Animationis a genre with the unique opportunity to create fantastically terrifying villains because there are so few limitations on what the medium can visually achieve.The 1980s were a pivotal time for animated movies,as new technologies were broadening the horizons of what studios and creative teams were capable of. Some of the best animated fantasy films of the 20th century were made in the ’80s, and a work of fiction is only as good as its villain. Balancing out the hero and often providing comic relief, the antagonists of these films often stole the show.
The mark of a good villain is one that’s nuanced and complex.
Every evil Disney villainis fondly remembered by audiences who grew up watching animation movies from the iconic studio. However, it’s not just Disney villains that stand apart within animation. The mark of a good villain is one that’s nuanced and complex. They can be evil and easy to hate, but they’re even more compelling when they have deeper motivations and an intelligence that draws the viewer in. While the hero is who the audience is rooting for,a villain with no charisma and an unattractive personality won’t connect with anyone.
10Ratigan - The Great Mouse Detective (1986)
Voiced by Vincent Price
The Great Mouse Detectiveis one of Disney’s more underrated animated films from the Disney Dark Ages, which included the projects the studio produced between 1981 and 1988 (viaBFI). Though the quality ofThe Great Mouse Detectivewas just as high as the company’s later work,The Great Mouse Detectivehad darker elements and didn’t follow a fairy tale.Based on the children’s book seriesBasil of Baker Street, the film saw its protagonist match wits with the fearsome Ratigan.
Though heinous and power-hungry, Ratigan is also clever and charming in his own, slightly sleazy way.
Drawing inspiration from the works ofSherlock Holmes,the detective, Basil, works to stop Ratigan from creating an artificial Queen out of clockwork so that he can rule the mouse world.Though heinous and power-hungry, Ratigan is also clever and charming in his own, slightly sleazy way. Ratigan’s convoluted plots and dastardly tricks keep the audience guessing until the end. Additionally, Vincent Price’s voicework makes it easy to start rooting for Ratigan to get even more screen time.
The Great Mouse Detective
Cast
The Great Mouse Detective is an animated adventure film directed by Ron Clements and Burny Mattinson. Released in 1986, the film follows the ingenious mouse detective Basil of Baker Street, who is on a mission to thwart the schemes of the villainous Ratigan. Set in Victorian London, the story includes iconic supporting characters such as Basil’s companion Dr. Dawson and the kidnapped toy maker Hiram Flaversham’s daughter Olivia.
9Ursula - The Little Mermaid (1989)
Voiced by Pat Carroll
ThoughMelissa McCarthy’s portrayal of Ursula in the live-actionThe Little Mermaidbrought the villain to life brilliantly for modern audiences, nothing will beat the original work of Par Carroll.Carroll’s iconic performance as Ursula is one of the most memorable and dynamic parts ofThe Little Mermaid,providing an excellent foil to Ariel’s youth and innocence. Ursula is interesting because she’s smart and knows how to use Ariel’s ignorance to her advantage. Additionally, she has a fantastic villain song in “Poor Unfortunate Souls.”
The Little Mermaidwas a turning point for Disney, as the project marked the beginning of the Disney Renaissanceand the long string of smash hits for the studio. Though the central thrust of the story is about the love blossoming between Ariel and Eric, there would be little conflict or stakes without Ursula, who embodies the funny and charismatic villains that Disney would become known for. From her character design to her motivations, Ursula is a multi-dimensional and hilarious antagonist.
The Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid is an animated fantasy film that follows the tale of Ariel, a mermaid princess who dreams of life on land. She falls in love with Prince Eric and makes a daring pact with the sea witch Ursula to become human, risking everything for love.
15 Most Evil Disney Villain Plans, Ranked
Disney villains including Scar, Madame Medusa, Mother Gothel, Gaston, and more come up with some of the most evil plans in Disney movie history.
8Megatron - The Transformers: The Movie (1986)
Voiced by Frank Welker
Before Michael Bay started the live-actionTransformersfilm series in 2007, the beloved toys were adapted into the animatedThe Transformers: The Movie. When the movie was first released in the mid-’80s, the project made some risky choices in changing and expanding upon the existing lore from the TV series. However,the animation style and performances from the voice actors have helped the film gain recognitionin the years since it premiered. Frank Weller plays Megatron, the leader of the Decepticons, who gets involved with the terrifying Unicron.
Many great stars lent their voices toThe Transformers: The Moviein 1986, including Orson Welles as Unicron, Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime, and Leonard Nimoy as Galvatron.
