It's Good to be Bad - Watashi's 15 Favorite Villains in Animation [Archive]

Watashi

08-30-2008, 03:45 AM

This is for you, Russ. You asked for it and you got it. So I better get a shitload of rep for putting this all together.

Let's get evil for second, Match Cut. Rooting for the hero to succeed, rescue the damsel, and slay the dragon can become tiresome after quite some repetition, and sometimes that poor dragon just doesn't get the respect it deserves. Lil' slain dragon, this thread is for you. We love to hate these guys and sometimes they just ooze out ultimate villainy as they are in their finest hour... only to be thwarted by the hero at the very end. Yes villains, you nearly always lose, but you have never been upstaged when you have your moment in the spotlight, and that is why most villains are simply good at being bad.

Guidelines before listage starts:

Only features and shorts included. No TV.
This is my personal list, and a lot of the "classic" villains will be mostly absent.
Some villains were omitted because I never felt them as "true" villains and they are asked to gain more sympathy as the typical show-stopper demands.
Other than pretty pictures and Shakespearean commentary, there will be YouTube links in every entry of the villain in action.
No, Man from Bambi will not be on here.
There will be spoilers

Watashi

08-30-2008, 04:06 AM

-15-

JENNER

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/5374/jennervy4.gif

Film:
The Secret of NIMH

Voiced By:
Paul Shenar

Jenner: With Nicodemus out of the way, what's to stop us from taking over?
Sullivan: Jenner, you can't kill Nicodemus.
Jenner: No taste for blood, eh? They've taken the animal out of you.

Jenner vs. Justin (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yIZM-YYUSQ)

Jenner isn't too thrilled by the arrival of Mrs. Brisby to his underground lair. Everything was just peachy before she arrived and warned everyone of an impending doom and pleaded that they leave their home. Jenner doesn't like change. He likes the way things are. He's willing to keep it like that even if it means by killing the village elder and mentor, Nicodemus. Jenner's lust for power takes control of him, and he'll kill anyone who tries to stop his quest. His rainy duel with hero Justin is a clash of blood and anger as Jenner let's his cocky side too far and ends up biting him in the back.

Moment of Pure Villainy:

Jenner backhands Mrs. Brisby for a glimpse at her amulet and then draws his sword to get his hands on his prize.

Sven

08-30-2008, 04:06 AM

You mean, we can't post our own? :sad:

Spinal

08-30-2008, 04:08 AM

Oh, man. Don't peak too early!

Watashi

08-30-2008, 04:09 AM

You mean, we can't post our own? :sad:
Sure, if you want. I'm sure my list will be a lot more... ahem... Western than most of your choices.

Watashi

08-30-2008, 04:29 AM

-14-

YZMA

http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/4607/yzmand4.jpg

Film:
The Emperor's New Groove

Voiced By:
Eartha Kitt

Yzma: It is no concern of mine whether or not your family has... what was it again?
Peasant: Umm... food?
Yzma: Ha! You should have thought of that before you became peasants.

I'll turn him into flea! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMSHOPkcVv8)

While not quite herald as the other Disney villainesses, Yzma is hardly a pushover. She is a true diva of evil and scene-hogging tyranny. She is heartless and ruthless and she loves every minute of it. She's a mad chemist, a devious sorceress, and an eccentric ruler. If Yzma's plans don't kill you, then a simple glance at her "scary beyond reason" profile will as she resembles a pruned out zombie-form of Cher. Since most animated characters are modeled after their voice-counterpart, Eartha Kitt was thrilled to see how hideous they made Yzma look and animators were unsure if she was offended or not.

Moment of Pure Villainy:

Yzma turns her entire staff of henchman into various animals over a bad potion mix-up. However, since all villains have some drop of good in them, she lets the cow go home.

ledfloyd

08-30-2008, 05:24 AM

what are the odds on #1 being Anton Ego? this should be fun.

Kurosawa Fan

08-30-2008, 05:32 AM

Oh, man. Don't peak too early!

That's what she said.

Fezzik

08-30-2008, 09:36 AM

*subscribes*

Sven

08-30-2008, 02:25 PM

The best part in Emperor's New Groove is the trampoline salesman. Hilarious.

Russ

08-30-2008, 02:38 PM

Yzma is a great choice. Gotta love Eartha Kitt's voicework too.

D_Davis

08-30-2008, 02:59 PM

Anyone here watch Secret of Nimh recently? Does it hold up? I remember really liking it.

Spinal

08-30-2008, 07:23 PM

Anyone here watch Secret of Nimh recently? Does it hold up? I remember really liking it.

I've watched it within the last 2 years and yes, it's great.

Alex Weitzman

08-30-2008, 11:07 PM

Jenner is pretty good, and Yzma is awesomeness. But no TV? You're limiting yourself, good sir. Azula ought to make any list like this.

