I have a confession to make. I have a soft spot for film and story villains. Unlike their real world counterparts, they almost always have an amazing sense of fashion. While other characters fade into the background, they seem to have an amazing flair for the dramatic. They always get the best lines and, in the end, they usually get to steal the spotlight as they go out in a blaze of glory.
It’s no mystery as to why Disney’s villains are some of my favorites. They meet all the above criteria and then some. Disney villain merchandise is some of the most popular, sought after Disney merchandise. If you’re wondering why some of us love these characters so much, it’s possible you’ve never been properly introduced to Disney’s rogue gallery. Who are these villainous characters?
Villain #1: Maleficent
Film: Sleeping Beauty
With green tinted skin and an odd, ethereal beauty, Maleficent gives The Wicked Witch of the West a run for her money in the race for the most memorable film villain of all time. Dramatic and terrifying, Maleficent remains the most popular of all the Disney villains 48 years after her big screen debut.
Villain #2: The Evil Queen
Film: Snow White & the Seven Dwarves
The Evil Queen becomes a mix of beauty and ugliness as she transforms herself from a beautiful queen to a hag in order to poison Snow White. Vain in her attempt to be the most beautiful woman in her kingdom, The Evil Queen represents that dark, ugly corner of ourselves that wants to be the best at what we do and how we look. With her purple flowing robes and dark shaded lips, the Evil Queen remains one of the most beautiful screen villains of all time.
Villain #3: Cruella De Vil
Film: 101 Dalmatians
One of the nastiest villains to ever grace the silver screen, Cruella remains the celluloid archnemesis of animal lovers everywhere. In order to make a luxury fur coat out of Dalmatian fur, she must kidnap her employee’s dogs. A double scoop of nasty for those who adore the cuteness of puppies.
Villain #4: Lady Tremaine
Film: Cinderella
The regal lady of the Tremaine household is the quintessential villainess of those who remain the underdog. Desperately wanting one of her daughters to marry the prince, she’ll stop at nothing to see that Cinderella remains no more than a housemaid at the Tremaine mansion.
Villain #5: Ursula
Film: The Little Mermaid
Ursula, the giant squid who convinces Ariel to give up her voice in order to have human legs, brings to mind the mob bosses of the trademark Hollywood Mafia film. Despite her nasty appearance, Ursula maintains the Disney Villain trademark for dramatic flair and even adds to the musical content of the film with her heartfelt song of complaint, “Poor Unfortunate Souls.”
Villain #6: Scar
Film: The Lion King
Scar is the fearsome lion of The Lion King voiced by Jeremy Irons. The younger brother of Mufasa, the Lion King, Scar has been biding his time until he can usurp the throne from his brother. In a nasty turn that leaves his young nephew, Simba, fraught with doubt, Scar steals the throne and guides his newly stolen kingdom into despair and chaos.
These are not the only Disney villains out there, but they are, in my opinion, the most memorable. Villains are what make the story interesting. They present the hero or heroine of the story with their conflict and thus, fill the film or story with action and suspense. Without them, the story is nothing more than a hour plus long waste of space.
Who is your favorite Disney villain? Did I overlook a certain villain that you feel is much more deserving of the praise? Let me know who you think is a great villain and why they fit the bill.
As always, you can find many of the films mentioned above at Amazon.com. Some of these films are, however, in the Disney vault. You can find more information on the Disney vault here.