Many great stars lent their voices toThe Transformers: The Moviein 1986, including Orson Welles as Unicron, Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime, and Leonard Nimoy as Galvatron. Though Megatron is a recurring villain in theTransformersuniverse, he’s particularly compelling in this movie, becausehe’s betrayed by his fellow Decepticons and forced into an alliance with Unicron.His tragic arc in the story and inability to defeat the Autobots fuels his development and his later transformation into the overpowered Galvatron.
7Jenner - The Secret of Nihm (1982)
Voiced by Paul Shenar
Animals are given incredible powers and intelligence inThe Secret of Nimh, a fantasy adventure moviethat sees the mouse Mrs. Brisby embark on an epic quest to save her family. Searching for a way to protect her son and transport him somewhere safe, Mrs. Brisby seeks the help of a group of rats who were part of an experiment, giving them human-like abilities and judgment. Their leader, Nicodemus, has access to magic and power, while the scheming Jenner attempts to undermine his plan to help the Brisbys.
Jenner is so power-hungry that he’s willing to undermine everything Nicodemus has worked for and resorts to intense violence in the final act of the film. He’s desperate for the amulet given to Mrs. Brisby that gives its wearer strength in times of crisis.Paul Shenar makes a great Jenner,as his performance is reminiscent of classic old Hollywood villains. Additionally, the visuals ofThe Secret of Nimhset the movie apart from other works of fantasy from the time, as the set design is gorgeous and immersive.
6King Haggard - The Last Unicorn (1982)
Voiced by Christopher Lee
The Last Unicornis a greatanimated fantasy movie that most audiences haven’t seen, which is a shame considering how beautiful the animation style is. Additionally,the Unicorn might be a mythical creature, but her story is one that most viewers can relate toas she seeks out others of her kind after feeling alone. In her journey, she comes to realize that unicorns have been captured and forced into a singular corner of the realm because King Haggard wants their beauty all to himself.
The audience learns a lot about humanity and the importance of feeling both joy and pain through the Unicorn’s experience inThe Last Unicorn.
The audience learns a lot about humanity and the importance of feeling both joy and pain through the Unicorn’s experience inThe Last Unicorn. Encountering many people who would use her magic and majesty to their advantage, it’s incredibly special when the Unicorn finds someone she can trust.King Haggard is the reason the Unicorn begins the plot lost and alonein the world, as he thinks only of himself. He’s a classic example of a wizened and cruel king who hurts their own kingdom with their shortsightedness.
The Last Unicorn
The terrible King Haggard plots to destroy all the unicorns in the world, but a young unicorn discovers that she is in danger and could soon be the last of her kind. She leaves the safety of her forest and enlists the help of Schmendrick, a kind but clumsy wizard. Together, they embark on a long and dangerous journey with one goal: to defeat Haggard and save the unicorns from extinction.
5The Horned King - The Black Cauldron (1985)
Voiced by John Hurt
ThoughThe Black Cauldronwas a notorious flop for Disney,it’s become something of a cult classic in the years since its release.One of the best-remembered parts of the movie is how unabashedly dark the story and visuals are and how the set pieces and character designs were so unique. The Horned King, the antagonist who Taran must defeat, is a horrifying monster who lives in a haunted castle. Every scene featuring the Horned King marks an immediate tone shift in the story and demonstrates how high the stakes are for Taran.
IfDisney remakesThe Black Cauldron,it would have the opportunity to take all the elements from the 1985 film that work and blend them into a story that’s more understandable for audiences. Thoughthe Horned King is intimidating and stylistically terrifying,he doesn’t have enough to do during the story. This is the problem with many of the characters in the film. However,The Black Cauldronhas the bones of a great movie, and an amazing villain is an important building block for this.
The Black Cauldron
The Black Cauldron is an animated fantasy film from Walt Disney Studios, directed by Ted Berman and Richard Rich. Released in 1985, it follows the young hero Taran and his quest to prevent the evil Horned King from obtaining a powerful magical relic known as the Black Cauldron. Featuring the voices of Grant Bardsley, Susan Sheridan, and John Hurt, the film combines elements of adventure, mystery, and dark fantasy.
4Amos - The Fox And The Hound (1981)
Voiced by Jack Albertson
Amos is one of the most nuanced villains in any animated movie, asthough he’s characterized as the force that’s keeping Tod and Cooper apart; he’s just as much a victim of his nature as anyone else.The Fox and the Houndgrapples with whether a fox and a hunting dog can be friends and maintain their affection for each other, even though the world puts them at odds. As Cooper’s owner, Amos sees foxes as a threat to his livelihood and trains Cooper to be a proper hound who hunts foxes.
Amos isn’t a bad man, just someone who is set in their ways and sees the world through a particular lens.
