Disney has always had a knack for producing the sweetest and most inspiring characters. However, beyond the popular Disney heroes we all know and love, there have also been some undeniably charismatic and remarkable villains. Here are the 20 most memorable Disney villains:
The Evil Queen – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
It would be improper to have a list such as this without paying homage to one of Disney’s earliest villains, the Evil Queen. She would have been the fairest in all the land but for the existence of Snow White, and for that reason, she succumbed to the green spirit of envy.
Claude Frollo – The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)
Claude Frollo is a picture of true evil that is bound to leave an impression of fear on almost any child. He hides behind an image of devotion to God, but in actuality, pursues his own evil machinations inspired by his lust and depravity.
Scar – The Lion King (1994)
From his smooth speech to his bitter wickedness to his cold calculations, it’s almost impossible to forget Scar. Exploiting the impressionability of his young nephew, Scar is able to usurp the throne from his brother whom he’s jealous of, and claim the kingdom for himself.
The Wicked Stepmother – Cinderella (1950)
Without referencing statistics, I’m sure you can agree that most people have formative memories of hating Cinderella’s stepmother. She’s the height of bitter wickedness and especially scary because she resembles the truth of some of humanity. While the story might be one of fantasy, her abuse of Cinderella isn’t.
Maleficent – Sleeping Beauty (1959)
Immense power, unbeatable charisma, and the fury of a woman scorned. Maleficent quickly became one of Disney’s most popular villains. Notably, Maleficent is such a well-developed, rounded, and complex character that even viewers see a justification for her wickedness.
Queen of Hearts – Alice in Wonderland (1951)
It’s hard to forget this incredibly haughty and annoying character. She’s known for her playing cards and signature catchphrase: “Off with their heads!” When Alice arrives in Wonderland, she upsets the Queen and ignites her wrath, putting her in danger of the Queen’s favorite punishment of beheading.
Shan Yu – Mulan (1998)
While watching Mulan, all you can pick from the character of Shan Yu is undiluted devilry. He is a killer and the leader of an army that contributed to the deaths of countless people across China. He’s one villain who definitely inspires nightmares in little children.
Captain Hook – Peter Pan (1953)
Captain Hook is a character with a very distinct look that’s owed to the fact that he’s missing a hand, which earns him his name. The extent of Captain Hook’s evil nature is betrayed by the fact that he was relentlessly hunting down children.
Hans – Frozen (2013)
Nobody saw it coming. From the very beginning, Hans was the picture of foolish love and innocent affection. It wasn’t until the latter part of Frozen that we got to see him for who he really was. The love-struck charmer that we were introduced to was nothing but a facade.
Ursula – The Little Mermaid (1989)
Incredibly manipulative and cunning, Ursula is a self-serving antagonist with a thirst for power. She’s shown to employ every trick at her disposal to get what she wants, and in this case, it happened to be Ariel’s voice. She’s certainly one of Disney’s most popular villains.
The Human Hunter – Bambi (1942)
The villainy in Bambi is of a more reflective nature. The antagonist in the animated movie is clearly Man, but the act of villainy is of a larger consequence. The evil that’s communicated in Bambi is that of the callousness with which Man treats animals and nature.
Mother Gothel – Tangled (2010)
Mother Gothel was especially interesting because of how recognizable her villainy was. The most used weapon in her arsenal was manipulation. Even if we never encounter magic and witchcraft in real life, everyone has encountered someone like Mother Gothel at least once.
Gaston – Beauty and the Beast (1991)
He is thick-necked and narcissistic. He can’t be reasoned with, and he must absolutely get what he wants. Gaston is a truly infuriating villain who is, at the same time, undeniably compelling to watch. His musical scene was one of the most remarkable in the entire movie.
Yzma – The Emperor’s New Groove (2000)
Yzma is a fascinating character in The Emperor’s New Groove. Angered by the fact that she’s dismissed as Royal Advisor, Yzma harbors an unscrupulous desire to take the throne from her foster son as her way of getting revenge.
Hades – Hercules (1997)
Hercules’s Hades is just lovely to behold. A funny, upbeat character who sometimes bursts into song, he’s the kind of villain to wreak havoc while also cracking a witty dad joke. He’s one of the best of Disney’s villains, the perfect mix of lightheartedness, humor, and wickedness.
Cruella De Vil – 101 Dalmatians (1961)
Cruella De Vil is a material girl who will stop at nothing to get what she wants, even killing puppies without thinking twice about it. She’s of a class of villains that are portrayed as grand, charismatic, and incorrigibly heinous. She’s enjoyable to watch, but easy to dislike.
Chernabog – Fantasia (1940)
Chernabog might just be the most powerful Disney villain there is. He’s an undeniably terrifying character, and not just for little kids. He has untold power over the night and its creatures, and he can only be defeated by sunlight.
Sid – Toy Story (1995)
Sid is a young character with a love for beheading toys. He fits into the troubled bully trope that a lot of children are familiar with and scared of. His violent tendency toward toys seems to betray more deep-rooted issues.
Shere Khan – Jungle Book (1967)
Shere Khan is the textbook definition of a predator. As a tiger, he strikes fear into the hearts of the other animals. He has his sights set on Mowgli, and he unrelentingly tries to hunt him. Shere Khan is a goosebump-worthy villain, especially for children, who are Disney’s prime demographic.
Jafar – Aladdin (1992)
Cold and sinister, Jafar is one of Disney’s truly terrifying villains. He belongs to a trope of villains that are unnervingly calm and collected. He was dedicated in his pursuit of ultimate power, and he would have stopped at nothing to get it—and he almost did, too.
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