Top 50 Most Popular Scariest Cartoon Characters Of All Time

 

We all know that cartoon shows and animated feature films produced across the globe are mainly directed toward the younger audience.

 

However, many of them carry storylines and themes that are a lot more mature than most people would expect.

 

As a result, some of these spectacular projects are filled with characters that make the kids feel uneasy and, sometimes, downright creepy.

 

And, since they happen to be so scary and vicious, they turn out to be that much more impressive to their viewers.

 

So, we have jogged our memory to gather a list of 50 of the most terrifying characters from classic animated films and cartoon shows that have managed to embed themselves into our malleable minds over the years.

 

 

50. Heffalumps (The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh)

 

 

A lot of youngsters today have gone on to confess online that they were terribly scared of the Heffalumps from The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.

 

Even though the semi-antagonistic elephant-like creatures went on to become allies of Pooh and his pals, they were depicted as figments in Pooh's nightmares.

 

The Heffalumps were mostly seen as frightening thieves who often partnered up with woozles to take honey without giving their actions much thought.

 

The fact that they were elephant-like creatures was a reason strong enough to startle kids at the time.

 

 

49. Scarab (Young Justice)

 

 

Since Young Justice is set in the DC Universe, it should come as no surprise to our readers that it is full of creepy characters.

 

That being said, it is interesting to note that one of the scariest characters happens to be Scarab that goes on to provide the Blue Beetles with their numerous superpowers.

 

Although the scarab is all about technology, its artificial intelligence has given it a personality and a tremendous amount of power; something that can be truly fear-inducing if used unapologetically.

 

 

48. Sharptooth (The Land Before Time)

 

 

Sharptooth is a large, male Tyrannosaurus who has enormous teeth. He is the prime antagonist in the original film, The Land Before Time.

 

The name, Sharptooth, which is given to him by other characters in the movie, is basically widely used to refer to the name of his species.

 

Although many different theropod species have appeared throughout the franchise, it is this huge male Tyrannosaurus that is difficult to forget.

 

 

47. Bilbo Baggins (The Hobbit)

 

 

While the Hobbits are supposed to be the good guys in J. R. R. Tolkien's globally renowned The Lord of the Rings trilogy of films, they are a bit fat and froggy in 1977's The Hobbit.

 

Hobbit Bilbo Baggins is a small freaky dude with premature wrinkles, who is introduced in terrifying chase scenes and destructive battles in the story.

 

This introduction is certainly done to incite existential anxiety among the viewers, and believe us when we say that the makers truly succeed in what they set out to do with Baggins.

 

Needless to say, the 1977 feature was a children's special carrying content and characters that could even creep the adults out.

 

 

46. Yellow Diamond (Steven Universe)

 

 

The makers of Steven Universe have done a fine job of developing substantial characters with valid motives that the viewers can understand.

 

However, it is important to comprehend that, just like in the real world, there are some characters in the show that still make monstrous choices despite having seemingly practical objectives.

 

Yellow Diamond fits the bill of the aforementioned description. Even though she can be seen grieving the loss of her one-time companion Pink Diamond, she is caught expressing that grief through ceaseless anger; an act that threatens to impact an entire civilization.

 

 

45. Toffee of Septarsis (Star vs. the Forces of Evil)

 

 

This immortal Septarian monster from the animated series Star vs. the Forces of Evil is someone that Moon fought when she was young.

 

Aside from serving as the overarching antagonist in the first season, he also portrayed the main antagonist in the second season and the premiere of the third season, respectively.

 

The blue-skinned Septarian can be recognized by his slicked-back dark purple hair and yellow eyes. Known for his knack for combining manipulative talent with considerable force of will, he can be seen donning his trademark black suit with a white shirt underneath it and a red tie.

 

 

44. Ghostfreak (Ben 10)

 

 

Ghostfreak from Ben 10 is a phantom/ghost-like alien with a gaseous appearance and claw-like hands. Since he has a gaseous appearance, it is next to impossible to catch or control him.

 

Add to that the fact that he possesses grey skin with black lines running all over it. Also, it is worth mentioning that his removable skin has black and white striped tentacles underneath it.

 

The Original Series showed the Omnitrix symbol peeking out of the skin on his lower left chest.

 

 

43. The Clown (The Brave Little Toaster)

 

 

The crooked Clown from The Brave Little Toaster, who comes across as a Pennywise-wannabe, is a part of Toaster's nightmare.

