History SmugSnake / AnimeAndManga

** To be fair though, this is much less true in the ''Magnificent World'' OVAs. In that continuity, he may have [[SmallNameBigEgo a big ego]], but he can easily back it up with [[MartyTzu tactical genius]] and [[{{Determinator}} sheer will power]]. While still not as magnificent as he sees himself, it makes him seem less like this trope than he does in the ''Wanderers'' anime series, which takes his ego UpToEleven and severely downgrades his strategic abilities so that he looks more like an IneffectualSympatheticVillain JokeCharacter.

* In the manga of ''FullmetalAlchemist'', {{Pride}} takes this trope and runs with it. He's a condescending [[EnfanteTerrible little prick]] with all the ego you'd expect from the living embodiment of arrogance, and almost no redeeming qualities.

** Frank Archer from the first anime is the epitome of a Smug Snake; a ruthless sociopath who orchestrates heinous catastrophes for the sake of [[GloryHound bettering his own image and publicity]].
*** [[spoiler:Dante]] is no better, being an egotistical, [[BodySurf bodysnatching]] bitch who while quite intelligent, fails to earn the audience's respect or admiration, due to her [[ItsAllAboutMe selfishness]], [[EvilIsPetty pettiness]], willingness to destroy countries just [[spoiler:so she can live a little longer]], and attempts at taking over one of TheHero's two {{Love Interest}}s (already a huge {{Woobie}} due to what she [[spoiler:and her baby]] [[BreakThecutie had gone through]]).

* Tenzen in ''{{Basilisk}}'' sees himself as a MagnificentBastard but doesn't live up to it, making a number of embarrassing mistakes as well as ''horrifying'' atrocities. [[spoiler:He gets himself killed several times over.]]

* Jose Porla, the leader of rival guild Phantom Lord in ''FairyTail''. Sneeringly arrogant, condescending, [[ItsAllAboutMe self-centered]] and, above all, incredibly [[EvilIsPetty petty]], thinks himself a lot smarter than he actually is and is utterly unable to keep his massive ego in check - the whole reason for his attacks on Fairy Tail and the whole mess that ensued was simply the fact that he was jealous of Fairy Tail's popularity. Despite trying to keep up an AffablyEvil facade when things go his way, he quickly loses his cool and throws childish temper tantrums as soon as his plans get even slightly derailed. It is telling that, while he's obviously the strongest member of Phantom Lord, his {{Badass}} [[TheDragon Dragon]] Gajeel comes across as a much more credible threat. Since Jose is such a lowlife, his VillainousBreakdown cum HumiliationConga at the hands of [[BadassGrandpa Makarov]] are a wonder to see.

** [[TheChessmaster Wong Yunfat]] from ''[[Anime/MobileFighterGGundam G Gundam]]'';

** Most of the Huckebein are like that, really. BigBad Curren seems to think she's a [[MagnificentBastard step above that]], but the jury's still out.

* Luppi, the replacement sixth Espada in ''{{Bleach}}'' was a Smug Snake in a big way; convinced of his indisputable superiority to his predecessor (Grimmjow), overestimating his skills in his fight with Hitsugaya, [[MemeticMolester leering on Matsumoto]] as they fight and threatening to kill Orihime because he was injured in a diversion to cover for her abduction. Eventually, he gets killed in one shot by Grimmjow.

* Jean Gedoo from ''{{Geneshaft}}'' has all the ego of being the valedictorian in his class (and [[{{Yu-Gi-Oh}} Yugi]] [[AnimeHair hair]]), with the "best genes" for leadership. Granted, he wasn't bad tactically, but he was far too obsessed with ''asserting'' and ''proving'' his worthiness, to the point that he would do [[KickTheDog very cruel things]] simply because he felt that someone - anyone - did not acknowledge his perfection...or simply because he was [[{{Ubermensch}} perfect]] and thus [[AboveGoodAndEvil beyond judgment]]. That he had [[HoYay a problem]] with [[EnsembleDarkhorse Mario Musicanova]] really grated.

** [[TheChessmaster Wong Yunfat]] from ''[[Anime/MobileFighterGGundam] G Gundam]'';

** [[TheChessmaster Wong Yunfat]] from ''[[Anime/MobileFighterGGundam]]'';

* Half the ''Manga/DeathNote'' fandom sees [[VillainProtagonist Light]] [[DarkMessiah Yagami]] as a MagnificentBastard. The other half sees him as just a high-functioning Smug Snake. Unlike many on this list, Light ''is'' very bright, but his AGodAmI complex, infantile {{Freak Out}}s ("he got me!"), borderline [[LackOfEmpathy sociopathy]] and tendency towards kicking dogs, can and do cost him the sympathy of many, while his sheer ego, and tendency towards underestimating his opponents can sometimes derail his plans [[spoiler: and ultimately do get him killed]]. As in the [[PiratesOfTheCaribbean Beckett]] example below, Light is incredibly smart, but not nearly as smart as he thinks he is.

