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* ''Manga/TigerMask'' has Mr. X. He's out for the title character's blood, but that's because he skirted on his payments to Tiger's Cave (and initially he even gave him a chance to pay back what he owed), and he acts remarkably ''nice'' for someone with his job, only selecting other Tiger's Cave wrestlers to get him killed quickly on the ring instead of giving him an horrible death as had happened to others who had skirted their payments. He even showed a measure of sympathy for Tiger Mask's reasons (he needed the money to save the orphanage he had grown up into), and only resorted to kidnapping a child when [[YouHaveFailedMe his latest failure threatened to cost him his life]], with the full intention to release the child once Tiger Mask was dead.
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* Sergei Wang from ''{{Mai-Otome}}'' is a personable Joe when he's not on the clock. He just happens to work for his much-more-evil leader in order to do what he thinks is best for his country. However, his loyalty to his adoptive daughter Nina trumps that of his boss, and [[spoiler:he almost gets killed trying to subvert Nagi's EvilPlan]].
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* Sergei Wang from ''{{Mai-Otome}}'' ''Anime/MaiOtome'' is a personable Joe when he's not on the clock. He just happens to work for his much-more-evil leader in order to do what he thinks is best for his country. However, his loyalty to his adoptive daughter Nina trumps that of his boss, and [[spoiler:he almost gets killed trying to subvert Nagi's EvilPlan]].
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* In ''Anime/CodeGeass'', most of the Knights of the Round are PunchClockVillains. They have no motivations for what they do other than that it's their job and they're good at it. Probably the strongest example is Gino Weinberg, Knight of Three. He is definitely one of the best, but even in combat he comes off as one who fights only when necessary; off the job he's very sociable if a little odd due to sheltered upbringing. There are three exceptions: Knight of One Bismarck Waldstein, a KnightTemplar completely loyal to the Emperor, Knight of Ten Luciano Bradley, an AxCrazy BloodKnight, and Knight of Seven Suzaku Kururugi, one of the main characters.
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* In ''Anime/CodeGeass'', most a couple of the Knights of the Round are PunchClockVillains. They have no motivations for what they do other than that it's their job and they're good at it. Probably the strongest The first example is Gino Weinberg, Knight of Three. He is definitely one of the best, but even in combat he comes off as one who fights only when necessary; off the job he's very sociable if a little odd due to sheltered upbringing. There are The other is Anya Alstreim - a leaky memory has led to a person who barely cares about anything, and is even harder to read, so killing people is simply something she does because people tell her to. As for the rest, three exceptions: are very serious about their job: Knight of One Bismarck Waldstein, a KnightTemplar completely loyal to the Emperor, Knight of Ten Luciano Bradley, an AxCrazy BloodKnight, and Knight of Seven Suzaku Kururugi, one of the main characters.characters. The other three active members don't have enough characterization to tell.
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* Judai had a lot of opponents in the second season of ''Anime/YuGiOhGX'' who could be considered "villains" only due to their membership or allegiance to the [[ReligionOfEvil Society of Light]]; other than that, they weren't malignant towards him in the least. The most prominent examples were Princess Rose, Tsugio Kanda (who actually started calling Judai "Anki", the same AffectionateNickname that Sho and Kenzan called him, even after losing), and Dr. Zweinstein (an {{Expy}} of AlbertEinstein who would make additional appearances in the third season).
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* Caldina, pre HeelFaceTurn, in ''MagicKnightRayearth''. She was just a paid mercenary and did not even know what Zagato's true motivation was - only that it was NOT to take over Cephiro.
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* Caldina, pre HeelFaceTurn, in ''MagicKnightRayearth''. ''Manga/MagicKnightRayearth''. She was just a paid mercenary and did not even know what Zagato's true motivation was - only that it was NOT ''not'' to [[TakeOverTheWorld take over Cephiro.Cephiro]], as the girls had assumed.
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** A recent RetCon has turned the Saiyan's into this. They're just low level soldiers to Freeza doing everything he wants them to. They're shown to be more than barbarians too, being nurturing to their mates and their children.
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** Androids 17 and 18 as well, [[HeelFaceTurn at first]].
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Better link target (not just because it’s the same series.)
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--->'''Sailor Moon''': [[ByThePowerOfGrayskull Agent of love and justice!]]
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--->'''Sailor Moon''': [[ByThePowerOfGrayskull [[InTheNameOfTheMoon Agent of love and justice!]]
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* "Anime/{{Pokemon}} only do bad things because Master bad." -- Ekans (with Koffing), the original {{Pokemon}} of Jessie and James of Team Rocket.
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* "Anime/{{Pokemon}} only do bad things because Master bad." -- Ekans (with Koffing), the original {{Pokemon}} Pokémon of Jessie and James of Team Rocket.
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* Zarbon from ''DragonBallZ''. In contrast to Dodoria, who seems to be a ruthless PsychoForHire, Zarbon is more sympathetic. In fact, he just seems to follow the orders of Freeza because he says that will kill him if he does not.
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* Zarbon from ''DragonBallZ''.''Anime/DragonBallZ''. In contrast to Dodoria, who seems to be a ruthless PsychoForHire, Zarbon is more sympathetic. In fact, he just seems to follow the orders of Freeza because he says that will kill him if he does not.
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* The Wire Master in ''{{Mouse}}'' has this, where both he and the main character enjoy a drink together because it was a Sunday, and they didn't wish to work on a Sunday.
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* The Wire Master in ''{{Mouse}}'' ''Manga/{{Mouse}}'' has this, where both he and the main character enjoy a drink together because it was a Sunday, and they didn't wish to work on a Sunday.
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fix typo
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--->'''Iron Mouse''': Hey, are you even listening? (...) See you! I’m leavivg!
