"Just because you're a bad guy doesn't mean you have to be...a bad guy"
That represents the Type IV Anti-Villain, who aren't even really villains at all, despite being viewed and treated as such in-universe. If done intentionally, it's usually done for comic relief. Done unintentionally however, and it can be a major sign of bad writing.
Pretty much the whole point of the character.
In his more benign incarnations, including in the Mario Kart games.
A proud example of this. The fact is despite being both a pirate and utterly insane, Jack Sparrow really is a nice guy, a few genuine scoundrel moments notwithstanding.
Viewed and treated in-universe as an utter monster but seldom acts like one.
Despite being with Cerberus, Jacob never does anything evil and is in fact a very nice, friendly guy, if not also overly stoic.
Like Jacob, Miranda never actually does anything evil despite being with Cerberus, and as such could qualify as this.
In my Marvel Universe he tries to be evil and get revenge on the Spider-Man family, but he's just too nice to be a villain and winds up being consistently heroic.
More and more often becomes this due to becoming increasingly sympathetic and harmless and Mr. Krabs increasingly deplorable. It's gotten to the point where Plankton now just wants to COMPETE with Mr. Krabs, which would economically benefit all of Bikini Bottom.
When with Organization XIII.
Frequently turned into this
Proudly this
The whole premise of the movie is the main character getting tired of being this.