 

While the character has absolutely nothing to do with the overall plot of the movie, it does, however, demonstrate that the makers were only looking forward to injecting a scary character into the screenplay, irrespective of what the narrative said.

 

If you are not creeped out by his devilish grin that rivals that of Bill Skarsgård, you certainly will get goosebumps when he delivers his one word of dialogue with unmatched hatefulness both in his heart and tone.

 

 

42. Frank (Cars)

 

 

This combine harvester, who is known to guard the tractors at night while they are asleep, can be seen attempting to get Mater and Lightning when he discovers that they are tractor-tipping.

 

In one of the Cars movies, Tow Mater and Lightning McQueen can be seen flipping over tractors at night in a field.

 

Enter Frank, a giant harvester who, out of nowhere, can be glimpsed steamrolling over the hill. The aforementioned sequence was scary enough for this character to make it to our story.

 

 

41. King Ramses (Courage the Cowardly Dog)

 

 

Even though most of the characters in Courage the Cowardly Dog were frightening, one character that truly managed to make an impression on me was King Ramses.

 

Ghost of a pharaoh from Ancient Egypt, he makes his appearance in the episode, King Ramses' Curse. In order to retrieve an ancient slab that was stolen from his tomb, he ends up bringing about three plagues on the Bagge family.

 

King Ramses was easy to recognize, all thanks to his prominent skull attire; one that was reminiscent of Egyptian burial masks.

 

 

40. Freaky Fred (Courage the Cowardly Dog)

 

 

Fred, who happens to be Muriel's nephew, first makes an appearance in the episode "Freaky Fred" to visit his aunt.

 

Even though Muriel seems to be quite fond of him, he is disliked by both Eustace and Courage. While the former even goes to the extent of calling him a "Freak", the latter is simply just horrified by the sight of him.

 

Considered to be one of the scariest villains in the beloved series, his creepy posture and his unkempt hair are enough to give you nightmares.

 

Fred, who has a deeply unsettling voice, also suffers from trichotemnomania, which is apparently an obsession with shaving people until they're bald.

 

 

39. The Red Bull (The Last Unicorn)

 

 

The Last Unicorn is a quality animated fantasy feature film that thrives not only on its memorable soundtrack but also on its exceptional set of voice actors.

 

However, there is also the dreadful character of Red Bull that stands out in its storytelling. An evil magical creature who appears in the form of a bull covered in fire, he is used by the wicked King Haggard to herd Unicorns into the sea to keep him happy.

 

 

38. The Nightmare King (Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland)

 

 

The antagonist in this cult-classic animated film from the late 1980s is the haunting, amorphic Nightmare King.

While the origins of the tyrannical and authoritative ruler of the dreaded Nightmare Land is not entirely clear, what is known, however, is the fact that he is apparently the embodiment of nightmares.

 

As we have mentioned, he rules over Nightmare Land, which is a dark world that represents all the fear and darkness of the world's nightmares.

 

 

37. Rick Sanchez (Rick and Morty)

 

 

Rick and Morty is a television show that has a surprising amount of existential horror injected into its storytelling.

 

While many of you may not be scared of Rick Sanchez at face value, we have valid reasons to justify his presence here.

 

First things first, Rick tends to lash out at his loved ones primarily because he has had serious issues to deal with in the past.

 

Secondly, since he is a super-scientist, it gives him the brains to do whatever he wishes with his inventions.

 

Also, his many shenanigans reveal a ton of things about the true nature of the universe.

 

 

36. Big Boy" Pickles (Rugrats)

 

 

What is scary about this giant baby boy from Rugrats is that he is the imaginary younger brother of Angelica Pickles.

 

And, since he occurs in her dreams, he can just about do anything to psychologically scar her. Even though his only appearance is in "Angelica's Worst Nightmare", his presence is solid enough to make an impression on the mind of the viewers.

 

Angelica was fearful of him not only because he was portrayed as mean but also because he was an unmistakable representation of her fear of not getting enough attention and care due to her baby brother.

 

That is perhaps why the baby seemed to be getting bigger every single time he appeared on the screen.

 

 

35. Dr. Facilier (The Princess and the Frog)

 

 

Also known as "The Shadow Man", Dr. Facilier is the main villain from Disney's 49th full-length animated feature film, The Princess and the Frog.

 

One of Disney's most renowned antagonists, he is an evil witch doctor/bokor and Lawrence's new employer, who plans to not only rule New Orleans but also, eventually, the whole wide world.