Amos isn’t a bad man, just someone who is set in their ways and sees the world through a particular lens. By the end of the film, though the estrangement between Tod and Cooper is heartbreaking, the audience can’t solely blame Amos. Many other circumstances lead to Tod and Amos becoming different individuals as they age, and external factors can’t be kept out of their relationship forever. At the end of the movie,Amos can recognize that his prejudice about foxes isn’t enough of a reason to hunt Tod down.
The Fox and the Hound
Dodo is an orphaned fox who was adopted by a lady after her mother was killed by a hunter. She grows up alongside Toby, a hound puppy, and the two become great friends. The problem is their different natures: one is a hunter and the other is supposed to be the prey.
3Carface - All Dogs Go To Heaven (1989)
Voiced by Vic Tayback
All Dogs Go to Heavenis well known for being an emotionally poignant and surprisingly intenseanimated children’s film. Following the story of the German Shepherd Charlie, voiced by Burt Reynolds,All Dogs Go to Heavenbegins with Charlie’s death. He’s betrayed by his double-dealing business partner, Carface, and is sent to heaven. However, Charlie finds a way to get back to Earth to take his revenge on Carface but ends up healing his soul in the process.
All Dogs Go to Heavenis defined by its darker elements, like references and imagery of hell, as well as plenty of violence and death. It’s difficult to finish the film with a dry eye, asCarface’s actions consistently threaten the bond between Charlie and his newfound human companion,Anne-Marie. Carface is genuinely scary and wants to see the protagonists hurt. He crosses lines that animated films usually don’t. His determination to be bad is juxtaposed nicely with Charlie’s journey to become a better dog.
All Dogs Go to Heaven
All Dogs Go to Heaven is an animated film directed by Don Bluth. Released in 1989, it follows the story of Charlie B. Barkin, a German Shepherd who returns to Earth from Heaven and embarks on a journey marked by redemption and friendship. The movie features the voices of Burt Reynolds, Dom DeLuise, and Judith Barsi, delivering a poignant tale set against the backdrop of 1930s New Orleans.
2Bill Sykes - Oliver & Company (1988)
Voiced by Robert Loggia
It’s not surprising that a villain originally written by Charles Dickens would be a thrilling part of the animal adventureOliver & Company. Loosely based on Dickens' novelOliver Twist,Oliver & Companytransforms many of its characters into animals, including Oliver, the young cat who falls in with a band of con-artist animals with hearts of gold. However,Bill Sykes is still a human, and a cruel one at that,within the story. His eventual downfall is one of the most satisfying parts of the film.
WhileOliver & Companyisn’t as dark as the source material, the story pushes the boundaries of children’s animation with Sykes' character.
When an imposing human man has it out for a sweet and innocent cat like Oliver, it’s not difficult to immediately be on Oliver’s side and see through Sykes' plots. While Sykes is a threatening and vicious force throughout the movie,he becomes truly terrible when he kidnaps Jenny, a young girl who adopts Oliver,for the sake of his greed. WhileOliver & Companyisn’t as dark as the source material, the story pushes the boundaries of children’s animation with Sykes' character.
Oliver & Company
Oliver & Company is an animated film directed by George Scribner. It reimagines Charles Dickens' classic tale with Oliver as an orphaned kitten navigating New York City. He joins a group of dogs led by a criminal and encounters a wealthy girl named Jenny, which alters his life.
1Nekron & Juliana - Fire And Ice (1983)
Voiced by Stephen Mendel & Susan Tyrell
The lesser-known fantasy filmFire and Iceis part of the adult animation genre, which hadn’t taken off with much popularity in the early 1980s. Directed by Ralph Bakshi,Fire and Iceused rotoscoping, which is a process that transforms live-action footage into animation.It’s an interesting technique that isn’t used as much today but was considered highly innovative at the time. The story follows a conflict between the titular elements of ice and fire as the ice villains, Nekron, and his mother, Juliana, send glaciers to trap the fire forces.
There are many aspects ofFire and Icethat are dated, and the plot isn’t the most innovative within the fantasy genre. However, it’s visually compelling, and the antagonists are forces to be reckoned with. While Teegra and Larn, the heroes, fall into predictable tropes and are standard protagonists, Nekron and Juliana are more interesting than standardanimatedvillains. Though their motivations are to rule the world,their ice magic is captivating, and their characterization is similar to some of the great comic book antagonists.
Fire and Ice
Fire and Ice is a high fantasy animated film directed by Ralph Bakshi, released in 1983. The story centers on the eternal struggle between the powerful and villainous Ice Lord, Nekron, and the benevolent Fire King, Jarol. The film features a quest for survival and justice in a world plagued by dark magic and epic battles, bringing together warriors and unlikely heroes to fight against the forces of evil.