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--->'''Iron Mouse''': Hey, are you even listening? (...) See you! I’m leavivg!leaving!
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wikilink
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*** Do minimal research who the victim of the week should be, like taking a quick look at a magazine they have lying around.
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*** Do minimal research who the victim of the week VictimOfTheWeek should be, like taking a quick look at a magazine they have lying around.
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** To further elaborate the point, in the [[spoiler: restructured universe after Madoka's wish removes the need for witches]], he is much more open and cooperative, but simply states that is because it is the best way for them to work. He even says that, were things the way he'd been told they once were, he would totally behave the same way.
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* Zarbon from ''DragonBallZ''. In contrast to Dodoria, who seems to be a ruthless PsychoForHire, Zarbon is more sympathetic. In fact, he just seems to follow the orders of Freeza because he says that will kill him if he does not.
** Captain Ginyu as well.
** Captain Ginyu as well.
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* [[BadBoss Lord]] [[BigBad Frieza's]] army, most notably the [[QuirkyMiniBossSquad Ginyu Force]], from Anime/DragonBallZ
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More Sailor Moon
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* In the fourth ''Manga/SailorMoon'' anime season, the Amazon Trio, QuirkyMinibossSquad of the Dead Moon Circus, always longue around their own personal bar between evildoing, drinking, talking about various things, complaining about the stress of their jobs, and generally regarding their villainy as a bothersome intrusion to their circus performing. Their successors, the Amazon Quartet, are a strange subversion....unlike the Trio, they ''do'' truly care about the mission to capture Pegasus; however, it's not for the same reason as their boss....they just want to ride it.
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* ''Anime/SailorMoon''
** The villains in all the later arcs have basically the same [=MO=]:
*** Do minimal research who the victim of the week should be, like taking a quick look at a magazine they have lying around.
*** Quickly check out out the victim. Realize it only has a MockGuffin.
*** Unleash the MonsterOfTheWeek. Don’t check if it is having any effect but just leave.
** In the fourth''Manga/SailorMoon'' anime season, the Amazon Trio, QuirkyMinibossSquad of the Dead Moon Circus, always longue around their own personal bar between evildoing, drinking, talking about various things, complaining about the stress of their jobs, and generally regarding their villainy as a bothersome intrusion to their circus performing. performing.
** Their successors, the Amazon Quartet, are a strange subversion....unlike the Trio, they ''do'' truly care about the mission to capture Pegasus; however, it's not for the same reason as their boss....they just want to rideit.it.
** Gets lampshaded by Iron Mouse in the fifth season (episode 178):
--->'''Iron Mouse''': Today’s business is over now! Are you paying me for overtime?
--->'''Sailor Moon''': [[ByThePowerOfGrayskull Agent of love and justice!]]
--->'''Iron Mouse''': Hey, are you even listening? (...) See you! I’m leavivg!
--->''Exit Iron Mouse''
** The villains in all the later arcs have basically the same [=MO=]:
*** Do minimal research who the victim of the week should be, like taking a quick look at a magazine they have lying around.
*** Quickly check out out the victim. Realize it only has a MockGuffin.
*** Unleash the MonsterOfTheWeek. Don’t check if it is having any effect but just leave.
** In the fourth
** Their successors, the Amazon Quartet, are a strange subversion....unlike the Trio, they ''do'' truly care about the mission to capture Pegasus; however, it's not for the same reason as their boss....they just want to ride
** Gets lampshaded by Iron Mouse in the fifth season (episode 178):
--->'''Iron Mouse''': Today’s business is over now! Are you paying me for overtime?
--->'''Sailor Moon''': [[ByThePowerOfGrayskull Agent of love and justice!]]
--->'''Iron Mouse''': Hey, are you even listening? (...) See you! I’m leavivg!
--->''Exit Iron Mouse''
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* In ''Anime/CodeGeass'', the Knights of the Round are all PunchClockVillains, except for Number Ten, who is a sadistic psychopath. They have no motivations for what they do (with the exception of Suzaku and Bismarck) other than that it's their job and they're good at it.
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* In ''Anime/CodeGeass'', most of the Knights of the Round are all PunchClockVillains, except for Number Ten, who is a sadistic psychopath. PunchClockVillains. They have no motivations for what they do (with the exception of Suzaku and Bismarck) other than that it's their job and they're good at it.it. Probably the strongest example is Gino Weinberg, Knight of Three. He is definitely one of the best, but even in combat he comes off as one who fights only when necessary; off the job he's very sociable if a little odd due to sheltered upbringing. There are three exceptions: Knight of One Bismarck Waldstein, a KnightTemplar completely loyal to the Emperor, Knight of Ten Luciano Bradley, an AxCrazy BloodKnight, and Knight of Seven Suzaku Kururugi, one of the main characters.
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** In fact, in one episode, they are seen using a punch clock to sign themselves out of there hideout and into their normal lives.
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* In ''La Seine no Hoshi'' (an anime [[FollowTheLeader created to cash on the interest over the French Revolution caused by]] ''Manga/RoseOfVersailles'') there's Zaral: commander of a French Guards group detached to police Paris, he serves as the primary antagonist, but that's only because it's his job to enforce the orders of the court. As long as you aren't targeted by said orders or don't break the law, the worse he does is a few empty threats. In one occasion he even let the Black Tulip go in spite of him being a wanted criminal and a personal hate for him because the Black Tulip had brought him a much worse criminal, only remarking he was supposed to arrest him too and that it would be easy to do it in the Guards' barracks.
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* ''{{Saiyuki}}'s'' Kougaiji and his entourage. They're under orders to kill the main character and take his [[MacGuffin sutra]], but when they haven't specifically been sent after him, they're known to ignore his presence in the area completely or even help him. These ones are quite AffablyEvil, and when the two groups do fight, they usually have fun doing it.