 

In his pursuit of the same, he believes that he will receive assistance from his "friends on the other side".

 

Voiced by Keith David, he is also Tiana and Naveen's arch-nemesis and the killer of Ray.

 

 

34. Ursula (The Little Mermaid)

 

 

Ursula, who is a villainous Cecaelia (half-woman, half-octopus), is a close-to-perfect personification of the many fake sages in the modern world.

 

Just like the superficial self-styled godmen today, she can also be seen striking deals with the unfortunate and helpless merfolk with the promise of making many of their lifelong dreams come true.

 

However, what is even more frightening than her tacky blue eyeshadow is that she carries the ability to scare many of her viewers into believing that she can show up in their bathtub and, subsequently, magic them into one of her poor unfortunate souls.

 

The character, which is partially based on the nameless sea witch from the original Hans Christian Andersen tale, is as confident as they come.

 

 

33. The Lich (Adventure Time)

 

 

The main antagonist of Adventure Time is an ancient cosmic being who is a plain and blunt manifestation of the inevitable death of all things.

 

It is implied that his essence was deposited on Earth millions of years before the beginning of the show via a catalyst comet.

 

The fact that death is one of the oldest fears of mankind makes this character scary enough to comprehend.

 

However, the mere thought that there exists an immortal being with superpowers that can allow him to kill every living being out there is a potent enough reason to include this character on our list.

 

 

32. Lady Tremaine (Cinderella)

 

 

Unlike other Disney movies, Cinderella isn't full of elements of horror but certainly does contain that scary X factor when it comes to the stepmother Lady Tremaine.

 

Lady Tremaine, who certainly plays her part of the 'evil stepmother' exceedingly well, is known to have been horrible to Cinderella.

 

Not only does she force her to cook and clean but she is also seen not allowing her a moment of calm.

 

Right from the moment she makes her remarkable entrance, one gets the idea that fear has a new face in Lady Tremaine.

 

And, whenever there is a close-up of her face, we know that something truly horrible is going to happen.

 

 

31. The Coachman (Pinocchio)

 

 

The third antagonist of Disney's animated feature film Pinocchio, The Coachman is a sinister figure who is infamous for luring "stupid little boys" to Pleasure Island.

 

There, he gets them to transform into donkeys to be sold on the black market. Needless to say, this malevolent and extremely dangerous being has no redeeming qualities whatsoever.

 

He takes pleasure in his wicked actions that have gone on to destroy the lives of many children. What is worth noting about The Coachman is that he seems to target disobedient and selfish boys who can be seen indulging in trouble for the sake of unabashed merriment.

 

 

30. Randall Boggs (Monsters, Inc.)

 

 

One of the two main antagonists of the animated feature film Monsters, Inc., Randall Boggs is a snide and vindictive character that seems to be quite envious of James P. Sullivan, who happens to be the most beloved "scarer” in Monstropolis.

 

Even though he came across as a kind and timid teenage monster while in Monsters University, he turned into a ruthless and temperamental creature in Monsters, Inc.

 

In order to steal the spotlight from Sullivan and make his presence felt in the world, Randall starts abducting human children; all while ceasing to care about people and their feelings.

 

 

29. Hama (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

 

 

A waterbending master from the Southern Water Tribe in the popular series Avatar: The Last Airbender, Hama seemed to be the last one to be captured and imprisoned by the Fire Nation during the Southern Water Tribe raids.

 

However, she managed to escape through the use of the bloodbending technique. Also known as "The Puppetmaster" or "The Witch", she plays a minor but crucial role in the series.

 

Even though Hama is not traditionally scary, she is a ruthless Waterbender who went on to develop the taboo practice of Bloodbending after having been kidnapped by the Fire Nation.

 

This was done with the sole purpose of exacting her revenge on the Fire Nation and anyone else who dared to stand in her way.

 

 

28. Candy Wife (The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack)

 

 

A significant supporting character in The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack, Candy Wife is Peppermint Larry's wife who is made up of candy, which explains her name.

 

Even though she has been referred to as "inanimate" by other characters in the series, one can often catch her moving and ominously peeking around the corner.

 

In the show, which makes the audience laugh and then resorts to terrifying them, Candy Wife stands out as a particularly curious and creepy character to study.

 

 

27. Darla Sherman (Finding Nemo)

 

 

What is perhaps the scariest part about some of these scary animated characters is that a few of them don't appear spooky at all at face value.

