10 Cartoon Villains Who Set the Standard for Evil

As far as animated movies and TV shows go, there’s always going to be a protagonist and an antagonist in the mix. While cartoon villains usually have one sole purpose — taking down the good guy, you’ve got to admit that they add excitement to the overall storyline. They provide all the drama, suspense, and even a hint of humour. Sure, we adore our heroes but imagine a world without a little chaos sprinkled in there. 

For the most part, the villains have very specific motivations that are borderline petty and full-on preposterous. It’s enough to make you wonder if they’re truly bad or just acting up because of a traumatizing experience. Regardless, it’s always fascinating to see how animated shows make mountains out of molehills with the most absurd villain backstories. But, kudos to them for also making things as realistic as can be.

1. Scar from ‘The Lion King’

One of the most enduring cartoon villains has to be Scar. He’s a figure of deceit, and it’s even evident in his physicality — his green eyes piercing and dark. Overall, he is ranked as one dubious mama jama thanks to his ambition to rule the Pride Lands. This eventually leads him to betray his own family in one of the most heart-wrenching scenes in animated movie history.

In the original Lion King (1994), Jeremy Irons lent his voice to the character and dare we say, he captured that innate sinister nature of the character. Down the line, in 2019 to be specific, Chiwetel Ejiofor took things a step further, giving life to Scar’s rich backstory and manipulative nature. Regardless of the guy behind the microphone, one thing is clear. Scar was a slow fuse and he patiently bid his time till he got what he wanted. Ironically, it was pride that finally took him down in the Pride Lands.

2. Jafar from ‘Aladdin’

The cunning royal vizier of Agrabah, Jafar, is ranked second in the realm of the best cartoon villains. He’s another one to keep a close eye on because his greatest strength wasn’t crude brawn, it was his intellect. But what makes Jafar as sinister as they come is the fact that he had absolutely no logical motivation to be the way he was. All Jafar wanted was control and power, not necessarily to make things better. It’s a classic case of power going straight to someone’s head.

In the original Aladdin movie (1992), Jafar was voiced by Jonathan Freeman who perfectly captured his cold and calculating nature. Then in the 2019 live-action version, Marwan Kenzari took on the role and brought a new type of intensity to Jafar’s character.

3. The Joker from ‘Batman: The Animated Series’

There’s no way this name wouldn’t be on the list of the best cartoon villains because he is more than a bad guy – he’s a legendary icon. The Joker thrives on chaos, which makes him the ideal adversary for Batman. He is therefore among Gotham City’s most erratic and lethal villains.

Mark Hamill voiced the Joker in the first animated series, and he did a fantastic job of capturing the character’s chaotic energy. Overall, what we have here is a highly intelligent character, despite his slightly insane nature. His favorite past times? Setting elaborate traps for his nemesis, Batman, and showing a blatant disregard for all human life including his own. The Joker is equally known for being one of the most fearless villains in animation.

4. Tai Lung from ‘Kung Fu Panda’

Tai Lung is one tough villain with a complicated backstory and ample motivation. He was trained by Master Shifu as a student at the Jade Palace and thought he was destined to become the Dragon Warrior. But when things didn’t quite go his way, he became this enraged creature heavily fueled by resentment. If you think deeply about it, his anger is justifiable – because imagine one day waking up and finding out what was initially promised to you was given to someone else. Anyone would feel angry and enraged. While there are four instalments of Kung Fu Panda, Tai Lung only appears in two instalments. He appeared in the first instalment as the bane of Po’s existence. Then made an appearance again in the fourth instalment of Kung Fu Panda. 

5. Mojo Jojo from ‘The Powerpuff Girls’

One of the most memorable villains in cartoons has to be Mojo Jojo. He’s a sneaky little chimp with a big brain and even bigger grudges. He was initially Professor Utonium’s lab assistant but became resentful after an accident left him with superhuman abilities and an oversized brain. Now, he devises schemes to take over Townsville- but the Powerpuff Girls always ruin his plans every time.

One would think that a villain who is always getting beaten would keep to himself- but alas, Mojo Jojo is different-  he would rant on and on about his hatred towards the Powerpuff Girls. Unfortunately for him, he is all mouth- and no action. 

6. Hades from ‘Hercules’

In addition to being the god of the underworld, Hades is also one of the most fascinating animated antagonists. He is prepared to go to any length to fulfil his ambition of defeating Zeus and conquering Mount Olympus. It might be his confidence, his sense of humour or this version of Greek mythology, nevertheless- he’s earned his place on this list.

In the original Hercules movie (1997), James Woods voiced Hades and was able to get his cunning but rather fascinating nature. There hasn’t been a live-action version yet, but the Russo Brothers confirmed in April 2024 that a live-action movie would be happening for Hercules- and we have our fingers crossed that James Wood would reprise his role. 

7. Doofenshmirtz from ‘Phineas and Ferb’

Doofenshmirtz is the lovable bad guy from Phineas and Ferb. He may tell you he’s evil, but he’s more of a funny guy with his silly inventions. Still, he makes this list of evil cartoon villains because he is constantly making new “-inators” to try and take over the Tri-State Area; though his plans never work because Agent P, Perry the platypus, always stops him. Despite all his failed plans, Doofenshmirtz never gives up on beating Agent P- and we do believe that one day truly, he would be able to defeat Agent P to take over the Tri-state area.

8. Cruella de Vil from ‘101 Dalmatians’

One of the most notable cartoon villains is Cruella de Vil, a fashionable lady with a dark side. She has a rather weird obsession with  Dalmatian fur, so much so that she decides to steal and harm Dalmatian puppies to make a coat. One striking, but commendable feature about Cruella is that once she fixes her mind to do something, she does it in the most sinister way anyone can ever think of. 

Betty Lou Gerson brought Cruella’s chilling voice to life in the original 101 Dalmatians (1961) and thoroughly captured her ruthlessness. Fast forward to 2021, Emma Stone stepped into the role in Disney’s live-action film Cruella. It’s safe to say that she gave the character a whole new dimension and dare we say even made audiences more sympathetic to her plight. It was no surprise that the reviews for the live-action remake were positive.

9. Captain Hook from ‘Peter Pan’

Captain Hook is a classic pirate from Peter Pan, known for his hook hand and his funny and scary traits. He is obsessed with catching Peter Pan and getting revenge because the little fella is the reason he uses a hook instead of an actual hand. His obsession for revenge leads him to have many exciting adventures in Neverland, with Peter Pan always defeating him with Tinkerbell of course. Captain Hook’s need for revenge and his colourful personality make him a standout villain, keeping audiences hooked with his thrilling chase after Peter Pan.

10. Lord Farquaad from ‘Shrek’

One of the most unforgettable cartoon villains has to be Lord Farquaad. Despite his small stature, he has an ego and it shows in everything he does. His desire to rule Duloc drives him to chase after Princess Fiona and kick out all the fairy tale creatures from his land. Because Farquaad is short, he always tries to prove he’s important. Truth be told, we can’t blame him because his comedic and short character wouldn’t be taken seriously unless he is ruthless. In the first Shrek movie from 2001, John Lithgow voiced the small but powerful character. He brought tons of dubiousness and humour to the role, and we do appreciate him for that because no one could have taken on the role better.