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* ''{{Saiyuki}}'s'' ''Manga/{{Saiyuki}}'s'' Kougaiji and his entourage. They're under orders to kill the main character and take his [[MacGuffin sutra]], but when they haven't specifically been sent after him, they're known to ignore his presence in the area completely or even help him. These ones are quite AffablyEvil, and when the two groups do fight, they usually have fun doing it.
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* [[BadBoss Lord]] [[BigBad Frieza's]] army, most notably the [[QuirkyMiniBossSquad Ginyu Force]], from Manga/DragonBall Z
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* [[BadBoss Lord]] [[BigBad Frieza's]] army, most notably the [[QuirkyMiniBossSquad Ginyu Force]], from Manga/DragonBall ZAnime/DragonBallZ
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My own mistake.
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* ''Anime/Samurai Champloo'' features a kindly assassin in the second episode hired to [[spoiler: kill Jin]] but after his employer [[spoiler: is killed by another of his own lackies for crossing the MoralEventHorizon he calmly sheathes his blade and walks away from the fight explaining that he wouldn't be paid for finishing the job now anyway.]]
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* ''Anime/Samurai Champloo'' ''Anime/SamuraiChamploo'' features a kindly assassin in the second episode hired to [[spoiler: kill Jin]] but after his employer [[spoiler: is killed by another of his own lackies for crossing the MoralEventHorizon he calmly sheathes his blade and walks away from the fight explaining that he wouldn't be paid for finishing the job now anyway.]]
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* ''Samurai Champloo'' features a kindly assassin in the second episode hired to [[spoiler: kill Jin]] but after his employer [[spoiler: is killed by another of his own lackies for crossing the MoralEventHorizon he calmly sheathes his blade and walks away from the fight explaining that he wouldn't be paid for finishing the job now anyway.]]
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* ''Samurai ''Anime/Samurai Champloo'' features a kindly assassin in the second episode hired to [[spoiler: kill Jin]] but after his employer [[spoiler: is killed by another of his own lackies for crossing the MoralEventHorizon he calmly sheathes his blade and walks away from the fight explaining that he wouldn't be paid for finishing the job now anyway.]]
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* ''Samurai Champloo'' features a kindly assassin in the second episode hired to [[spoiler: kill Jin]] but after his employer [[spoiler: is killed by another of his own lackies for crossing the MoralEventHorizon he calmly sheathes his blade and walks away from the fight explaining that he wouldn't be paid for finishing the job now anyway.]]
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* This arguably applies to most of the Shinigami in ''Manga/DeathNote''. It really is only their duty to take humans' lives, and they only truly qualify as "evil" insofar as the occasional decision to kill a human earlier than intended - and doing so to save another is an offense for which death is punishment.
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* This arguably applies to most of the Shinigami in ''Manga/DeathNote''. It really is only their duty to take humans' lives, and they only truly qualify as "evil" insofar as the occasional decision to kill a human earlier than intended - and doing so to save another is an offense for which death is punishment.
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** There were also the Fallguys, a trio of duelists with a notorious reputation, but who were nothing more than mercenaries (and [[IneffectualSympatheticVillain really not very good ones.]])
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* Kahlua from ''RosarioToVampire'' seems to be a deconstruction of this trope, with a severe dose of PsychoForHire. She will take any job, regardless of who she has to kill or the toll it takes on her body, and will not stop unless ordered to do so. Despite this, she hates killing, and she will cry the whole time as she does so.
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* Kahlua from ''RosarioToVampire'' ''Manga/RosarioToVampire'' seems to be a deconstruction of this trope, with a severe dose of PsychoForHire. She will take any job, regardless of who she has to kill or the toll it takes on her body, and will not stop unless ordered to do so. Despite this, she hates killing, and she will cry the whole time as she does so.
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* In ''YuGiOhZexal'', Gauche and Droite started out as this. (Gauche does seem to love his job, but he's more of a thrill-seeker than anything else.) Droite later became an AntiVillain, while Gauche became a FriendlyEnemy towards Yuma.
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* In ''YuGiOhZexal'', ''Anime/YuGiOhZexal'', Gauche and Droite started out as this. (Gauche does seem to love his job, but he's more of a thrill-seeker than anything else.) Droite later became an AntiVillain, while Gauche became a FriendlyEnemy towards Yuma.Yuma.
* In ''LightNovel/ACertainMagicalIndex'', there's most of the members of Academy City's Dark Side, who mostly just do what they are hired to do and lead fairly normal lives when not on a job. Teitoku Kakine is like this most of the time, but if he runs into Accelerator, he'll abandon his job to try to kill Accelerator or at least make his life a living hell.
* In ''LightNovel/ACertainMagicalIndex'', there's most of the members of Academy City's Dark Side, who mostly just do what they are hired to do and lead fairly normal lives when not on a job. Teitoku Kakine is like this most of the time, but if he runs into Accelerator, he'll abandon his job to try to kill Accelerator or at least make his life a living hell.
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* Subverted: Mana Tatsumiya, the gun-wielding mercenary shrine maiden from ''MahouSenseiNegima'', only ''pretends'' to be a Punch Clock Villain; in actual fact, she joined up with the antagonists during a particular story arc because she truly believes in their cause. She's still getting paid.
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* Subverted: Mana Tatsumiya, the gun-wielding mercenary shrine maiden from ''MahouSenseiNegima'', ''Manga/MahouSenseiNegima'', only ''pretends'' to be a Punch Clock Villain; in actual fact, she joined up with the antagonists during a particular story arc because she truly believes in their cause. She's still getting paid.
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** Tsukuyomi actually ''starts'' as one, leaving the battlefield as soon as she earns her pay and acting rather polite even when fighting. But the Magic World arc starts, and we see her taking a NightmareFuel-ish shift towards PsychoLesbian [[spoiler: or, better said, DepravedBisexual]]...