 

And, that is precisely where their strength comes from. Darla from Finding Nemo is one such character. She might look like a harmless little girl from a distance, but there is more to her than what meets the eye.

 

While her smile can give you the creeps, the fact that she shakes a living creature in a bag until it dies with no remorse whatsoever speaks volumes about her sociopathic nature.

 

 

26. Maleficent (Sleeping Beauty)

 

 

An incarnation of pure evil, the scare-inducing Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty is responsible for all the misfortune in King Stefan's kingdom.

 

She is the archetype of what a villain should be. After having taken offense at not being invited to the christening of Princess Aurora by Stefan and Queen Leah, Maleficent ends up cursing the princess to die; an act that shows the very darkness of her heart.

 

The animated classic is known to have gotten unnerving for young viewers back in the day who were startled by the action sequences between royalty and magical creatures; especially the ultimate antagonist in the movie.

 

 

25. Hopper (A Bug's Life)

 

 

Yes, we do agree with you that all bugs are creepy. However, when it comes to Hopper, we get to see a different face of bugs altogether.

 

This malicious and self-serving character, aside from being the villain in A Bug's Life, is also the leader of the grasshoppers and Flik's arch-nemesis.

 

We cannot even Imagine what your reaction would be if you get to see the downright evil Hopper in the corner of your room in the middle of the night.

 

Well, all we'd like to say is that please leave the room silently before this ruthless and belligerent character is given the space to make a move.

 

 

24. Oogie Boogie (The Nightmare Before Christmas)

 

 

Keeping all of Oogie Boogie's shenanigans in The Nightmare Before Christmas aside, let's first face the fact that he is a sack filled with bugs.

 

If the aforementioned fact wasn't enough to stir you, we must all agree that any character who has the heart and audacity to abduct our beloved Santa Claus must be harboring some truly dark intentions.

 

The infamous Boogeyman, who is both feared and despised for his ghastly disposition and cannibalistic appetite, lives on the outskirts of Halloween Town. His henchmen are Lock, Shock, and Barrel.

 

 

23. Hades (Hercules)

 

 

The antagonist of Disney's animated feature film, Hercules, is the fast-talking god of the Underworld, who is not exactly approachable.

 

This is because he's a bit of a loose cannon who literally has flames for hair. Needless to say, Hades just comes across as someone you wouldn't want to ever cross paths with in your life.

 

Even though he may have fooled you with his sense of humor, do not make the mistake of underestimating his unpredictable temper and cruel intentions.

 

We say so because he has only been scheming to take over Mount Olympus and the cosmos for close to two decades.

 

 

22. Cruella De Vil (101 Dalmatians)

 

 

The chief antagonist of Disney's 101 Dalmatians, the eccentric Cruella De Vil has got to be among the most popular scary characters to make it to our list  The fashion-obsessed heiress, who is also known as a "witch" and "devil woman", is obsessed with furs; so much so that it drives her to murderous insanity.

 

Not only does she wish to use the skins of 99 Dalmatian puppies to create a spotted fur coat but she also resorts to kidnapping and slaughter to satisfy her mania.

 

One can usually find Cruella De Vil being aided by her henchmen, Jasper and Horace.

 

 

21. Koh the Face Stealer (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

 

 

A major recurring villain in the Avatar series, Koh is one of the most powerful and knowledgeable spirits in the Spirit World.

 

The malevolent entity with the body of an enormous centipede-like creature can steal the faces of other living beings who make the mistake of expressing any form of emotion in his presence.

 

As a result, his countenance often seems to be different, ranging from that of animals to human beings. Born to the Mother of Faces thousands of years before the Hundred Year War, Koh prefers to live under a tree in the Spirit World.

 

 

20. Scar (The Lion King)

 

 

No one likes Scar from The Lion King and we can't blame them for despising the character whatsoever. The dark-at-heart and foreboding lion, who was next in line to assume the throne as king of the Pride Lands, was utterly jealous of Simba.

 

This compelled him to come up with a plot to take over the kingdom by hook or by crook.

 

While watching the beloved animated feature, one felt that this easy-to-hate character only wished to watch the world burn.

 

One of Disney's most infamous villains, Scar rose to prominence after having devised a successful plan to murder Mufasa.

 

 

19. The Beldam (Coraline)

 

 

Also known as The Other Mother, The Beldam is notorious for camouflaging her victims' mothers. She is the main villain of Neil Gaiman's dark fantasy young adult novel Coraline, which was later adapted into a full-length animated feature film of the same title.