** Eighth Espada Szayel Aporro Granz is also a Smug Snake; he considers himself an infallible genius and the "perfect being" despite the fact he only managed to get the advantage he had over Renji and Ishida by studying both of them and setting things up in advance to put the odds drastically in his favor when they fought. His arrogance takes a major blow when Mayuri Kurotsuchi reveals he completely outmaneuvered him scientifically, and Szayel to [[VillainousBreakdown swearing, stomping, and screaming like a spoiled child]] when nothing is working. When he tries crossing his final and most heinous MoralEventHorizon ([[spoiler: raping Mayuri's "daughter" and liutenant Nemu to forcibly impregnate her with himself so he can come back to life, which kills her]]), he winds up suffering a horrific KarmicDeath because he underestimated the depth of Mayuri's own preparations ([[spoiler: he gave Nemu a strange poison that took effect when Szayel Aporro used her to revive himself]]). Rather tellingly, despite Mayuri's own rampant sociopathy, [[EvenEvilHasStandards Szayel disgusts him.]]

** Most of the Huckebein are like that, really... although BigBad Cullen is making credible attempts at being a MagnificentBitch and {{Troll}}.

* [[Manga/AxisPowersHetalia Pru]][[SmallNameBigEgo ssia]] is a more humourous version of this trope. He dreams of conquering and enslaving the entire world, but if he comes close he's often cut back down to size. [[DracoInLeatherPants The fans tend to love him for it, though.]]

*** [[spoiler:Dante]] is no better, being an egotistical, [[BodySurf bodysnatching]] bitch who while quite intelligent, fails to earn the audience's respect or admiration, due to her [[ItsAllAboutMe selfishness]], [[EvilIsPetty pettiness]], willingness to destroy entire countries just [[spoiler:so she can live a little longer]], and attempts at taking over one of TheHero's two {{Love Interest}}s (already a huge {{Woobie}} due to what she [[spoiler:and her baby]] [[BreakThecutie had gone through]]).

* Millions Knives from ''{{Trigun}}''. Missing throughout the entire anime except for a few scenes, we're expected to take him seriously when we see him sitting down in a field sipping a glass of wine? Even though his [[TheDragon Dragon]] [[spoiler: had nearly mentally crippled Vash, Knives lost to him in the span of an episode]]!

* Job Trunicht from ''{{Legend of Galactic Heroes}}'' is particularly notorious for throwing an ''entire interstellar nation'' under the bus for personal gain, multiple times. In an unusual example, he's actually aware of what a slimy scumbag he is:

* Mikoto from ''{{Flame of Recca}}''. While her first credentials show her to be a CompleteMonster, her fight with Fuuko cements her as a true Smug Snake, starting from the usage of crocodile tears, slow poisoning (while gloating on how she likes seeing life fading away), and finally, scoring a default victory through silencing the referee (who was about to declare KO), knocking Fuuko out and won over a ten count. As Raiha coined, it's not her physical strength that makes her a Jyuushinshu, it's her ''slyness''. Even Joker noted that he is ''really'' doubtful about how Mikoto ends up in the Jyuushinshu ranks. While still smuggy, she starts softening up when she got into a relationship with [[CompleteMonster Mokuren]]. [[spoiler: But that ends [[AlasPoorVillain very pitifully]] for her.]]

** [[CompleteMonster Lord Djibril]] and [[RomanticFalseLead Yuna]] [[ScarpiaUltimatum Roma]] [[DirtyCoward Seiran]] of ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamSeedDestiny Gundam SEED Destiny]]'';

* Kurotowa in ''{{Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind}}'' fits this trope to the letter. Actor Chris Sarandon, who provided his voice in the English dub, even says he based his whole performance around the character's persistent sneer.
* In ''{{Anime/Monster}}'', most of the villains who aren't [[CompleteMonster Johan]] or in some way redeemable. Kristof, Dr. Heinemann and Blue Sophie are the better examples.

