The Disney animated film has entertained children and adults alike for almost a century. What makes these films compelling are their characters. From damsels in distress, sequestered princesses, to a prince charming in a quest to rescue the object of his affection, these tales leave audiences with a smile on their faces after spectating a happily ever after. There is also another group of characters that engage audiences for an entirely different reason–the villains. From evil stepmothers, magical sorcerers, to simply characters fueled by jealousy and anger, Disney’s animated villains tend to drive their tales as much as the heroes. Here are the most evil villains in Disney animated films, ranked.
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9 The Evil Queen - Snow White
RKO Radio Pictures
Disney’s first villain, the evil Queen and stepmother, does everything in her power to ensure that she’s the fairest of them all, from dressing Snow White in rags to keeping her constantly overworked. Nevertheless, Snow White’s optimism makes her radiance and natural beauty shine–this unleashes the evil stepmother’s wrath. From trying to have Snow White murdered through a loyal servant to finally trying to enact the deed herself–this villain stops at nothing to achieve her ultimate goal, resulting in her own demise at the hands of mother nature.
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8 Lady Tremaine - Cinderella
While not murderous like her Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs counterpart, Lady Tremaine is evil in her own right. From relegating Cinderella to a servant, bargaining to let Cinderella go to the ball under false pretenses, allowing her daughters to destroy Cinderella’s original gown for the ball, to lastly, imprisoning Cinderella inside her room to stop her from revealing her identity to the Duke; Lady Tremaine takes each and every opportunity to humiliate and repress her step-daughter.
7 Scar - The Lion King
Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
What makes Scar so horrifying is that his deeds are all directed at his family. From plotting Mufasa and Simba’s demise, guilt-tripping Simba into abandoning The Pride Lands, to finally, enslaving the entire kingdom to service his own deal with the hyenas–Scar is despicable from beginning to end. Most disturbing is his lack of remorse throughout any of his actions, notably witnessing his own brother’s death.
6 Sid - Toy Story
Sid is so terrifying because he’s merely a child, but this doesn’t lessen his maniacal tendencies. From slowly dismembering his toys to concocting disturbing ways to end their existences, Sid takes great joy in the idea of destruction, not once considering repercussions for his actions. Sid is a troubled youth well on his way to becoming a criminal.
5 Mother Gothel - Tangled
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Mother Gothel is driven by her narcissism, notably her fear of aging. Gothel believes she has the key to eternal youth when discovering a sunlit flower with healing powers that reverse aging–but unfortunately for her, so do the royal guards for a neighboring kingdom. When the pregnant queen consumes the flower, her baby inherits the flower’s magical abilities, giving Gothel a truly wicked idea: kidnap the baby and exploit her powers. Gothel succeeds in her master plan and for 18 years, keeps Rapunzel locked away. Kidnapping aside, Gothel is despicable for her general treatment towards Rapunzel. She manipulates Rapunzel into believing the world is dangerous, hinders her from making any real human connections, and resorts to attempted murder in order to keep Rapunzel by her side. Mother Gothel is a master of gaslighting, earning her place as Disney’s most vile guardian.
4 Syndrome-The Incredibles
Syndrome is one of Disney’s most sympathetic characters, falling more into the category of anti-hero. Unlike many Disney villains, Syndrome actually starts off as a regular person, a tech genius obsessed with Mr. Incredible. When Mr.Incredible dismisses Syndrome during their first meet, Syndrome develops a bitter disposition towards superheroes and humans alike, leading him to spend years plotting a way to take over the world. While Syndrome causes a great deal of damage in his wake, he is ultimately a flawed individual who just longs to be accepted by someone.
3 Hans - Frozen
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Hans is a prime example of hypocrisy. He presents himself as virtually flawless, taking an immediate interest in Anna, saying all the right things to sweep her off her feet, and demonstrates an overall supportive nature towards the neglected princess of Arendelle. Of course, Hans is too good to be true, taking his opportunity to try and dethrone Elsa while leaving Anna to succumb to an icy demise. Fortunately, love overcomes Hans’ wicked plans, and he receives his due punishment. Regardless, it’s heartbreaking to see Hans manipulate Anna’s hopeless romantic spirit.
2 Gaston - Beauty and the Beast
Gaston isn’t just a narcissist; he is a full-fledged predator. Throughout his entire time onscreen, Gaston is driven to fulfill his need for validation by enamoring Belle at all costs. When Belle rejects him, Gaston decides to force Belle into accepting his marriage proposal, even if that means imprisoning her father, Maurice, as blackmail. What is most disturbing about Gaston is his parallels to countless real-life people who refuse to respect others decisions.
1 Claude Frollo - The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Claude Frollo is inarguably Disney’s most despicable villain. From leading a persecution for ages against the gypsies, murdering under the guise of maintaining order in Paris, to his salacious pursuit of Esmeralda, Claude Frollo is a living nightmare for anyone who crosses his path. Yet, Frollo’s greatest misdeed is his treatment towards Quasimodo, whom he abuses relentlessly for over 20 years. From murdering Quasimodo’s mother, raising Quasimodo to believe he is unworthy of love due to his appearance, to generally degrading Quasimodo for sport, Frollo demonstrates that evil comes in any shape of form, and frequently hides behind a facade of self-righteousness.