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** Tsukuyomi actually ''starts'' as one, leaving the battlefield as soon as she earns her pay and acting rather polite even when fighting. But the Magic World arc starts, and we see her taking a NightmareFuel-ish horrific shift towards PsychoLesbian [[spoiler: or, [[spoiler:or, better said, DepravedBisexual]]...
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* In the original version of ''Anime/YuGiOh5Ds'', Fortune Cup contestants Jill deLauncebeaux and Professor Frank are secretly members of Yliaster. In the dub version, however, this is not true for Jill; he's merely hired help.
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** This is probably because Giovanni has given up on trying to make them do or actually accomplish anything, and just let's them roam around (well until he gives them actual jobs later as a reward, which they prove to be surprisingly competent at).
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* Subverted: Mana Tatsumiya, the gun-wielding mercenary shrine maiden from ''MahouSenseiNegima'', only ''pretends'' to be a Punch Clock Villain; in actual fact, she joined up with the antagonists during a particular story arc because she truly believes in their cause. She's still getting paid.
** Canis Niger (the gang of bounty hunters that Negi kicked the crap out of), however, truly qualify. A dozen or so chapters after Negi wrecks them, he runs into them in the bath house, where they promptly reassure him that they won't hurt him unless someone pays them to. The worst that they do is a ''lot'' of SkinshipGrope, courtesy of their female member. [[spoiler: Remember the [[AllAnimeIsNaughtyTentacles perverted tentacle guy]]? [[SamusIsAGirl It's not a guy]]. But she still ''really'' [[SkinshipGrope loves boobies]].]]
** Tsukuyomi actually ''starts'' as one, leaving the battlefield as soon as she earns her pay and acting rather polite even when fighting. But the Magic World arc starts, and we see her taking a NightmareFuel-ish shift towards PsychoLesbian [[spoiler: or, better said, DepravedBisexual]]...
** Also: Demons. Even the one who turned Negi's village to stone is implied to not have done it out of his own will. Or at least to have gotten no pleasure from it.
* ''{{Saiyuki}}'s'' Kougaiji and his entourage. They're under orders to kill the main character and take his [[MacGuffin sutra]], but when they haven't specifically been sent after him, they're known to ignore his presence in the area completely or even help him. These ones are quite AffablyEvil, and when the two groups do fight, they usually have fun doing it.
* Tsujido, Makabe, and Niihari from ''SpeedGrapher'' are not particularly evil, and are only villains because of their personal loyalty to Suitengu, [[IOweYouMyLife whom they owe their lives to]].
* Sergei Wang from ''{{Mai-Otome}}'' is a personable Joe when he's not on the clock. He just happens to work for his much-more-evil leader in order to do what he thinks is best for his country. However, his loyalty to his adoptive daughter Nina trumps that of his boss, and [[spoiler:he almost gets killed trying to subvert Nagi's EvilPlan]].
* In the ''GetBackers'' manga, Gouzou "Mr. No-Brakes" Maguruma is somewhere between this and TrueNeutral. He's the only character who has no problems with [[PsychoForHire Kuroudo "Doctor Jackal" Akabane]] and Ryuudo "Undead" Hishiki, the former being someone the eponymous heroes can work with if absolutely necessary, but the latter the only opponent they go out of their way to avoid. Someone usually hires him to transport the item someone ''else'' hired Ban and Ginji to get back, but he's perfectly willing to loan them his taxi or give them a lift if they ask for it. Ginji reacts with his "happy fans" whenever they see him.
* Florsheim in ''Manga/TentaiSenshiSunred'' are completely this trope. Sunred himself is a bit of a jerk, so the group has to work around their MonsterOfTheWeek's work schedules, see when a good time to schedule a fight with Sunred is, and still talk about life on the side. One-off characters consistently treat "vicious monster working for an evil organization" as a totally normal job.
* In the fourth ''Manga/SailorMoon'' anime season, the Amazon Trio, QuirkyMinibossSquad of the Dead Moon Circus, always longue around their own personal bar between evildoing, drinking, talking about various things, complaining about the stress of their jobs, and generally regarding their villainy as a bothersome intrusion to their circus performing. Their successors, the Amazon Quartet, are a strange subversion....unlike the Trio, they ''do'' truly care about the mission to capture Pegasus; however, it's not for the same reason as their boss....they just want to ride it.
* Most of the Siberian Railroad from ''OvermanKingGainer'', Jaboli, Kajinan, and Enge in particular are usually obsessed with getting promoted for a higher pay.
* ''PorcoRosso'' has a whole set of these. In fact, every single one of the seaplane pirates that form the closest thing to antagonists that the first half of the movie has is very much a Punch Clock Villain. They all put on a tough show of hating "that stinkin' pig", but as a collective, they're about as evil as a box of kittens and are just out to make a quick buck.
* Most incarnations of Pluto from ''Anime/AstroBoy''. He has zero enthusiasm for his work, or anything else for that matter, because he was only programmed to follow his master's directions.
* ''Manga/HayateTheCombatButler'' has a team of three Yakuza enforcers, who, in the first chapter, attempt to capture Hayate to sell his organs and cover his parents' debt. They later meet again after Nagi has squared his debt. The lead yakuza explains that he was just doing his job and admits that he actually likes people like Hayate, going so far as to offer to treat him to lunch.
* [[BadBoss Lord]] [[BigBad Frieza's]] army, most notably the [[QuirkyMiniBossSquad Ginyu Force]], from Manga/DragonBall Z
* ''TheWorldOfNarue'' has a team of [[RidiculouslyHumanRobots gynoids]] who are only "villains" because they follow orders. Then they start [[MookFaceTurn disobeying orders]] because they realize they like the protagonists.