Watashi

08-31-2008, 01:17 AM

-13-

CHERNABOG

http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/3820/chernaboggu3.jpg

Film:
Fantasia

A Night on Bald Mountain (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccBj4cLqHt4&feature=related)

How do you Disneyfy Satan himself? The answer is you can't. This Beelzebub is no fast-talking blue-haired demon voiced by James Woods. No, Chernabog is the epitome of evil itself and Disney have never treaded darker waters in bringing this historically-significant creature into the animated realm. I'm not that big of a fan of Fantasia. I'd rather listen to Ben Stein read the phone book than watch The Rite of Spring ever again, but there are some good segments in between like the universally-loved The Sorcerer's Apprentice and the closing two-part masterpiece Night on Bald Mountain and Ave Maria. Chernabog is a nocturnal nightmare and by far the most visually impressive animated villain on this list. He sees delight in all things malevolent as he summons with his resurrected minions to dance and entertain him like a child's toy. Of course, like all villains, he is foiled at the height of his power by the overbearing arrival of good and hope. I mean, c'mon Satan. You are this all-powerful deity and a little wussy bell makes you cower and return back into your slumber? Lame.

Moment of Pure Villainy:

Ole' Cherny makes three fiery muses to perform a sultry dance for his Evilship only to turn them into disgusting animals and shrivel them up into pathetic parasites.

Watashi

08-31-2008, 01:19 AM

Jenner is pretty good, and Yzma is awesomeness. But no TV? You're limiting yourself, good sir. Azula ought to make any list like this.
TV is too broad. Plus there are tons of options in short and full-length features. I could have easily expanded this list.

Philosophe_rouge

08-31-2008, 01:34 AM

Watashi

08-31-2008, 07:05 AM

-12-

SHERE KHAN

http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/9272/sherekahnbn8.jpg

Film:
The Jungle Book

Voiced By:
George Sanders

Mowgli: I know you alright. You're Shere Khan.
Shere Khan: Precisely. And you should know that everyone runs from Shere Khan.

Shere Khan Negotiates Kaa (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-T0I5UepXMA)

Shere Khan's villainy genius begins and ends with George Sanders. A great voice can go a long way in defining a great villain and Sanders' performance as Khan is one of many in this list that proves this. Shere Khan would be higher if he was given more screen time other than his two major scenes (one being linked above), but he has a presence to be reckoned with. I love Khan's unenthusiastic chemistry with minor villain Kaa (who will be reappearing down in the list later on. Uh oh foreshadowing!) by not being impressed at all with his hypnotic mind tricks. It's a shame Khan had to be taken down by a 12-year old half-naked kid.

Moment of Pure Villainy:

Not only is Shere Khan a powerful man-killing tiger, but he is a surprising baritone that can make the jungle tremble in fear.

Watashi

08-31-2008, 07:08 AM

I know everyone are tea-sipping Hsiao-hsien Hou experts here, but more comments would be appreciated.

Derek

08-31-2008, 07:33 AM

I know everyone here are tea-sipping Hsiao-hsien Hou experts here, but more comments would be appreciated.

I haven't seen the first two and it's been at least a decade since I've watched the other two so not much I can say. I love Fantasia though and Chernabog's a great pick. Should rewatch that one.

Watashi

08-31-2008, 07:37 AM

I haven't seen the first two and it's been at least a decade since I've watched the other two so not much I can say. I love Fantasia though and Chernabog's a great pick. Should rewatch that one.

Dude, you need to see The Emperor's New Groove. Pronto.

And wipe that tea of your chin, elitist.

Derek

08-31-2008, 07:46 AM

Dude, you need to see The Emperor's New Groove. Pronto.

I can't explain why I have zero interest in seeing that film, but I do. Maybe that'll change some day. But completely unrelated to this list, I do plan on checking out Prince of Egypt at some point.

And wipe that tea of your chin, elitist.

I don't need to drink tea to be an elistist, just look down upon you and your Western animation with contempt and disgust.

:)

Watashi

08-31-2008, 09:01 AM

-11-

JUDGE DOOM

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/4931/judgedoomwm3.jpg

Film:
Who Framed Roger Rabbit

Voiced By:
Christopher Lloyd

Eddie Valiant: So that's why you killed Acme and Maroon? For this freeway? I don't get it.
Judge Doom: Of course not. You lack vision, but I see a place where people get on and off the freeway. On and off, off and on all day, all night. Soon, where Toon Town once stood will be a string of gas stations, inexpensive motels, restaurants that serve rapidly prepared food. Tire salons, automobile dealerships and wonderful, wonderful billboards reaching as far as the eye can see. My God, it'll be beautiful.

The Judge Dips a Shoe (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwPkAUBr4Sc)

A slight cheat here, but Doom still qualifies as an animated villain given his toony flesh underneath all that human make-up. Judge Doom had the privilege of scaring 9-year olds with two red eyes and that high squeaky voice. I know I had nightmares for years. Doom is based on real life Nazi judge, Roland Freisler, and the toon/Jew metaphor couldn't be any more obvious. For all toons in Toontown, Judge Doom is their worst enemy passing off capital punishment in the form of turpentine, acetone and benzene otherwise known as "The Dip". As a toon himself, he despises his origins and the immature laughter that they cause. How else would Doom know about the ole' "Shave and a Haircut" trick?

