The anti-villain is the converse of the anti-hero (i.e., an individual who pursues a noble goal, though often employs ignoble means to reach it). As such, the anti-villain pursues undeniably villanous goals, but employs arguably noble methods to achieve them. Ultimately, it's the primary motivation that differentiates the anti-hero from the anti-villain.

True anti-villains are a rare occurance in literature and film. Often anti-heroes and/or accidental villains (i.e., people who pursue noble goals with unintended harmful consequences) are mistakingly identified as anti-villains.

The converse of an anti-hero (i.e., a protagonist who isn't purely good or heroic), an anti-villain is an antagonist who isn't purely evil nor entirely unsympathetic -- a character who doesn't seem to deserve being cast as the villain, perhaps cast arbitrarily as the villain because they are not the focus of the story but merely present a foil to the central figure, who may be an antihero protagonist. Cf. scapegoat.

Similar to an anti-hero, the anti-villain has an different point of view to being a hero. Selfish and flawed the anti-villain seeks a way to glorify themselves through trying to stop crime, though they are often too cruel and brutal.

Similar to an anti-hero, the anti-villain has an different point of view to being a hero. Selfish and flawed the anti-villain seeks a way to glorify themselves through trying to stop crime, though they are often too cruel and brutal.