 

If the Other Mother sporting buttons for eyes isn't horrifying enough for you, make peace with the fact that she can also turn into a horrifying and bloodthirsty spider.

 

While Coraline has got to be among the creepiest animated movies of all time, The Beldam is also one of the creepiest animated characters out there.

 

This seemingly perfect mom has the unmatched ability to transform into a sinister monster within seconds. Watch out!

 

 

18. The Evil Queen (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs)

 

 

The Evil Queen, who is also known as the Wicked Queen, gives us the creeps as is, but when she revamps into an old hag with the sole aim to incite the princess with an apple, that's when we truly get a glimpse of her scary potential and determination.

 

Since her voice, movements, and motives continue to come off as unnerving, it wouldn't be a hyperbole to mention that she is the original evil witch and an inspiration to several such wicked screen characters for years to come.

 

The Queen's deadly obsession with wanting to remain the fairest one of all makes her despise the innocent Snow White, who is arguably the only one whose beauty surpasses everyone else's.

 

 

17. Yzma (The Emperor's New Groove)

 

 

Yzma from The Emperor's New Groove, who has a dark and scary aesthetic side to her, portrays the chic villain role with pride and panache.

 

Not only does she love to exert her power by coming across as merciless but she can also be glimpsed coming up with some incredibly devious techniques to get rid of Kuzco.

 

Needless to say, this allows us to peek into her dark and untrustworthy mind. To take revenge on her foster son who fired her as his advisor, the hideous old woman goes to extent of planning to usurp the throne by murdering him.

 

Also, let's not forget that the diabolical and street-smart Yzma also has a strong, but rather dimwitted henchman named Kronk.

 

 

16. Henry J. Waternoose III (Monsters, Inc.)

 

 

The main antagonist of Pixar's fourth full-length animated feature film Monsters, Inc., Henry J. Waternoose III is the CEO of Monsters, Inc and someone whose reputation precedes him.

 

His bad intentions are often matched by his creepy appearance: beady eyes and crab legs. Henry, who only cares about the success of his company, does his best to assist Randall in his evil plot; something that eventually leads to his inevitable downfall.

 

Even though a lot many of you would be of the opinion that Randall is the scariest character in the film, Waternoose is definitely right up there as well.

 

The boss and grandfather-figure-turned-archenemy of James P. Sullivan and Mike Wazowski were voiced by the late James Coburn.

 

 

15. Sid (Toy Story)

 

 

If you ever think of a person you wouldn't wish to hang out with, Sid is probably the lad who'll resemble that name on almost all counts.

 

Not only is he a bully who mutilates his toys and loves to cause destruction and terror but we are also introduced to his dark bedroom that is full of misfit toys that he's destroyed over time.

 

Keeping things that he has damaged makes him come across as a creep of sorts. Add to that the fact that the sociopath, who is mostly seen wearing g a black t-shirt that has a skull on it, is a heckler and, therefore, reminiscent of most bullies out there in the real world.

 

 

14. Venom (Spider-Man)

 

 

How many of you know that the character of Venom emanated from an idea by an ardent fan of the Spider-Man franchise who wished to give Peter Parker an advanced costume with cooler colors?

 

Soon enough, Marvel purchased the idea and propelled comic book illustrator Mike Zeck to develop it. All thanks to Venom now, the viewers have an opinion about what an alien-human hybrid may look like.

 

Venom, who possesses sharp and animalistic teeth with a lower jaw that he can unhinge like a snake, made its first TV appearance in the 1994 Spider-Man cartoon where he was voiced by Hank Azaria.

 

While its facial structure was already scary, its Hulk-sized body was also prominent enough to give the young fans some good old-fashioned scare.

 

You may remember that the new costume that was introduced for our beloved superhero Spider-Man in comic books in 1984 tried to impose its will upon him.

 

Within a few years, the alien symbiote was seen sticking to a new bad dude, Eddie Brock, and, subsequently, calling itself Venom.

 

 

13. Mumm-Ra (ThunderCats)

 

 

The most unsettling thing about Mumm-Ra, the main antagonist from ThunderCats, is the fact that he simply cannot be killed.

 

Pale and draped in a tattered cloak, he is known to put his magical powers on display whenever he gets an opportunity to.