Moment of Pure Villainy:

Do I really need to mention it? I still can hear that poor shoe squeaking for his life as the dip consumes him every time I close my eyes.

Russ

08-31-2008, 12:42 PM

Shere Khan is an inspired choice, had forgotten about him. Not too keen on Judge Doom, tho. I've a few in mind that I'm expecting to see in this top ten...

Alex Weitzman

08-31-2008, 02:28 PM

As you watch Who Framed Roger Rabbit, keep an eye out near the end for one of the few shots they couldn't (or just didn't) augment with the proper animation elements. When Judge Doom gets hit by the sideways-geyser of Dip, the stuntman taking the hit and getting blown back clearly has an ungloved human hand. What's likely is that all of that Dip spray made it impossible to get an animator to put that yellow anvil on Doom's hand in that shot and still make it look like it fit within the world.

Sycophant

08-31-2008, 04:38 PM

Excellent call with Shere Khan. His potency as a villain is signaled by the fact that even though he dos have a fairly slight amount of screentime, his presence is heavily felt throughout. And it just wouldn't have been possible without Sanders.

Also, the extermination of that little toon shoe is what kept me from rewatching WFRR for 15+ years.

D_Davis

08-31-2008, 04:49 PM

-13-

CHERNABOG

Great choice here.

Whenever I watch Fantasia I am reminded at just how far theatrical animation in America has fallen, or has failed to progress since. The artistry of this film is unmatched in America.

amberlita

08-31-2008, 06:10 PM

Agreed on the greatness of the Chernabog pick, but Doom is the first one to really hit a nerve for me here...

Also, the extermination of that little toon shoe is what kept me from rewatching WFRR for 15+ years.

Exactly. I love the movie, but that scene is so painful even now that I can't watch it, I just fastforward. Short scene, but it's so cruel. He might well have been boiling a kitten.

I hated Doom as a kid. Still do.

Grouchy

08-31-2008, 06:19 PM

So far I've only seen Fantasia and Roger Rabbit. Go Chernabog.

monolith94

08-31-2008, 08:51 PM

Great choice here.

Whenever I watch Fantasia I am reminded at just how far theatrical animation in the west has fallen, or has failed to progress since. The artistry of this film is unmatched in the west.
I think certain scenes in Sleeping Beauty are Fantasia's equal. Also, I'm pretty sure that The Man Who Planted Trees counts as "the west" even though it isn't hollywood.

Watashi

08-31-2008, 09:07 PM

-10-

TETSUO

http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/4512/tetsuofn4.jpg

Film:
Akira

Voiced By:
Nozomu Sasaki/Jan Rabson/Joshua Seth

I... am Tetsuo!

The Rise and Fall of Tetsuo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlmycQNOgq8)

Tetsuo is the only anime villain to be on this list, and I have reason behind it. First, I place a pretty large emphasis on the voice acting behind the character. A lot of the villains on this list are charged with a great vocal talent that elevated the foe beyond what the script required. The voice actors in Japan (or seiyu) never really carry that much enthusiasm in their delivery. If the dubbing is good, I'll actually prefer it to original translation and I have many times before (John Lasseter's dubbing work on the later Miyazaki DVDs have been tremendous). Second, a lot of anime villains aren't really "villains" after all. There's a reason why no Miyazaki fiends are on this list, and that's because I never really took them as being truly evil (you could argue with a couple, mainly Castle of Cagliostro). Even in Akira, can Tetsuo truly be defined as a villain? He switches on and off from hero-mode to villain, but his power comes from somewhere beyond his control. When he does shift towards the dark side in the second half, Tetsuo becomes one of the most fascinating characters in all of animation. He's a walking time-bomb that could shower the world with endless chaos. His climatic mutation rips a page straight out of something David Lynch would have nightmares about.

Moment of Pure Villainy:

There's a lot of fucked up moments in Tetsuo's actions, but his gruesome ways of finishing off Colonel Shikishima's government forces shows but a taste of his true powers.

Melville

08-31-2008, 10:45 PM

Now you're talkin'. Every story should have a character taken over by his own body and turned into a giant, amorphous mass of vengeance. It works every time.

Philosophe_rouge

08-31-2008, 11:06 PM

I think certain scenes in Sleeping Beauty are Fantasia's equal. Also, I'm pretty sure that The Man Who Planted Trees counts as "the west" even though it isn't hollywood.
I agree on both points. I think Canadian animation is still tops mostly, just obviously not mainstream and mostly shorts.

megladon8

08-31-2008, 11:10 PM

Whenever I watch Fantasia I am reminded at just how far theatrical animation in the west has fallen, or has failed to progress since. The artistry of this film is unmatched in the west.

Sorry, this isn't correct.

Seems like you're limiting your idea of "western animation" to Disney/Pixar/DreamWorks.

Asia isn't better at everything, you know :P

D_Davis

08-31-2008, 11:15 PM

I misspoke. Substitute "American" for "Western." Because there are many examples of great Western animation outside of America. Just bad choice of words!