** Eighth Espada Szayel Aporro Granz is also a Smug Snake in addition to being a CompleteMonster; he considers himself an infallible genius and the "perfect being" despite the fact he only managed to get the advantage he had over Renji and Ishida by studying both of them and setting things up in advance to put the odds drastically in his favor when they fought. His arrogance takes a major blow when Mayuri Kurotsuchi reveals he completely outmaneuvered him scientifically, and Szayel to [[VillainousBreakdown swearing, stomping, and screaming like a spoiled child]] when nothing is working. When he tries crossing his final and most heinous MoralEventHorizon ([[spoiler: raping Mayuri's "daughter" and liutenant Nemu to forcibly impregnate her with himself so he can come back to life, which kills her]]), he winds up suffering a horrific KarmicDeath because he underestimated the depth of Mayuri's own preparations ([[spoiler: he gave Nemu a strange poison that took effect when Szayel Aporro used her to revive himself]]). Rather tellingly, despite Mayuri's own rampant sociopathy, [[EvenEvilHasStandards Szayel disgusts him.]]

** BigBad Aizen himself also qualifies, despite being introduced as a MagnificentBastard. Despite his impressive introduction, it soon becomes clear that Aizen's smooth talking and GambitRoulette fetish are covering up his use of a godlike power as a crutch; once he truly takes the stage as BigBad, instead of manipulating from the shadows, his {{Evil Plan}}s end up getting his entire army killed for a fleeting to nonexistent tactical advantage, forcing him to do the entire job himself. [[spoiler:This results in Yamamoto, Urahara (thrice, and once alongside Isshin and Yoruichi), and Gin all outmaneuvering him, which he only overcomes through having literal PlotArmor saving him from numerous life-ending attacks, including being ''disintegrated on the molecular level'' by his own {{Dragon}}. Finally, when he's achieved his ultimate form and refuses to ''shut up about how powerful he is'', Ichigo shows up and [[CurbStompBattle defeats him easily]] because Aizen underestimated him.]]

* Ren Sohma from FruitsBasket. She's [[TallDarkAndBishoujo beautiful]], [[ManipulativeBitch sly, manipulative]]...and not just [[CompleteMonster despicable]], but in the end, very ''incompetent''. [[spoiler:She has to manipulate Rin to get her late husband Akira's box (and Rin then fails and is horrifyingly "punished" by its owner, Ren's much hated and abused daughter Akito), is humiliated by Shigure when he tells her he only had sex with her because she looks like an older Akito, and once her plans crumble, she's left as an EmptyShell of her former self.]]

* Katsuhiko Jinnai from ''ElHazard'' certainly counts. Being a brilliant strategist and successful conqueror isn't enough to make up for [[TedBaxter his monumental ego]] and AnnoyingLaugh; traits that make him [[LoveToHate both hateable and/or hilarious to the audience.]]

** To a greater extent, Gonzou Tarukane, the hideous crimelord who imprisoned and tortured poor Yukina. He thought he had everything under control but in truth, he ''never'' even remotely stood a chance against [[MagnificentBastard Sakyou]]'s XanatosGambit. [[spoiler: Gonzou was doomed from the start because he thought the Togoru brothers were working for him when they really worked for Sakyou. The OhCrap when he realizes he's been OutGambitted has this trope all over it.]]

* Akihiko Kurata, the MadScientist from ''DigimonSavers'', is incredibly manipulative, condescending, and selfish, and his habit of situating himself well out of harm's way until he's absolutely sure of success makes him even more infuriating. This is somewhat made up for by his [[DirtyCoward extreme cowardice]], which makes the times when things actually go against him very satisfying indeed.
** Every season of Digimon has at least one Smug Snake. [[DigimonAdventure Adventure]] has [[TheImp Picodevimon]], [[DigimonAdventure02 02]] has [[EvilGenius the Digimon Kaiser]], [[DigimonTamers Tamers]] has [[ManiacMonkeys Makuramon]], [[DigimonFrontier Frontier]] has ''two'': [[TheStarscream Mercurymon]] and [[BigBad Lucemon]], and [[DigimonXrosWars Xros Wars]] had [[YouDirtyRat Chuchumon.]]

** Every season of Digimon has at least one Smug Snake. [[DigimonAdventure Adventure]] has [[TheImp Picodevimon]], [[DigimonAdventure02 02]] has [[EvilGenius the Digimon Kaiser]], [[DigimonTamers Tamers]] has [[ManiacMonkeys Makuramon]], and [[DigimonFrontier Frontier]] has ''two'': [[TheStarscream Mercurymon]] and [[BigBad Lucemon]].