* ''LightNovel/GoshuushouSamaNinomiyaKun'' has a squad of [[{{mooks}} generic military personnel]] who threaten the cast around episode 6. In one scene, a soldier who was hunting down Mayu helps her out of a trap she fell into, and has a friendly conversation with her before she [[{{Dojikko}} trips another trap that knocks him out]]. [[MoodWhiplash In contrast]], similar soldiers were [[NoHoldsBarredBeatDown brutalizing]] a [[BoundAndGagged captive]] Shungo just two scenes before that.
** [[spoiler: They aren't really even working for "villains", anyway, just people with an OmniscientMoralityLicense]].
* ''GunslingerGirl'' has Bruno, who works for the Padania by disposing the bodies they rack up. He mentions at some point that ideals are nice, but they don't feed your family.
* The Dragons of Earth in ''[[{{X1999}} X/1999]]'' are not particularly evil after hours, they just happen to be on the opposite side of the Dragons of Heaven. Their goal is one of [[WellIntentionedExtremist Well Intentioned Extremism]].
* In ''Anime/CodeGeass'', the Knights of the Round are all PunchClockVillains, except for Number Ten, who is a sadistic psychopath. They have no motivations for what they do (with the exception of Suzaku and Bismarck) other than that it's their job and they're good at it.
* Almost ''[[GrayAndGrayMorality everyone]]'' on [[MeleeATrois every single side]] in ''DarkerThanBlack''. Most of the rest are either {{well intentioned extremist}}s or misinformed. Well, except [[PsychoForHire Wei]]. And later, Genma.
* "Anime/{{Pokemon}} only do bad things because Master bad." -- Ekans (with Koffing), the original {{Pokemon}} of Jessie and James of Team Rocket.
** Jessie and James themselves sometimes go back and forth between this and IneffectualSympatheticVillain. Some episodes, they seem to simply take the day off to work side jobs like selling food. They usually stop stealing when Jessie enters a Pokémon Contest.
* Vice Commander Renee in ''InnocentVenus'' is a Punch Clock Villain, which predictably leads to a HeelFaceTurn.
* Oh boy, ''GunXSword'''s villain group runs on this. So, if they're not planning for a Utopia, they're like a normal family, with The Claw as the 'kind father', Carossa & Melissa as normal twin kids, Fasalina as their CoolBigSis, Michael as the new 'adopted son' who's trying to fit in (much to Carossa's chagrin), and MAYBE Gadved as their uncle. For some reason, Woo prefers to be left out.
** So, he's the AloofBigBrother? It does work. Kinda. Sorta.
* In ''DGrayMan'', Tyki would sometimes rather slack off and play poker than work on missions from the [[BigBad Earl]]. When he's off duty and in his ordinary form, he's a nice guy, even to enemies.
* Arguably, Sloth from the manga version of ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist''. If it wasn't for the fact that he was created by [[spoiler: Father]], and is threatened with his siblings' wrath (pun not intended), he wouldn't be even ''bothered'' with [[spoiler: digging a tunnel around Amestris in the shape of an alchemist's circle]], for, well, obvious reasons.
** A good chunk of the Amestris military also qualifies, because, despite the repeated atrocities through-out the country's history like the Ishbalan genocide, the manga shows that they are just ordinary people following orders. One of the manga's themes is the fact that good, normal people can still do horrible things.
*** The chimera working for Kimblee stand out in my mind, since they weren't really so bad after all.
* Some members of Baroque Works in ''OnePiece'', most notably Mr.2 Bon Kurei. He easily befriended the protagonists before he knew they were his enemies, but later fought them with all he had because it was his job. After his organization fell apart, he [[HeroicSacrifice allowed himself to be caught]] to help the protagonists escape.
** Miss All Sunday/Nico Robin. On the clock, she did whatever Crocodile instructed, when off duty, however, she seems to do whatever she can to actively help the heroes, including offering an eternal pose to Nanimonai Island and saving Luffy when he was [[spoiler: BuriedAlive in the desert]], eventually [[spoiler: joining the crew]] after Crocodile is defeated.
** Although there are plenty of genuine rogues in [[DesignatedVillain the Navy]], ranging from GeneralRipper Admiral Akainu to DirtyCop Nezumi, many Marines are this trope. Most particular of these is Smoker, who is shown from his introduction to actually be a very kind person to those he is not pursuing.
*** In fact, if pirates (albeit kind ones) weren't the protagonists, he could be considered a good guy; he's proven that he cares more about his view of justice than orders from the higher-ups, to the point that he and his troops allied with the Straw Hats at one point. [[spoiler:''Two'' points as of the TimeSkip, and much more EnemyMine-ish the second time.]]
** Captain T-Bone of the Navy is the most heroic character in the whole story, who cares greatly for his troops, offers to use his parts of his cape as a bandage for them, weeps openly whenever someone gets hurt, abhors violence, and has a strong enough resolve that he would chase a train going full speed on foot, through a giant storm, [[SerialEscalation in the middle of the ocean]]. Zoro cuts him down, since he was standing in the way of their train and was NOT going to move for some pirate.
** Aokiji also fits as well. As an Admiral, it is his duty to hunt down and destroy pirates. However, he seems at the very least to be morally conflicted about it. He does his job, but, especially in the latest chapters, seems to half-ass it and apologizes when it actually inconveniences people.
* The ending credits of the 2008 remake of ''Anime/{{Yatterman}}'' strongly suggests that the Doronbo (Skull) Gang are of this type with a romantic montage of Doronjo in civilian clothes walking in the rain, window shopping, etc.
* Most of the cast of ''Manga/BlackLagoon'' fall under this. In the city of [[ViceCity Roanapur]], anyone who tries to kill you, fails, and survives your retaliation is probably a good business contact. They'll also probably try to kill you again, when the price is right. Nothing personal, JustBusiness.