Man, I would love to see Disney return to those kinds of 2D animated films again. I love how stuff like Fantasia and Sleeping Beauty have a dark and sinister edge to them.

D_Davis

08-31-2008, 11:27 PM

Yeah, classifying Tetsuo as a villain is kind of problematic, as he is just as much a victim of circumstances and he is manipulated into his actions by forces more sinister than he.

You're right though, the lines between "good" and "bad" are not so clearly defined in many Japanese cartoons. Many of them have sympathetic antagonists, and anti-heroes.

If Tetsuo is a villain, is Kaneda really a hero? He's also a law-breaking thug caught up in a situation much bigger than he is.

The stories in these films are painted with more shades of gray than black and white.

I totally disagree with your classification of the voice actors though. Often times, I find the voice actors in American cartoons (especially the villains) to sound more like charactures rather than actual characters. They don't lack enthusiasm, they excel in nuance and subtlety.

Cool write ups though, good stuff!

Watashi

08-31-2008, 11:36 PM

I totally disagree with your classification of the voice actors though. Often times, I find the voice actors in American cartoons (especially the villains) to sound more like charactures rather than actual characters. They don't lack enthusiasm, they excel in nuance and subtlety.

Examples? I'm sure I agree with you and have left them off the list.

D_Davis

08-31-2008, 11:50 PM

megladon8

09-01-2008, 02:44 AM

For someone who has scorned several movies for being too serious and not having enough of a sense of humor, you seem to really have it in for Disney/Pixar because they have a sense of humor.

I don't think that this making villains goofy, and having a sense of maturity are mutually exclusive.

Look at Ratatouille - the themes here are very "adult" and sophisticated, but it plays to both the child and parent crowds.

Sven

09-01-2008, 04:18 AM

I totally bet Hexus is going to be on the list. Awesome.

number8

09-01-2008, 04:33 AM

Principal Mayzur better be #1.

D_Davis

09-01-2008, 05:05 AM

Principal Mayzur better be #1.

:lol:

Watashi

09-01-2008, 05:13 AM

Well, even your #14 choice, Yzma, feels more goofy than villainous. It feels like her antics are played more for laughs than for tension. Compare her to Maleficent (who is probably ranked quite high on your list), and you'll see what I mean.

Other examples can be found in Ursula, Jafar, Syndrome - really, a lot of stuff from Disney (Pixar) post Little Mermaid. I actually enjoy a lot of pre-Little Mermaid Disney stuff. There just seemed to be a level of maturity, thematic and artistic, in stuff like Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, The Fox and the Hound, and Fantasia that I find lacking in their more recent work. Perhaps a lot of this has to do with how they portrayed their villains, or evil, with a more serious and sinister tone. Or maybe it all has to do with the age I was when I first experienced those films - I don't know.

Well, Yzma is a goofy villain because The Emperor's New Groove is a goofy movie. I don't understand why a villain can't have a comedic edge to them. And no, Maleficent is not on my list. I'm not a fan of any of the older villain mainly because they are too serious and pretty one-note.

I think Alex (if he ever bothers to read this) could explain this better since we agree eye to eye on our stance compared to the older Disney stuff to the current.

I doubt it has to do with age. That seems pretty silly.

D_Davis

09-01-2008, 05:24 AM

I think Alex (if he ever bothers to read this) could explain this better since we agree eye to eye on our stance compared to the older Disney stuff to the current.

I'd rather not debate animation with you and Alex, as we seem to have polar opposite opinions of what makes a good cartoon good.

Plus, I'd rather just read what you have to say - it's your list, and I enjoy seeing what you come up with.

This thread has already reminded me to see one flick again -Nimh - and I am hoping it offers more!

I doubt it has to do with age. That seems pretty silly.

There are many things I liked as a kid that I don't as an adult, and some that I still do. The age at which things are first experienced tempers the reaction to similar things as an adult. Certain ages reflect certain points in life, and certain things that are in mind at these certain ages can lead one to experience things in different ways. I don't think this notion is silly at all. For instance, The Fox and the Hound is a very important film to me, for reasons extending beyond the film itself, and some of the reasons have to do with my life experience during that time.

Watashi

09-02-2008, 12:35 AM

-9-

FEATHERS McGRAW

http://img387.imageshack.us/img387/3863/feathersmcgrawuh3.jpg

Film:
Wallace & Gromit in The Wrong Trousers

Feathers McGraw on the run. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLmzfq3uZT0)

Feathers is a deadly mute penguin who is a con on the run who happens to be after Wallace and Gromit's latest contraption, the ex-NASA Techno Trousers. His plan is to use the Wallace-filled trousers to plan a heist within a museum filled with priceless diamonds. Feathers first appears not as the feared outlaw, but as a humble houseguest who gains Wallace's trust and let's him stay in Gromit's room. What makes him a great villain is what makes Gromit a great hero, Feathers doesn't express himself with spoken words, but his facial expressions and body language speak volumes. They are the perfect counterparts for each other (just as Victor Quartermaine was a great counterpart for Wallace). The train chase scene is one of the great final battle of the wits in which Gromit outsmarts Feathers while Wallace is expectedly dragged along.

