Some of the bad guys in movies are just pure evil, devoid of any redeeming qualities, but the best villains are always the ones with a tragic backstory and a valid gripe.Disneyknows how to tell a good story, which is the reason that Disney fans have so many fond memories of bad guys.
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It seems contradictory, but it’s just good storytelling, and viewers always save some room in their hearts for a sympathetic villain. The movie section of the vast Disney media franchise includes plenty of antagonists that kind’ve had a point.
8Brom Bones - The Adventures Of Ichabod Crane And Mr. Toad
His full name is Abraham Van Brunt, but you probably didn’t know that either. This is the real villain of the short film more well known as The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and he bears a striking resemblance to Gaston of modern Disney villain fame.
Only a few of these details arein the Disney adaptation, but those who are familiar with the book know that Brom was already involved with Katrina when Ichabod showed up. Not only that, but Icabod was more interested in Katrina’s family fortune than the lady herself. Brom used a clever ruse to drive off a rival, and we all know who was really under that collar, so it’s hard not to sympathize.
7Scar - The Lion King
It’s a story about lions, but it borrows an old human trope about royal lines of succession. Shakespeare even used the old story about a younger brother who falls even further from the throne when a niece or nephew is born to the older son to make the villain more sympathetic.
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It’s not a coincidence that Jeremy Irons channels the Bard when voicing this character; he’s making a callback to this ancient dilemma. It’s one of those “hate the game but not the player” situations, where Scar is taking the only path open to him because of this arcane and stupid system of family bloodlines.
6Shere Khan - The Jungle Book
Few other villains are as sympathetic as Shere Khan, and his story was a progressive one when the original Jungle Bookwas released in 1967. Shere Khan sought to seek out and kill humans, but it’s not just because he’s bloodthirsty; it’s because he’s had bad experiences with humans and isn’t keen on forgiveness.
In the book, Shere Khan was born lame and hunts humans because he can’t pursue other types of prey that can climb better, run faster, or swim better. His rationale to the wolf Raksha that Mowgli must be killed before he grows up to be a threat to all of them isn’t pretty, but it makes sense.
5Queen Of Hearts - Alice In Wonderland
Who’s been painting the roses red? As if the Wonderland taxpayer doesn’t know the difference between red paint and real roses? What are we paying you people for?
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It’s hard not to sympathize with the Queen of Hearts when she walks out into her immaculate garden to find red paint smeared all over her flowers. Plenty of perfectly happy, normal people would want to chop off some heads if they looked outside and saw this. Of course she snaps; who wouldn’t?
4Maleficent - Sleeping Beauty
The subject of novels, musicals, and movies that take her side, Maleficent is the face of Disney villains that kind’ve had a point. Nobody has a good reason to ostracize Maleficent in the first place, and it’s a bad idea since she’s so powerful.
What did King Philip expect to happen here? You couldn’t just invite her to the party and teach that little blue fairy not to mouth off? Maleficent was provoked, and you could easily argue that she did nothing wrong.
3Captain Hook - Peter Pan
If James Hook was any less of a mustache-twirling bad guy, it would be a disappointment. How do you expect him to behave? He’s a bad guy but an excellent pirate.
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Besides, that’s a true story about a crocodile biting off his hand. Everyone makes fun of Hook because he’s so scared of this crocodile, but it is trying to kill him and eat him, never mind the post-traumatic stress that a person would get from surviving a crocodile attack.
2Chernabog - Fantasia
Fantasia is one of Disney’s most daring projects, and despite the remakes and updates, what endures is the iconic image of the demon Chernabog. The chilling sequence that follows might not be for kids, and it’s amazing to watch
What does the coolest demon in animation history ask in return? He only gets one night of the year to emerge from Bald Mountain and dancewith his fantastic, ghostly minions, maybe we should let him have it.
1Chef Louis - The Little Mermaid
Who doesn’t love seafood? Well, to be fair, a lot of people don’t, but the pescatarian diet is still as popular as ever, and Chef Louis is just saying the quiet part out loud.
It’s nice to see a more honest and realistic portrayal of what goes on in a kitchen. People don’t always know what the transition from sea to table means, and the chef is squeamish about the process, but he’s not ashamed of it, either. Compliments to the chef for keeping it real.