* The Eiserne Jungefrauen in ''VisualNovel/UminekoNoNakuKoroNi'' are magic-denying witch [[TheHunter hunters]], but only when they're on the job as Inquisitors. Otherwise, they don't mind innocent magic that is used as an embellishment, as long as it doesn't hide the results of what happens. [[SdrawkcabName Dlanor]], in particular, has a discussion with [[WorthyOpponent Battler]], explaining this [[GoKartingWithBowser over tea]].
* Kyouko, one of the enemy espers in ''LightNovel/HaruhiSuzumiya'', has nothing against the protagonist Kyon, and disapproves of [[spoiler: her organization kidnapping Mikuru]], though she still took part in the deed. She's a perfectly congenial person as long as you aren't in favor of letting Haruhi keep her [[spoiler: godlike powers.]]
* Caldina, pre HeelFaceTurn, in ''MagicKnightRayearth''. She was just a paid mercenary and did not even know what Zagato's true motivation was - only that it was NOT to take over Cephiro.
* In ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'', [[spoiler:Kyubey turns out to be one of these, and is willing to go to some pretty serious lengths in order to meet his "quota" of magical girls]].
* Most of the Card Professors from ''Manga/YuGiOhR'' have nothing against Yugi or his friends even as they block their rescue mission, and duel Yugi only to collect the bounty placed upon defeating him in the duel (and they don't even try to cheat to win, which is saying something because the amount offered is sizable). The first one is even nice enough to loan her duel disk to Jonouchi after Yugi defeats her. On the other hand, the concept of an innocent girl being sacrificed for their boss' project (assuming they know the truth at all) doesn't seem to trouble them, either.
* The Wire Master in ''{{Mouse}}'' has this, where both he and the main character enjoy a drink together because it was a Sunday, and they didn't wish to work on a Sunday.
* AxCrazy Shin and GenkiGirl Noi from ''{{Dorohedoro}}''. Both are quite friendly when off the job and [[BigEater are often seen in restaurants.]] However, Shin seems to enjoy his job [[BloodKnight a little too much]], and Noi remains cheerful while killing (and occasionally makes it a contest with Shin), so they both demonstrate the thin line between this trope and PsychoForHire.
* Kahlua from ''RosarioToVampire'' seems to be a deconstruction of this trope, with a severe dose of PsychoForHire. She will take any job, regardless of who she has to kill or the toll it takes on her body, and will not stop unless ordered to do so. Despite this, she hates killing, and she will cry the whole time as she does so.
* Most of the Thirteen Court Guard Squad Captains during the Entry arc of ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' would qualify as this. Especially Shunsui Kyoraku, the captain of Squad Eight.
** Later on, Espada member Coyote Starrk is a borderline if not outright example.
* Semi of ''MaohJuvenileRemix'', who, although initially sent to kill the main character, is actually fairly nice to him when off-duty.
* This arguably applies to most of the Shinigami in ''Manga/DeathNote''. It really is only their duty to take humans' lives, and they only truly qualify as "evil" insofar as the occasional decision to kill a human earlier than intended - and doing so to save another is an offense for which death is punishment.
* In ''YuGiOhZexal'', Gauche and Droite started out as this. (Gauche does seem to love his job, but he's more of a thrill-seeker than anything else.) Droite later became an AntiVillain, while Gauche became a FriendlyEnemy towards Yuma.
----
** Canis Niger (the gang of bounty hunters that Negi kicked the crap out of), however, truly qualify. A dozen or so chapters after Negi wrecks them, he runs into them in the bath house, where they promptly reassure him that they won't hurt him unless someone pays them to. The worst that they do is a ''lot'' of SkinshipGrope, courtesy of their female member. [[spoiler: Remember the [[AllAnimeIsNaughtyTentacles perverted tentacle guy]]? [[SamusIsAGirl It's not a guy]]. But she still ''really'' [[SkinshipGrope loves boobies]].]]
** Tsukuyomi actually ''starts'' as one, leaving the battlefield as soon as she earns her pay and acting rather polite even when fighting. But the Magic World arc starts, and we see her taking a NightmareFuel-ish shift towards PsychoLesbian [[spoiler: or, better said, DepravedBisexual]]...
** Also: Demons. Even the one who turned Negi's village to stone is implied to not have done it out of his own will. Or at least to have gotten no pleasure from it.
* ''{{Saiyuki}}'s'' Kougaiji and his entourage. They're under orders to kill the main character and take his [[MacGuffin sutra]], but when they haven't specifically been sent after him, they're known to ignore his presence in the area completely or even help him. These ones are quite AffablyEvil, and when the two groups do fight, they usually have fun doing it.
* Tsujido, Makabe, and Niihari from ''SpeedGrapher'' are not particularly evil, and are only villains because of their personal loyalty to Suitengu, [[IOweYouMyLife whom they owe their lives to]].
* Sergei Wang from ''{{Mai-Otome}}'' is a personable Joe when he's not on the clock. He just happens to work for his much-more-evil leader in order to do what he thinks is best for his country. However, his loyalty to his adoptive daughter Nina trumps that of his boss, and [[spoiler:he almost gets killed trying to subvert Nagi's EvilPlan]].
* In the ''GetBackers'' manga, Gouzou "Mr. No-Brakes" Maguruma is somewhere between this and TrueNeutral. He's the only character who has no problems with [[PsychoForHire Kuroudo "Doctor Jackal" Akabane]] and Ryuudo "Undead" Hishiki, the former being someone the eponymous heroes can work with if absolutely necessary, but the latter the only opponent they go out of their way to avoid. Someone usually hires him to transport the item someone ''else'' hired Ban and Ginji to get back, but he's perfectly willing to loan them his taxi or give them a lift if they ask for it. Ginji reacts with his "happy fans" whenever they see him.