Moment of Pure Villainy:

Few villains are sinister enough to fool an entire city by disguising themselves as a chicken by wearing a red rubber glove on their head. Feathers McGraw is a real criminal mastermind.

Derek

09-02-2008, 12:43 AM

[CENTER]-9-

FEATHERS McGRAW

Film:
Wallace & Gromit in The Wrong Trousers

Feathers McGraw on the run. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLmzfq3uZT0)

So much rep, though he should be even higher. The part where Gromit pulls out the rolling pin and Feathers whips out the gun kills me every time.

Spinal

09-02-2008, 12:58 AM

Another great choice.

Watashi

09-02-2008, 10:55 PM

-8-

PRINCE JOHN

http://img76.imageshack.us/img76/7273/princejohnyl5.jpg

Film:
Robin Hood

Voiced By:
Peter Ustinov

This crown gives me a feeling of power! *Power!* Forgive me a cruel chuckle. Heh-heh-heh. Power...

"Taxes! Ha-ha! Beautiful, Lovely Taxes! Ah-ha! Ah-ha!" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGzaqEtJCok&feature=related)

It may be quick to label Prince John a pure comedic villain, and in some labels, you'd be correct. However, PJ's cowardly presence isn't just his only type casted trait. He attacks people where it hurts most: their wallets. Greed is John's vice and he'll take every last farthing away from the citizens of Nottingham just so he can (in his words) "rob the poor and feed the rich". Peter Ustinov owns the role of Prince John giving one of my favorite vocal performances in all of animation. He plays the pathetic thumbsucker with a gleeful whip to his voice and his sudden outbursts of anger towards Hiss (who is practically Kaa whose animation was borrowed due to short-budget failures) are hysterical to observe. Just watch the video above. That will show you why PJ is a top ten villain for sure.

Moment of Pure Villainy:

Prince John will go any distance to capture Robin Hood even if it means locking up and hanging Friar Tuck, a man of the Church.

Winston*

09-02-2008, 11:05 PM

Hey Watashi, did Kaa ever appear on Talespin? I expect you to know these things.

Watashi

09-02-2008, 11:09 PM

I've never seen an episode of Tailspin.

I'm not some Disney freak, you know.

Sycophant

09-02-2008, 11:15 PM

Love the Prince John pick! Ustinov!

And I'm reasonably confident Kaa never appeared on TaleSpin, which Wats just misspelled even though Winston spelled it right.

Winston*

09-02-2008, 11:15 PM

Sorry, but I'm afraid I now must think less of you as a poster and a person. Much less.

Sycophant

09-02-2008, 11:18 PM

I'm not sure which one of us you're talking about.

Watashi

09-02-2008, 11:19 PM

Sorry, but I'm afraid I now must think less of you as a poster and a person. Much less.
I'll live.

Raiders

09-03-2008, 02:03 AM

Sorry, but I'm afraid I now must think less of you as a poster and a person. Much less.

As do I. "TaleSpin" was awesome. I think I'll Youtube the opening credits number right now.

D_Davis

09-03-2008, 02:20 AM

-9-

FEATHERS McGRAW

This is an awesome choice.

Wryan

09-03-2008, 04:03 PM

Good stuff so far. I remember as a child feeling distinctly...unwholesome...for having these strange, fuzzy feelings for the hot...fuzzy (foxy?)...princess Marian in Robin Hood.

D_Davis

09-03-2008, 04:05 PM

Good stuff so far. I remember as a child feeling distinctly...unwholesome...for having these strange, fuzzy feelings for the hot...fuzzy (foxy?)...princess Marian in Robin Hood.

Yiff!

Ezee E

09-03-2008, 04:29 PM

I seem to be thinking the opposite. The NIMH villain is the best one thus far.

The Fantasia one rocks though.

Teh Sausage

09-03-2008, 08:56 PM

[CENTER]-9-

FEATHERS McGRAW

Yay! Best animated penguin ever.

I've seen The Wrong Trousers so many times over the years, and the sequence in which Gromit spies on him through the cardboard box never fails to put me on the edge of my seat. I find it to be as suspenceful as some of Hitchcock's best moments, actually.

Watashi

09-04-2008, 06:12 AM

-7-

RATIGAN

http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/1027/ratiganmq5.jpg

Film:
The Great Mouse Detective

Voiced By:
Vincent Price

Bravo! Bravo! A marvelous performance! Although I was expecting you fifteen minutes earlier. Trouble with the chemistry set, old boy?

"Goodbye So Soon" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7RvtOLpAbs&feature=related)

First things first, I want, nay, NEED "Goodbye So Soon" as my ringtone. My future depends on it. It is one of Price's finest moments. Speaking of Price, is he ever so awesome in this role? Obviously as a kid, I had no idea who Vincent Price was but I as a grew older, The Great Mouse Detective led me to his other films and I'm glad it did. Ratigan is the self-proclaimed world's greatest criminal mind. He is devilishly prudish and tip-toes around in delicate manner. Professor Ratigan tries to hide his rat origins through his flamboyant mannerisms, but once brought down to reality, he can be quite vicious seen in the terrific Big Ben climax scene.

