’s manipulation of Denji is one of the most controversial—and emotionally devastating—arcs in Chainsaw Man. She takes advantage of his desperation for love, comfort, and validation. She gives him a place to stay, feeds him, praises him—but only to keep him compliant.
Her affection isn’t real. It’s weaponized.
By the time Denji realizes the truth, it’s too late. She’s already used his trust to further her goals, emotionally broken him, and turned him into a willing soldier. Even worse, she never saw Denji as a person—just as Chainsaw Man, the devil whose power she needed.
This raises a chilling question: If you manipulate someone “for the greater good,” is it still evil?
Makima as a “Necessary Evil”
Makima fits into a literary archetype we’ve seen before: the necessary evil. The villain who commits atrocities not out of sadism, but out of belief that the world needs them to act where others won’t.
Like:
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Magneto (X-Men) – who wants mutant safety at any cost
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Pain (Naruto) – who believes peace only comes from shared suffering
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Father (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood) – who seeks a perfect world through sacrifice
These characters aren’t chaotic or random. They’re visionaries who believe the ends justify the means. In Makima’s case, the “means” include psychological warfare, mass murder, and the systematic dehumanization of those around her.
Symbolism and the Control Devil
Makima isn’t just a character—she’s the Control Devil. Her entire existence is rooted in the fear of being controlled, which ironically is exactly what she inflicts on others.
This creates a fascinating duality:
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She hates being controlled and worships Chainsaw Man, who defies control
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She is control itself, believing it’s the only solution to chaos and fear
Makima believes that if she becomes the most powerful, feared, and controlling being, she can eliminate the very thing she represents. It’s a paradox—and a tragedy.
Her fate, delivered by Denji, reflects this. She cannot be defeated with brute force—only through rejection of control, through a deeply personal, human decision rooted in emotion and autonomy.
Can Makima Be Justified?
From a utilitarian standpoint, Makima could argue that her actions—though horrific—would result in fewer people suffering in the long run. She’s essentially playing god, taking on the burden of sin to build a peaceful world.
But here’s the flaw: She removes choice from everyone else. In her world, no one can resist, no one can feel pain—but they also can’t feel joy, grow, or be free. Her peace is sterilized, mechanical, and fundamentally inhuman.
Makima sees people as tools, not individuals. She believes fear must be crushed, not confronted or understood. That mindset, no matter how noble the goal, is inherently flawed—and deeply dangerous.
Conclusion: The Tragedy of Makima
Makima is one of the most brilliantly written villains in modern anime. She’s chilling not because she’s evil for the sake of it—but because she’s so certain she’s right.
She represents the darker side of control, order, and idealism. She manipulates out of belief, not malice. And that makes her scarier than most villains—because she genuinely thinks she’s saving the world.
So, can she be justified? Philosophically, maybe. Emotionally, absolutely not.
Makima is a tragedy, a force of fear cloaked in love, and a reminder that the road to hell is often paved with the best intentions.