Who is your favorite Disney villain?

[IagoZazu]

My villain list has been updated.

Favorite: Jafar, Scar, Cruella De Vil, Frollo, The Horned King, Clayton

Underrated: The Horned King, Gaston (he doesn't get that much attention for a Disney Villain from the Fab Four)

Overrated: Maleficent (still a great villainess, but just overly liked)

[Lazario]

If I start my list (I swear I've been in one of these Favorite Villains threads before; major-deja vu here) with villains that are my favorite because of attitude or amusingly-dispicable character attributes including how they dress or their voice or something like that, it should be noted that I personally think the women are the most fun. If my standards were more even, I might have to mention Jafar because he's the best of the femmy (or, "sophisticated," whichever label you prefer) male villains. Yet, with potential threats of self-hypocrasy, honesty is more important:

(all original animated films)

1. (as many already know, the villainess-heart that's mine to give belongs to) Madam Mim
2. Ursula
3. Maleficent
4. Cruella De( )Vil(le)
5. The Queen of Hearts
6. Willie the Giant
7. Prince John
8. The Evil Queen / Old Peddler Woman
9. Iago
10. The Heffalumps and Woozles
11. Shere Khan/Kahn
12. Creeper
13. Brom Bones
14. The Siamese Cats, Si and Am
15. The Wolf (Make Mine Music)

[Disney's Divinity]

...I personally think the women are the most fun.

Because they are.

Since I've done the lists before, I'll just follow the more recent pattern (for something new to do).

Favorite: Ursula, Lady Tremaine, Shan-Yu, Hades, Dr. Facilier
(Cruella, Mim, Yzma and Scar are lesser favorites)

Underrated: The Horned King, Ratigan

Overrated: Jafar, Frollo, Maleficent, The Evil Queen

Frollo and Maleficent definitely deserve a lot of their praise, but they do get a little overblown. Tony Jay and Eleanor Audley are largely the only reasons these characters are so good (with Maleficent’s beautifully intricate design and “Hellfire” also playing a part). Frollo in particular is often talked about as if he breaks the villain mold, but he’s as cardboard cutout as any of them. He has realistic intentions, but his animation (facial expressions, etc.) and dialogue seem incredibly over-the-top. So, not bad villains—and I do ike them—but overrated? Definitely. (Won't go into the Queen or Jafar--ugh)

[Lazario]

Since I've done the lists before, I'll just follow the more recent pattern.

Don't be a follower, be a leader.

Overrated: Jafar, Frollo, Maleficent, The Evil Queen

I think technically, you can't say Maleficent is overrated. Not, A: if you're citing favorites over what people are willing to state definitively as what they believe, and, B: if the recent poll over at the "...Darkest" thread reveals people don't find Sleeping Beauty that dark. Anymore. As a majority opinion.

Frollo and Maleficent definitely deserve a lot of their praise, but they do get a little overblown.

I don't think you can really say that, since the general concensus is now that Maleficent "doesn't do enough." You can only say maybe the actor brings it too far over the top. Which you said you don't believe, with the actors "are the only reasons their characters are so good." Did you think the animation was too extreme? I believe you said it was intricate. Dialogue? Or ... voice acting?

In fact, the dialogue works beautifully. It shows what makes the characters so scared. Even if they are more afraid of her than what she's capable of - it doesn't matter. We have to put ourselves in the position of the characters onscreen. And they are really nervous and sometimes outright terrified. And if you mean her dialogue... Maleficent's alone, than you have to recognize her as the cap on their worry, which creates amazing mystery throughout.

[Disney's Divinity]

When I included Maleficent, I meant "overrated" in a more general sense. She's often accepted by people (I mean outside the forum; here we kind of have a subculture that doesn't amount to very much) as the "epitome" of what Disney can give for a villain (other than the Queen), for reasons that don't quite hit it for me: mainly that she's awesomely animated and voiced, and that she turns into a dragon--not because of her motives. I'm assuming this is the main reason the Maleficent film was set in motion, because she otherwise doesn't seem like the perfect character for such a film.

I think it's true that sometimes motives are irrelevant to a good villain (Cruella), and I suppose that might be the case here, considering Maleficent has an incredible screen presence, but I find Maleficent a weird villain that's difficult for me to pinpoint exactly why she irks me. I think most of it comes to her second scene in the movie, with the "Disgraces to the forces of evil" comment. For some reason, that line hurts her credibility for me personally. I guess the movie does want us to see her as a demon, but I'm not crazy about evil-incarnate villains. Many of the other villains are over-the-top, and borderline, but they still remain human.

Since these are very subjective feelings, I can completely understand why you disagree with me.

[Goliath]

13. Brom Bones

Who?

I still think Madam Medusa and Mr. Snoops are underrated. They're so delightfully over-the-top. Their interaction is just so hilarious.

Sykes (Oliver & Company), Edgar (The Aristocats), Amos Slade )The Fox and the Hound) and MacLeach (The Rescuers Down Under) were very boring, uninteresting villains.

[Super Aurora]

13. Brom Bones

Who?

He's the dude that tries to get Katrina in Legend of Sleepy Hollow. The big buff dude.

[Margos]

13. Brom Bones

Who?

That guy from Ichabod and Mr. Toad. He was the one who told Ichabod about the Headless Horseman to scare him, to try to embarass him in front of Katrina and win her heart. I don't know if I would call him a villain, though....

[Goliath]

@ Super Aurora & Margos: Thanks! Never seen that part of the film.

I forgot to add that I think Shan Yu (from Mulan) is an underrated villain. He gets a minmal amount of screentime and there's no character development, but I think this makes him even more threatening. He's scary *because* he always remains at a distance; we fear that which we don't know.

