The 1990s were a great decade for animated movies, with some of the most memorable animated villains of all time. The1990s saw the Disney renaissance, with movies likeAladdin, Beauty and the BeastandThe Lion Kingproducing great villains to rival the studio’s old classics. Pixar produced their first feature-length animated movies in the 1990s too, and Studio Ghibli added some more classics to their impressive filmography.
Like any live-action villain, a good animated villain needs to be designed to push the protagonists in interesting ways. They often represent the dark side of the heroes or a larger evil they are trying to vanquish. However, the medium of animation means that these villains are unique. Their physical characteristics and movement can be exaggerated to create more intimidating characters, and the performance of the voice actors is also vital in making a great villain.
10 Best Animated Movie Villains Of The 1980s
The 1980s was an exciting and innovative time for animation, and many movies increased the complexity & nuance of their central villains.
Sid may not be one of thebest Pixar villains, but he’s the perfect antagonist for the firstToy Storymovie. While Buzz and Woody spend most of the movie squabbling with one another over the prestige of being Andy’s favorite toy, Sid is a common enemy for them to unite against. He doesn’t know that the toys are sentient, so he isn’t really doing anything morally wrong, buthis bizarre experiments hint at some underlying malice within him. He also has the look of a villain, with the skull design on his T-shirt, and his permanent scowl across his face.
Donald Curtis is Porco’s main rival in the skies, and the only pilot in the Adriatic who can come close to matching his skills. His ego makes it hard for him to accept that Porco might be both a better pilot and a more attractive romantic prospect than him, especially since he is cursed to live with the head of a pig. Curtis is always talking about his future plans to become a Hollywood star and potentially taking a run at the White House, although he finds himself being second-best. Curtis eventually learns some humility and redeems himself after suffering a defeat at the hands of Porco.
Even though the firstSouth Parkmovie features both Saddam Hussein and Satan, Kyle’s mother is the true villain.South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncutis Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s response to the pearl-clutching, perpetually outraged critics who accuse their show of being too vulgar. Sheila Broflovski is so incensed by the profanity of Terrance and Philip that she is willing to start a war between Canada and the United States. Even when casualties start to mount and a portal to hell opens up, she believes that she is in the right. With Sheila, Parker and Stone predicted the outrage over their own movie.
20th Century Fox’s response to the Disney dominance of the 1990s also features a princess, a sprinkling of magic, and a despicable villain.Anastasiadoesn’t claim to be a faithful historical retelling of Russian history. This means that it has the freedom to exaggerate and embellish the characters, andthe dark caricature of Rasputin is one that borrows from the swirl of myths that have risen around the mysterious monk. This Rasputin is an evil sorcerer who looks like a zombie and lives in a palace made of bones. He’s an overblown vision of evil, but his humorous sidekick Bartok makes his scenes fun.
Hopper stands head and shoulders over the ants inA Bug’s Life,and he’s just as powerful as his intimidating frame makes him seem. Hopper has the ants firmly pressed under his thumb, forcing them to provide him with an endless supply of food, or else they will have to face his wrath.He has the look and feel of a stereotypical mob boss at times.Always flanked by his goons and only flexing his power when necessary, Hopper knows how to say a lot without doing much at all. Ultimately, he doesn’t look so big when the ants come together as a collective.
Gaston is one of the funniest Disney villains, but the things that make him hilarious are closely tied to the things which make him so detestable. He is extremely narcissistic, and he struggles to comprehend that a woman could ever be uninterested in him. His arrogance makes him look clueless, but his fragile ego also leads him to try and kill the Beast when he is rejected by Belle. Gaston represents everything that the Beast isn’t, so he’s a perfect antagonist. He is a conventionally attractive hero worshiped by the people around him, but he is utterly heartless, so he isn’t the man for Belle.
Ralph Fiennes is known for his portrayal of villains, from Voldemort in theHarry Potterfranchise to Amon Goeth inSchindler’s List. The Prince of Egyptshows that he can be just as intimidating in animated form. He plays Rameses, the adoptive brother of Moses who becomes Pharaoh of Egypt and proceeds to brutalize the enslaved Hebrews. Rameses refuses to free the slaves in Egypt, which brings about a series of plagues from God.Even when he sees blood raining down from the sky and locusts swarming over the city, Rameses is arrogant enough to stand his ground.
Ghost in the Shellis a masterpiece of adult-oriented animation. It’s an explosive action thriller that shares some of its visual and thematic flair withBlade Runner, as an investigator has to hunt down a suspect in a world where people’s identities can shift in an instant. The Puppet Master, as his name suggests, is pulling the strings for a long time, but he remains unseen. Ultimately, it’s revealed that he isn’t as he seems, and the villain ofGhost in the Shellturns out to be just another victim of an oppressive technocratic society that sells individuality while enforcing subservience.
Just like inE.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, The Iron Gianttells the story of a child who befriends an enigmatic alien, while the government tries to track them both down. The main difference is that the Giant is 50-feet tall and capable of mass destruction. In some ways, Kent Mansley is justified in wanting to control and contain the Giant, but this doesn’t excuse his actions. Mansley clearly has some issues with anger, and he lets his dedication to his task blind his judgment. In this way,he represents the collective paranoia of the Cold War years.
Stinky Pete is a great twist villain, because his betrayal doesn’t come out of nowhere.Toy Story 2lays the track for his villainous turn by showing his bitterness over never being a toy who never gets played with. If he has to drag his friends to the toy museum by force, then he sees this as mere collateral damage.Kelsey Grammar’s rough, deep voice is perfect for Stinky Pete, as he can transition from a gentle guardian to an intimidating antagonist in a split second. Stinky Pete and Lotso are the most compellingToy Storyvillains so far, butToy Story 5could change this.