Moment of Pure Villainy:

It's hard to single out a villainous scene, but having his own "pet" cat Felicia who answers to a quick ring of a bell to devour his enemies is quite gruesome and entertaining in the same.

Sycophant

09-04-2008, 06:45 PM

Ratigan is the essence of villainy. More rep for you, sir!

And "Good-bye So Soon" is the highlight of eighties Disney.

number8

09-04-2008, 06:49 PM

Still no Mayzur.

Watashi

09-04-2008, 07:28 PM

Still no Mayzur.
He has like one scene.

Not a villain.

Watashi

09-06-2008, 06:58 AM

-6-

OOGIE BOOGIE

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/8582/oogieboogietw2.jpg

Film:
The Nightmare Before Christmas

Voiced By:
Ken Page

Are you a gambling man, Santa?

The Oogie Boogie Song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yw0aoVpFCDw)

Only Tim Burton could conceive something disgusting and diabolical like a giant potato-sack man filled with all assortments of bugs and crawlers and pass it off in a kid's film. Oogie Boogie (aka The Shadow on the Moon at Night) is a bit of a sadist who gambles with people's lives and tortures them in his underground casino from hell. In a place called Halloween Town, you have to be pretty damn evil to be the most feared individual there. Of course the main reason Oogie reigns supreme is in the voice. Oogie's design is heavily inspired by Cab Calloway and "The Oogie Boogie Song" is a direct homage to Calloway's song "Minnie the Moocher". Ken Page's recording must have been awesome to view as he puts every bit of life into this heaping sack of nothingness.

Moment of Pure Villainy:

It's kinda hard to argue with the whole kidnapping Santa Claus and then torturing him. I mean, that's like punching Jesus in the face.

Watashi

09-09-2008, 07:01 AM

-5-

SCAR

http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/2530/scarpp2.jpg

Film:
The Lion King

Voiced By:
Jeremy Irons

"Long live the king!

Be Prepared (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZrQpjVPYMI&feature=related)

Yeah, everyone loves Scar. He's Disney's most popular villain and often regarded as one of the best villains ever. Maybe it's his Machiavellian way of playing the Claudius role in Hamlet working both parties to his advantage. It's not common that you have a Disney character resemble a Shakespearean Hitler voiced by deliciously evil Jeremy Irons. He's easily what makes The Lion King watchable doing what every great villain should do and that's to steal the scene away from the hero. He is ruthless, calculating, and devious, all the while feigning concern for Simba's safety. His number "Be Prepared" is a homage to "Triumph of the Will" showcasing his narcissistic dictatorship upon his hyena armada (the lyrics go "Meticulous planning, tenacity spanning - decades of denial is simply why I'll be King undisputed, respected, saluted and seen for the wonder I am"). Oh yeah, and he killed Mufasa and made millions of kids cry.

Moment of Pure Villainy:

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/8624/scarintrueformdv8.jpg

Philosophe_rouge

09-09-2008, 08:50 AM

Jeremy Irons has the sexiest voice ever... sexiest voice I can think of at least... oh my god.... so amazing.

And yes, Scar is well deserved as a villain. Awesome-ness indeed.

Scar

09-09-2008, 02:32 PM

Yeah, everyone loves Scar.

Gotta love me!

Sycophant

09-09-2008, 08:24 PM

Scar: Awesome.

Oogie Boogie: Meh. Interesting design but a poorly developed character. Just like the movie he comes from.

Russ

09-11-2008, 03:01 AM

Only 4 spots left? You're going to be leaving out some pretty good villains..

Russ

09-15-2008, 07:46 PM

bump-a-rooni

Watashi

09-15-2008, 08:11 PM

Yeah, I'll finish this. Been kinda tired this weekend.

Mara

09-15-2008, 11:18 PM

Some awesome entries, particularly Ratigan (who is sort of better than the whole rest of the film combined), Yzma, and the Penguin. ("Wait a minute! You're not a chicken!")

Watashi

09-24-2008, 05:11 PM

-4-

RAMESES

http://img362.imageshack.us/img362/9303/ramesesso6.jpg

Film:
The Prince of Egypt

Voiced By:
Ralph Fiennes

"I will not be dictated to, I will not be threatened. I am the morning and evening star, I am Pharaoh!

The Plagues (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oX-Kcx2BAc)

Rameses is a tough nut to crack. In The Prince of Egypt, he's not uber-villainy during his Old Testament days, but more of sympathetic overachiever who just wanted the throne over Egypt more than anything. DreamWorks took a different biblical route and explored the labyrinthine brotherly relationship between him and Moses. There are two sides of the same coin, but of course, like the story goes, God can only be on one side as he opens up his can of wonders all over Pharaoh's people. It's in Rameses' thirst for conquest and condescending behavior that makes him the true villain of the picture ruling his land by his father's hand at his throat instead of his own judgment.