* ''YuGiOh'': Seto Kaiba was a classic example during his time as the BigBad. After his HeelFaceTurn he becomes a better person, but his {{Jerkass}} behaviours and unbelievable arrogance keep him as an {{Antihero}}ic take on this trope. His stepbrother, Noah Kaiba, stepfather Gozaburo Kaiba, and former business associates, The Big Five play the trope to the hilt, as do Bandit Keith Howard, Weevil Underwood, Siegfried von Schroeder, and Marik Ishtar. The latter's SuperpoweredEvilSide averts the trope, as he's far too [[AxCrazy psychopathic]] to really have an opinion of himself

** Most of the Huckebein are like that, really... although BigBad Cullen is making credible attempts at being a MagnificentBitch and{{Troll}}.

** Most of the Huckebein are like that, really... although BigBad Cullen is making credible attempts at being a MagnificentBitch and{{Troll}.

** Most of the Huckebein are like that, really... although BigBad Cullen is making credible attempts at being a MagnificentBitch.

** [[spoiler:Kyousuke Higuchi]] the Third Kira, is a more traditional example, being arrogant without reason, none-too bright, totally unsympathetic and fully convinced that he is TheBigBad, despite being Light's puppet.

*** Helmeppo's fate isn't particularly grating, though, due to a HeelFaceTurn (he's basically trying to clean up his act, and he wants to restore his family's good name... by recapturing his fugitive dad).

** Of course, he really ''is'' a ManipulativeBastard, and even Kenichi's masters admit that he has genuine strategic talent, and ''eventually'' he does become an asset to the team (kind of). He still has no fighting skill and an ego the size of a zeppelin, but still...

** Much, ''much'' later on, Kurt Godel, Governor General of Ostia seems to be like this. [[spoiler: [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] as he's actually [[MagnificentBastard powerful enough to take on Negi]], and [[WildCard might actually be (or not)]] an ally of the BigBad.]]
*** Of course it turns out Kurt ''thinks'' he's a lot better at manipulation than he actually is, sending him right back into this trope, if only because he underestimated the Nakama's surveillance capabilities and didn't account for their [[spoiler: informant from the future]], although to be fair, he really [[DidntSeeThatComing had no possible way of knowing]] about that last one. [[spoiler: As such, he pulls a HeelFaceTurn and joins Negi's group, and ''then'' he re-joins Ala Rubra.]]

** There's also Rishu in the Dark Tournament arc. He thought his match against Kuwabara was in the bag due to the manipulations (read:bribery) his sponsor carried out. Oh how wrong he was.

* Ren Sohma from FruitsBasket. She's [[TallDarkAndBishoujo beautiful]], [[ManipulativeBitch sly, manipulative]]...and not just [[CompleteMonster despicable]], but in the end, very ''incompetent''. [[spoiler:She has to manipulate Rin to get her late husband Akira's box (and Rin then fails and is horrifyingly "punished" by its owner, Ren's much hated and abused daughter Akito), is humiliated by Shigure when he tells her he only had sex with her because she looks like an older Akito, and once her plans crumble, she's left as pretty much as an EmptyShell of her former self.]]

* Jose Porla, the leader of rival guild Phantom Lord in ''FairyTail''. Sneeringly arrogant, condescending, [[ItsAllAboutMe self-centered]] and, above all, incredibly [[EvilIsPetty petty]], thinks himself a lot smarter than he actually is and is utterly unable to keep his massive ego in check - the whole reason for his attacks on Fairy Tail and the whole mess that ensued was simply the fact that he was jealous of Fairy Tail's popularity. Despite trying to keep up an AffablyEvil facade when things go his way, he quickly loses his cool and throws childish temper tantrums as soon as his plans get even slightly derailed. It is telling that, while he's obviously the strongest member of Phantom Lord, his {{Badass}} [[TheDragon Dragon]] Gajeel comes across as a much more credible threat. Of course, since Jose is such a lowlife, his VillainousBreakdown cum HumiliationConga at the hands of [[BadassGrandpa Makarov]] are a wonder to see.

* Goose from {{Baccano}}. He's so incredibly arrogant that he goes so far as to say that the ''police'' would be stupid to try and stop him from [[spoiler: murdering the senator's daughter and leaving her body on the side of the road just to scare him into releasing his boss from prison]]. Not only that, but he says all of this, ''[[KickTheDog right in front of the senator's wife and daughter]]''. Really this (paraphrased) exchange sums it right up.

* [[AxisPowersHetalia Pru]][[SmallNameBigEgo ssia]] is a more humourous version of this trope. He dreams of conquering and enslaving the entire world, but if he comes close he's often cut back down to size. [[DracoInLeatherPants The fans tend to love him for it, though.]]