[IagoZazu]

Yeah, Shan-Yu has that brutality that makes him menacing. There's that one scene where his men capture two messengers, and when he lets them run away to report his progress he asks his men, "How many men does it take to deliver a messenge?" Then his archer strings his bow and says, "one." It's assumed that he shot one of those men. There's also the one scene where he has a little girl's doll, and as he plots to attack a village where the doll came from, he says they should return the doll to the girl anyway. Of course, that means that he went to kill that girl when they attacked the village.

Also, I bet Gaston is the splitting image of Brom Bones. Both of them are the Mr. Populars of their town and they're very strong. Heck, they look somewhat similar in a way!

[Disney's Divinity]

Yes, that's why I've always liked Shan-Yu. I've always felt sad seeing some people write him off as flat, etc. Maybe he was supposed to be flat for dramatic purposes? (Yes, I see the irony after I just criticized Maleficent-- ).

[ajmrowland]

That's what I like about Shan-Yu and Mulan(the movie) in general.

[Brina78]

Mostly what becomes my favorite is due to the voice actor who portrays them so brilliantly. For example I love Tony Jay and he voiced Frollo like no other could. Same with Vincent Price for Ratigan. I can't picture anyone else doing it, maybe Christopher Lee, but it wouldn't be the same. Hades is also hilarious, and what made him that way was after James Woods walked in to read lines. In more recent times, I love Dr. Facilier from TPATF and especially his song is my favorite out of all the songs in the film. I adore Keith David, too, so that helps a lot.

[REINIER]

Tough call !

I really like Jafar, terrific voicework by Jonathan Freeman...
Also great animation by Andreas Deja
his manerisms, his over the top personality,
or to quote genie: ''dark, tall sinister man!''

As animal villains go...

Without a doubt Scar.
Perfect once in a lifetime voicework by Jeremy irons
The fact that he has a black mane is something I really like as well

One that I think is often overlooked is Clayton.
In terms of character design he somewhat reminds me of an animated Godfather character, especially when he's holding a glas of wine..

Also...

Ursula/Yzma

Great vocals...love their somewhat purple skin,
At first glance you know they're not to be messed with

[Lazario]

13. Brom Bones

Who?

He's actually the original Gaston. There's a big similarity between the two, lots of things in common.

What better time to see it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWCDKcjNGnk

And Margos - of course he's a villain. We've always been made to believe it's possible that he was the Headless Horseman in the story. Right? Maybe not the movie.

When I included Maleficent, I meant "overrated" in a more general sense. She's often accepted by people (I mean outside the forum; here we kind of have a subculture that doesn't amount to very much) as the "epitome" of what Disney can give for a villain

"Can give for"? I don't think I've ever heard that expression before. All I can do is guess that you mean: they think she's great. Because they saw the movie and it / she made a big impression on them. Good.

Maybe they just think she's really ugly.

(other than the Queen)

Snow White's Evil Queen? She really has the same motivation in every way in the film, the only difference is that movie feeds us a few more key words like "vain and selfish" and "jealous of Snow White's beauty." Whatever that storybook said.

for reasons that don't quite hit it for me: mainly that she's awesomely animated and voiced, and that she turns into a dragon--not because of her motives.

Ah... now that's interesting. She could have turned into whatever the hell she wanted to. If Disney wanted to do a lot more work. But you have to know, I would have scoffed at any group of people telling me the reason she is a great villain that she turns into a dragon. That's just part of the deal.

I'm assuming this is the main reason the Maleficent film was set in motion, because she otherwise doesn't seem like the perfect character for such a film.

With her being so vague in 59's Sleeping Beauty, I disagree. They know they can do anything they want to with her. Not that I would be so foolish to think a new movie could ever be spooky or serious, like the older classics. They'll screw the character up one way or another.

I think it's true that sometimes motives are irrelevant to a good villain (Cruella)

We know as much about her as we do about Snow White's Queen / Evil Queen. Motives aren't irrelevant, they're just cheap and vague. That's Disney's way with almost everything.

considering Maleficent has an incredible screen presence, but I find Maleficent a weird villain that's difficult for me to pinpoint exactly why she irks me.

Ha. If I thought about it, I could come up with reasons for every Disney villain irking me. Captain Hook is a joke. And I could go on about that, but guess what... he doesn't hurt that film for me. He's funny. Not threatening in the least, but if you try- you can pretend that he is. At least for Maleficent, and most of the female villains, Disney fixed that.

I think most of it comes to her second scene in the movie, with the "Disgraces to the forces of evil" comment. For some reason, that line hurts her credibility for me personally. I guess the movie does want us to see her as a demon, but I'm not crazy about evil-incarnate villains. Many of the other villains are over-the-top, and borderline, but they still remain human.

I always thought she was more of a witch. I mean- "demon"? What images come to mind when you think of a demon? She's certainly not like those Creeper-like guards she has working for her. Oh, there's a weakness if there ever was one. She has an Evil-Party in her castle and... how boring is that little thing with the fire and the goblins hopping around. No wonder she wanted to go to bed.

[zackiellovedisney]

Best Villain: Frollo

I just love that guy. It is because of him that makes Hunchback of Notre Dame my favorite movie of all time. This guy is so realistic and so scary that you can't help but be intimidated. But the thing that makes him the best is how all he does he thinks god wants him to do it. That just makes him by far the coolest villain I know.

[Scarred4life]

Best Villain: Frollo

I just love that guy. It is because of him that makes Hunchback of Notre Dame my favorite movie of all time. This guy is so realistic and so scary that you can't help but be intimidated. But the thing that makes him the best is how all he does he thinks god wants him to do it. That just makes him by far the coolest villain I know.

Ditto.