Moment of Pure Villainy:

Rameses lets his rage take control over him and hunts down the released people of Egypt to slaughter them all only for God to smite his ass back to Hell.

Watashi

09-24-2008, 05:34 PM

-3-

SYNDROME

http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/3721/syndromemb0.jpg

Film:
The Incredibles

Voiced By:
Jason Lee

"You sly dog, you caught me monologuing!

"It's bigger, it's badder... Ladies and Gentlemen, it's too much for Mr. Incredible! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBIMQxsJb_s)

Syndrome is the type of villain I can see someone like megladon or number8 growing up to be. When they find out that their precious idol Batman isn't the superhero they followed and cherished, they'll focus on destroying him and become an ultra-geeky villain. When it comes down to villain motives, Syndrome doesn't strive on revenge, insanity, or tragedy, but just plain ole jealousy. Syndrome excels beyond your ordinary power-hungry villain because he feel destined to prove that superpowers don't make someone super. A noble idea, but supreme knowledge and power in a hateful mind will only cause more mayhem than intended. His global plan of making "everyone super so that no one is" represents his selfish need for proving himself worthy in an unworthy world by lowering down the playing field to his sub-standard level. He's a greedy, misogynistic, uncontrollable bastard, and he also has a really weird hairdo.

Moment of Pure Villainy:

Syndrome dispatches two missiles towards Mr. Incredible's family on a nearby jet. Even full knowing of children on board, Syndrome just leans back and grins as he watches Mr. Incredibles struggle and plead for sympathy.

Watashi

09-24-2008, 05:42 PM

-2-

JUDGE CLAUDE FROLLO

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa125/Wats_and_Alex/HunchbackofNotreDame-Hellfire.jpg

Film:
The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Voiced By:
Tony Jay

"Destroy Esmeralda
And let her taste the fires of hell
Or else let her be mine and mine alone"

Hellfire (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRO-M4XyAbM)

If you've ever picked up Victor Hugo's The Hunchback of Notre Dame, you know that it has some pretty dark and disturbing shit. For directors Kirk Wise and Gary Trousdale, Disnefying the source material to appeal to a G-rated crowd had to be the most challenging feat for the Walt Disney animation studio yet. The changes were significant and a selective amount of critics referred to it as heresy against Hugo's great work. The hardest character to translate into a Disney-friendly universe was the Archdeacon Frollo (who is now a Judge). Most adaptations actually portray Frollo in a sympathetic and positive light and not in a villainous rage that Wise and Trousdale portray him as. To be honest, I am not one who throws their arms up in the air over bastardizations and changes from the novel to film. Most time changes are necessary, because works on page, might not work on film. If it's one thing that the filmmakers got right that would make Hugo's corpse rot in approval, was the emotionally complex portrayal of Frollo's torn sexual desires and urges. The power of lust flows strongly through Frollo's veins as he begs out to Mother Mary to destroy the one he fetishes over unless she will conform to his pleasings.

Moment of Pure Villainy:

Um, the entire Hellfire sequence. The cute talking gargoyles may entertain the kiddies, but Disney has never provided a darker backdrop and tackled issues quite like Frollo engulfed eruptive fireplace praying to let Esmeralda be his or burn at the pyre.

Ezee E

09-24-2008, 05:51 PM

Not ending well.

Watashi

09-24-2008, 05:56 PM

-1-

KENT MANSELY

http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/16/kentmansleyup2.jpg

Film:
The Iron Giant

Voiced By:
Christopher MacDonald

"What am I talking about? I'm talking about your goldarned security, Hogarth! While you're snoozing in your widdle jammies, back in Washington we're wide awake and worried! Why? Because everyone wants what we have, Hogarth! Everyone! You think this metal man is fun, but who built it? The Russians? The Chinese? Martians? Canadians? I don't care! All I know is we didn't build it, and that's reason enough to assume the worst and blow it to kingdom come! Now, you are going to tell me about this thing, you are going to lead me to it, and we are going to destroy it before it destroys us! "

Hellfire (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRO-M4XyAbM)

Goddammit, I fucking hate Kent Mansley. Such a bastard. If there was one villain I would want to kick in the face over and over, it would be this coward. At least someone like Ratigan or Oogie Boogie could sing a jingle, but Mansley too much of a wuss to have his own theme song. He's too evil to deserve one. He's over-impetuous and amazingly petty. He doesn't care how the job gets done, as long people know that it was him doing it... even if this means destroying an entire town of innocent people. No one likes him. Not even his own government. It's in his cowardness that truly makes him despicable because he's not even man enough to go against a little helpless kid but instead has to hide behind his government papers.

Moment of Pure Villainy:

There's a lot, but the tipping point is his manic loss of control in destroying the giant well-knowing that a kid is in harm's way. Even Guantanamo Bay couldn't hold this pathetic waste of filth.

Watashi

09-24-2008, 05:57 PM

I finished it.

I told you I would.