 

Moreover, he can be seen using the Mutants of Plun-Darr as pawns in his schemes to topple the ThunderCats.

 

Voiced efficiently by Earl Hammond, Mumm-Ra apparently originates from within the Black Pyramid among the ruins of an ancient civilization.

 

Needless to say, his introduction is pretty scary for a Saturday morning cartoon villain. However, you must know that this character only calls upon the Ancient Spirits of Evil to grant him the shape of Mumm-Ra when he is fuming in anger.

 

Also, his appearance does make him come across as a zombie on steroids. Even though it's silly, his creators have been able to pull it off rather convincingly.

 

 

12. Lawrence Limburger (Biker Mice From Mars)

 

 

Lawrence Limburger is the main antagonist from the popular Saturday morning cartoon series, Biker Mice From Mars, which originally aired in syndication during the mid-1990s.

 

Don't mistake the show's villain, Lawrence Limburger, for coming across as a corporate mogul who seems to be dressed in a purple pinstripe suit.

 

This is because he is an alien from Plutark who can be seen peeling off his human skin from time to time to reveal the evil (a bloated fish-like figure) lurking beneath.

 

Also the arch-nemesis of the Biker Mice, he first came to planet earth under the disguise of a human.

 

Soon after, Limburger was seen posing as an opportunistic industrialist who operated out of the city of Chicago.

 

 

11. Chernabog (Fantasia)

 

 

This dark deity from Slavic mythology makes an appearance in the final segment of the 1940 animated film Fantasia.

 

He is in the form of a colossal demonic being who seems to be looming over the lesser evil spirits.

 

The undisputed ruler of a dark realm called Bald Mountain, Chernabog only strives to amuse and appease himself. He can also be seen summoning demons and damned souls to sacrifice and do bidding on his behalf.

 

One of the most powerful and destructive villains to have ever been created by Walt Disney, he has been depicted as a ruthless and manipulative monster who can scare anyone who encounters him out of their bloody wits!

 

Props to the makers for introducing this menacing character with a villainous background score and fierce, glowing eyes.

 

 

10. Grigori Rasputin (Anastasia)

 

 

This main antagonist of the animated musical epic Anastasia, Grigori Rasputin was pretty much a cartoon villain brought to life by his makers.

 

Not only was he an evil megalomaniac sorcerer but he was also a cruel priest and wicked Cossack Soldier.

 

Add to that the fact that he referred to himself as the "most mystical man in all Russia". Even though Rasputin was shown to be killed early in the motion picture, his body survived courtesy of his dark magical powers.

 

However, we did see it falling apart in the most gruesome manner with the passage of time. The character was also seen placing a dreadful curse on a Russian imperial family, the members of which perished in the Russian Revolution.

 

Credit has to be given to director and producer Don Bluth for turning him into a villain for their brilliant cinematic endeavor.

 

 

9. Professor Ratigan (The Great Mouse Detective)

 

 

The early 1980s saw Disney trying to appeal to older children with the release of several darker and more mature animated feature films, one of which was The Great Mouse Detective.

 

An archenemy of Basil of Baker Street, this suave crime lord was obsessed with his status as a mouse.

 

However, he lost his cool and revealed his violent and savage mind when labeled a rat. What makes Professor Ratigan vicious and dangerous is the fact that he is a monstrous thug hiding under a veneer of civility.

 

Often regarded as the most infamous criminal in all of Mousedom, his impressive track record has provided him with a reputation for being the "world's greatest criminal mind".

 

 

8. Hexxus (FernGully: The Last Rainforest)

 

 

Voiced ably by Tim Curry, Hexxus is an evil spirit who is the chief antagonist of FernGully: The Last Rainforest.

 

He is shown to be imprisoned in a tree by the fairies of the FernGully rainforest. One day, when lumberjacks start cutting down the trees, they not only end up putting off the fairies but also accidentally release Hexxus.

 

Hexxus, who can't be destroyed but only imprisoned, can soon be seen assuming the form of pollution itself. Props to the creators of FernGully: The Last Rainforest for deliberately using terrifying images of ecological disasters and demonstrating them as villains.

 

 

7. Jenner and Dragon (The Secret of NIMH)

 

 

Jenner, the Rat, and Dragon, the cat, are the scare-inducing antagonists from The Secret of NIMH. Jenner, who is evil, intelligent, and quick-tempered, can be seen in the Council of The Rats of NIMH quarreling against the Plan.

 

He does this to emphasize that his ideas are far more beneficial than that of the other members of the Council.