* Florsheim in ''Manga/TentaiSenshiSunred'' are completely this trope. Sunred himself is a bit of a jerk, so the group has to work around their MonsterOfTheWeek's work schedules, see when a good time to schedule a fight with Sunred is, and still talk about life on the side. One-off characters consistently treat "vicious monster working for an evil organization" as a totally normal job.
* In the fourth ''Manga/SailorMoon'' anime season, the Amazon Trio, QuirkyMinibossSquad of the Dead Moon Circus, always longue around their own personal bar between evildoing, drinking, talking about various things, complaining about the stress of their jobs, and generally regarding their villainy as a bothersome intrusion to their circus performing. Their successors, the Amazon Quartet, are a strange subversion....unlike the Trio, they ''do'' truly care about the mission to capture Pegasus; however, it's not for the same reason as their boss....they just want to ride it.
* Most of the Siberian Railroad from ''OvermanKingGainer'', Jaboli, Kajinan, and Enge in particular are usually obsessed with getting promoted for a higher pay.
* ''PorcoRosso'' has a whole set of these. In fact, every single one of the seaplane pirates that form the closest thing to antagonists that the first half of the movie has is very much a Punch Clock Villain. They all put on a tough show of hating "that stinkin' pig", but as a collective, they're about as evil as a box of kittens and are just out to make a quick buck.
* Most incarnations of Pluto from ''Anime/AstroBoy''. He has zero enthusiasm for his work, or anything else for that matter, because he was only programmed to follow his master's directions.
* ''Manga/HayateTheCombatButler'' has a team of three Yakuza enforcers, who, in the first chapter, attempt to capture Hayate to sell his organs and cover his parents' debt. They later meet again after Nagi has squared his debt. The lead yakuza explains that he was just doing his job and admits that he actually likes people like Hayate, going so far as to offer to treat him to lunch.
* [[BadBoss Lord]] [[BigBad Frieza's]] army, most notably the [[QuirkyMiniBossSquad Ginyu Force]], from Manga/DragonBall Z
* ''TheWorldOfNarue'' has a team of [[RidiculouslyHumanRobots gynoids]] who are only "villains" because they follow orders. Then they start [[MookFaceTurn disobeying orders]] because they realize they like the protagonists.
* ''LightNovel/GoshuushouSamaNinomiyaKun'' has a squad of [[{{mooks}} generic military personnel]] who threaten the cast around episode 6. In one scene, a soldier who was hunting down Mayu helps her out of a trap she fell into, and has a friendly conversation with her before she [[{{Dojikko}} trips another trap that knocks him out]]. [[MoodWhiplash In contrast]], similar soldiers were [[NoHoldsBarredBeatDown brutalizing]] a [[BoundAndGagged captive]] Shungo just two scenes before that.
** [[spoiler: They aren't really even working for "villains", anyway, just people with an OmniscientMoralityLicense]].
* ''GunslingerGirl'' has Bruno, who works for the Padania by disposing the bodies they rack up. He mentions at some point that ideals are nice, but they don't feed your family.
* The Dragons of Earth in ''[[{{X1999}} X/1999]]'' are not particularly evil after hours, they just happen to be on the opposite side of the Dragons of Heaven. Their goal is one of [[WellIntentionedExtremist Well Intentioned Extremism]].
* In ''Anime/CodeGeass'', the Knights of the Round are all PunchClockVillains, except for Number Ten, who is a sadistic psychopath. They have no motivations for what they do (with the exception of Suzaku and Bismarck) other than that it's their job and they're good at it.
* Almost ''[[GrayAndGrayMorality everyone]]'' on [[MeleeATrois every single side]] in ''DarkerThanBlack''. Most of the rest are either {{well intentioned extremist}}s or misinformed. Well, except [[PsychoForHire Wei]]. And later, Genma.
* "Anime/{{Pokemon}} only do bad things because Master bad." -- Ekans (with Koffing), the original {{Pokemon}} of Jessie and James of Team Rocket.
** Jessie and James themselves sometimes go back and forth between this and IneffectualSympatheticVillain. Some episodes, they seem to simply take the day off to work side jobs like selling food. They usually stop stealing when Jessie enters a Pokémon Contest.
* Vice Commander Renee in ''InnocentVenus'' is a Punch Clock Villain, which predictably leads to a HeelFaceTurn.
* Oh boy, ''GunXSword'''s villain group runs on this. So, if they're not planning for a Utopia, they're like a normal family, with The Claw as the 'kind father', Carossa & Melissa as normal twin kids, Fasalina as their CoolBigSis, Michael as the new 'adopted son' who's trying to fit in (much to Carossa's chagrin), and MAYBE Gadved as their uncle. For some reason, Woo prefers to be left out.
** So, he's the AloofBigBrother? It does work. Kinda. Sorta.
* In ''DGrayMan'', Tyki would sometimes rather slack off and play poker than work on missions from the [[BigBad Earl]]. When he's off duty and in his ordinary form, he's a nice guy, even to enemies.
* Arguably, Sloth from the manga version of ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist''. If it wasn't for the fact that he was created by [[spoiler: Father]], and is threatened with his siblings' wrath (pun not intended), he wouldn't be even ''bothered'' with [[spoiler: digging a tunnel around Amestris in the shape of an alchemist's circle]], for, well, obvious reasons.
** A good chunk of the Amestris military also qualifies, because, despite the repeated atrocities through-out the country's history like the Ishbalan genocide, the manga shows that they are just ordinary people following orders. One of the manga's themes is the fact that good, normal people can still do horrible things.