Watashi

09-24-2008, 05:57 PM

Not ending well.
Dude, you wouldn't know a great animated movie even if Walt Disney rose from the dead to present you one.

Sven

09-24-2008, 06:04 PM

Mansley, really? Dude was just a product of a paranoid ideology. It's not like he was corrupt or anything.

Hunchback suuuuuuuuucks. Rollo is imposing for about twenty seconds, then it becomes a schtick.

Syndrome is treated unfairly by the filmmakers.

Worst top 3 ever?

:) I'm glad you finished the list.

Watashi

09-24-2008, 06:05 PM

Dead & Messed Up

09-24-2008, 06:10 PM

Kinda bummed by the absence of Stromboli, Gaston, and Maleficent, but there are some good choices in here, and one - Feathers McGraw - that makes the list worthwhile and fun.

Watashi

09-24-2008, 06:12 PM

Kinda bummed by the absence of Stromboli, Gaston, and Maleficent, but there are some good choices in here, and one - Feathers McGraw - that makes the list worthwhile and fun.
Heh. Nearly 90% of the rep I received for this list was for the Feathers McGraw selection.

Man, Match Cut is becoming SO predictable.

Watashi

09-24-2008, 06:14 PM

You can now post your own, iosos.

Watashi

09-24-2008, 06:17 PM

Honorable Mentions:

Ursula (The Little Mermaid)
The Blue Meanie (Yellow Submarine)
Sharptooth (The Land Before Time)
Randall Boggs (Monster's Inc.)
Hexxus (Ferngully)*

*Only for the song "Toxic Love". Tim Curry kicks ass.

Derek

09-24-2008, 06:22 PM

Man, Match Cut is becoming SO predictable.

Says the Wats whose list ends with a Brad Bird villain at #1 and 3. :)

Watashi

09-24-2008, 06:24 PM

Well, yeah. Of course I'm biased. :twisted:

You expected something different?

Watashi

09-24-2008, 06:26 PM

I'm already working on my next list and judging by the fire tossed around in this thread, Match Cut is going to have a ball with my next one.

Derek and Spinal will probably have heart attacks.

Ezee E

09-24-2008, 06:37 PM

Says the Wats whose list ends with a Brad Bird villain at #1 and 3. :)
Too much rep given today. Bummer.

I'll get behind the Sharptooth pick.

I'm a big fan of The Iron Giant and all, but there's hardly anything I remember about that villain. He's a very boring villain actually.

Bring on the next list.

Sven

09-24-2008, 06:39 PM

I'm already working on my next list and judging by the fire tossed around in this thread, Match Cut is going to have a ball with my next one.

Derek and Spinal will probably have heart attacks.

Top Characters That You Hate?

Watashi

09-24-2008, 06:42 PM

Top Characters That You Hate?
I hate a surprising amount of characters. Though a lot characters I hate are ones that people here will probably love.

Watashi

09-24-2008, 06:43 PM

Also, no props for my Toxic Love shout out? :sad:

Wryan

09-24-2008, 07:52 PM

MacDonald did a great job with Mansley. Love that movie.

bac0n

09-24-2008, 09:00 PM

Man, I can't believe you left out Lady Tremaine, the benchmark of petty cruelty. :crazy:

You need to watch Cinderella again.

Wryan

09-24-2008, 09:28 PM

http://www.channel4.com/film/media/film/4x/G/grave_of_fireflies_xl_01.jpg

Runner-up Villain: War.

Also, his hat.

Russ

09-24-2008, 09:32 PM

Wait, whaaat?? Where the fuck's Cruella De Vil?

Oh, I forgot...this was Watashi's Favorite Villians in Animation of the last 20 years.

Watashi

09-24-2008, 09:53 PM

Wait, whaaat?? Where the fuck's Cruella De Vil?

Oh, I forgot...this was Watashi's Favorite Villians in Animation of the last 20 years.

Meh.

Not a fan of her or the movie. I like villains of ye old, but mostly as time ages, the more villains become interesting and not one-note fairy tale driven evil-for-evils-sake.

Sven

09-24-2008, 10:29 PM

Not a fan of her or the movie. I like villains of ye old, but mostly as time ages, the more villains become interesting and not one-note fairy tale driven evil-for-evils-sake.

Obtuservation.

Raiders

09-25-2008, 01:31 AM

I'll step up and say the Mansley choice is a good one. He may not top such a list of my own, but he's an awesome antagonist (villain does seem a little strong).

Fezzik

09-25-2008, 02:40 AM

Kinda bummed by the absence of Stromboli, Gaston, and Maleficent, but there are some good choices in here, and one - Feathers McGraw - that makes the list worthwhile and fun.

I agree. Three of the first four I thought of were Stromboli, Gaston and Maleficent (Scar was the other).

Gaston is an underrated villain because, well, he's just a normal human guy...sure, he's spurred on by petty jealousies and vengeful anger, and he's ignorant (which actually makes him a better villain, imo), but he is just a regular guy.

Maleficent needs to be on any list of top villains. So many have tried to copy her cold, calculating, uncaring personality and, well, failed miserably.