 

Dragon, on the other hand, has a small but vital role to play as the secondary antagonist in the film.

 

Even though he is an old cat, his name does full justice to his persona. Not only is he responsible for killing Mrs. Brisby's husband but he is also equally mean.

 

Dragon can first be seen making an appearance in the scene where Mrs. Brisby meets Jeremy the Crow.

 

 

6. The Horned King (The Black Cauldron)

 

 

Make way for the main antagonist of Disney's 1985 animated feature film The Black Cauldron, whose ultimate goal was to find the Black Cauldron and use its undeniable power to set loose an army of undead warriors called the Cauldron Born.

 

The Horned King, who had a vast army of thugs and monsters under him, had a skull-like face and an emancipated body wrapped in a long cloak; each of which made him come off as frightening.

 

A feared ruler of a derelict castle within the swamps in the mythical land of Prydain, he appealed to the viewers primarily because he had horns.

 

The fact that he possessed a cold demeanor only gave a definite edge to his personality. What is worth mentioning about The Horned King is the fact that he only showed his anger when his plans failed to materialize.

 

 

5. Judge Claude Frollo (The Hunchback of Notre Dame)

 

 

The main antagonist from The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a powerful Parisian justice minister, who is most likely to remind you of the several real-life dictators to have walked the face of the earth.

 

Aside from his political authority, Frollo is a religious fanatic who has no tolerance or mercy in his heart for those who may have sinned.

 

For whatever reason, he believes that Romani people are the most heinous of all malefactors and, therefore, decides to dedicate years of his life trying to eradicate them.

 

Reminds you of a certain someone from the rich history of the human world, doesn't he? Needless to mention, Frollo's self-imposed and twisted mission drives him to conduct inhumane acts of violence; all while he tries to use his loyalty and devotion toward God as justification for his many crimes.

 

 

4. Him (The Powerpuff Girls)

 

 

Even though Him from The Powerpuff Girls ceases to look threatening, voice actor Tom Kane and Cartoon Network's more than capable sound designers put their talent to use and made him as cinematically creepy as possible at the time.

 

Not only does his lazy voice sounds like the very essence of immorality but it also gives an implicit glimpse into the madness and evil lurking beneath his skin.

 

Having said that, Him has an advantage over other antagonists on our list solely because of his usage of physiological torture and manipulation to get the better of his enemies.

 

And, if that doesn't make him the personification of evil, we don't know what will.

 

 

3. Judge Doom (Who Framed Roger Rabbit)

 

 

Judge Doom from Who Framed Roger Rabbit goes on to prove that just because a film features a ton of cartoon characters, that doesn't necessarily mean that it's kid-friendly.

 

This noir parody is set in a world where one can find human beings and animated characters uneasily coexisting.

 

And, while the premise may sound exciting, no kid who has seen the film has ever been able to forget the sadistic Judge Doom.

 

Doom, who is revealed to be a cartoon character himself wearing fake skin, has demonically-bulging eyes and a shrill voice.

 

It is not surprising then that his death proves to be as gruesome as his character sketch is. Well, kids, beware of Judge Doom if you are yet to see Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

 

 

2. General Woundwort (Watership Down)

 

 

General Woundwort is the main antagonist of the book Watership Down, and the feature film, television series, and all other screen adaptations of the same title.

 

The Chief Rabbit of Efrafa is a thuggish, shrewd, and utterly insensitive tyrant who sees himself as the one doing everything he can for the best of his warren.

 

He is a brutal and tyrannical leader who is larger and more muscular than most rabbits in his vicinity.

 

Add to that the fact that he has razor-sharp claws and cold eyes. After having grown into a fully developed rabbit, Woundwort ensured to swiftly usurp leadership, killing the chief rabbit and a rival named Fiorin.

 

 

1. Orcs and Nazgûl (The Lord of the Rings)

 

 

In Ralph Bakshi's 1978 animated adaptation of Lord of the Rings, which was made using live-action footage, Tolkien's monsters are truly the stuff of nightmares.

 

When Orcs and Nazgûl appear on the screen, they, more than anything else, come off as black holes in a cartoon landscape and also probably repulsive intruders from some different realm altogether.

 

While the Orcs were the primary soldiers of the Dark Lords' armies and their most common servants, the Nazgûl were also the dreaded ring-servants of the Dark Lord Sauron in Middle-earth throughout the Second and Third Ages.