*** The chimera working for Kimblee stand out in my mind, since they weren't really so bad after all.
* Some members of Baroque Works in ''OnePiece'', most notably Mr.2 Bon Kurei. He easily befriended the protagonists before he knew they were his enemies, but later fought them with all he had because it was his job. After his organization fell apart, he [[HeroicSacrifice allowed himself to be caught]] to help the protagonists escape.
** Miss All Sunday/Nico Robin. On the clock, she did whatever Crocodile instructed, when off duty, however, she seems to do whatever she can to actively help the heroes, including offering an eternal pose to Nanimonai Island and saving Luffy when he was [[spoiler: BuriedAlive in the desert]], eventually [[spoiler: joining the crew]] after Crocodile is defeated.
** Although there are plenty of genuine rogues in [[DesignatedVillain the Navy]], ranging from GeneralRipper Admiral Akainu to DirtyCop Nezumi, many Marines are this trope. Most particular of these is Smoker, who is shown from his introduction to actually be a very kind person to those he is not pursuing.
*** In fact, if pirates (albeit kind ones) weren't the protagonists, he could be considered a good guy; he's proven that he cares more about his view of justice than orders from the higher-ups, to the point that he and his troops allied with the Straw Hats at one point. [[spoiler:''Two'' points as of the TimeSkip, and much more EnemyMine-ish the second time.]]
** Captain T-Bone of the Navy is the most heroic character in the whole story, who cares greatly for his troops, offers to use his parts of his cape as a bandage for them, weeps openly whenever someone gets hurt, abhors violence, and has a strong enough resolve that he would chase a train going full speed on foot, through a giant storm, [[SerialEscalation in the middle of the ocean]]. Zoro cuts him down, since he was standing in the way of their train and was NOT going to move for some pirate.
** Aokiji also fits as well. As an Admiral, it is his duty to hunt down and destroy pirates. However, he seems at the very least to be morally conflicted about it. He does his job, but, especially in the latest chapters, seems to half-ass it and apologizes when it actually inconveniences people.
* The ending credits of the 2008 remake of ''Anime/{{Yatterman}}'' strongly suggests that the Doronbo (Skull) Gang are of this type with a romantic montage of Doronjo in civilian clothes walking in the rain, window shopping, etc.
* Most of the cast of ''Manga/BlackLagoon'' fall under this. In the city of [[ViceCity Roanapur]], anyone who tries to kill you, fails, and survives your retaliation is probably a good business contact. They'll also probably try to kill you again, when the price is right. Nothing personal, JustBusiness.
* The Eiserne Jungefrauen in ''VisualNovel/UminekoNoNakuKoroNi'' are magic-denying witch [[TheHunter hunters]], but only when they're on the job as Inquisitors. Otherwise, they don't mind innocent magic that is used as an embellishment, as long as it doesn't hide the results of what happens. [[SdrawkcabName Dlanor]], in particular, has a discussion with [[WorthyOpponent Battler]], explaining this [[GoKartingWithBowser over tea]].
* Kyouko, one of the enemy espers in ''LightNovel/HaruhiSuzumiya'', has nothing against the protagonist Kyon, and disapproves of [[spoiler: her organization kidnapping Mikuru]], though she still took part in the deed. She's a perfectly congenial person as long as you aren't in favor of letting Haruhi keep her [[spoiler: godlike powers.]]
* Caldina, pre HeelFaceTurn, in ''MagicKnightRayearth''. She was just a paid mercenary and did not even know what Zagato's true motivation was - only that it was NOT to take over Cephiro.
* In ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'', [[spoiler:Kyubey turns out to be one of these, and is willing to go to some pretty serious lengths in order to meet his "quota" of magical girls]].
* Most of the Card Professors from ''Manga/YuGiOhR'' have nothing against Yugi or his friends even as they block their rescue mission, and duel Yugi only to collect the bounty placed upon defeating him in the duel (and they don't even try to cheat to win, which is saying something because the amount offered is sizable). The first one is even nice enough to loan her duel disk to Jonouchi after Yugi defeats her. On the other hand, the concept of an innocent girl being sacrificed for their boss' project (assuming they know the truth at all) doesn't seem to trouble them, either.
* The Wire Master in ''{{Mouse}}'' has this, where both he and the main character enjoy a drink together because it was a Sunday, and they didn't wish to work on a Sunday.
* AxCrazy Shin and GenkiGirl Noi from ''{{Dorohedoro}}''. Both are quite friendly when off the job and [[BigEater are often seen in restaurants.]] However, Shin seems to enjoy his job [[BloodKnight a little too much]], and Noi remains cheerful while killing (and occasionally makes it a contest with Shin), so they both demonstrate the thin line between this trope and PsychoForHire.
* Kahlua from ''RosarioToVampire'' seems to be a deconstruction of this trope, with a severe dose of PsychoForHire. She will take any job, regardless of who she has to kill or the toll it takes on her body, and will not stop unless ordered to do so. Despite this, she hates killing, and she will cry the whole time as she does so.
* Most of the Thirteen Court Guard Squad Captains during the Entry arc of ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' would qualify as this. Especially Shunsui Kyoraku, the captain of Squad Eight.
** Later on, Espada member Coyote Starrk is a borderline if not outright example.
* Semi of ''MaohJuvenileRemix'', who, although initially sent to kill the main character, is actually fairly nice to him when off-duty.
* This arguably applies to most of the Shinigami in ''Manga/DeathNote''. It really is only their duty to take humans' lives, and they only truly qualify as "evil" insofar as the occasional decision to kill a human earlier than intended - and doing so to save another is an offense for which death is punishment.
* In ''YuGiOhZexal'', Gauche and Droite started out as this. (Gauche does seem to love his job, but he's more of a thrill-seeker than anything else.) Droite later became an AntiVillain, while Gauche became a FriendlyEnemy towards Yuma.
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