Favorite Things Friday: Disney Villains

Welcome to Zack‘s edition of Favorite Things Friday: Disney Villains!

Hello readers! We have reached the end of another week. Now, this past week was my spring break so I’m not as excited as I usually am for Friday. Today, Princess Danielle has graciously given me the floor for my own edition of Favorite Things Friday.

If you know me at all, you know I LOVE Disney Villains. Well, all villains in movies. A dream of mine is to go to the Villain’s Unleashed Party at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. For example, when Darth Maul died at the end of Star Wars: The Phantom Menance, I cried for a good hour or so. One would think I was upset over the hero Qui-Gon’s death. But no, I cried over the villain. (Princess Danielle edit: he’s such a nerd, so do not feel bad if you have no idea what he is talking about… I don’t!)

There are so many great Disney Villains that are overshadowed by the heroes and princesses. (Princess Danielle edit: AS THEY SHOULD!) It is a difficult task to pick a top five but here are the finalists:

5. Frollo (The Hunchback of Notre Dame, 1996)– This is one of my favorite Disney-Renaissance movies. The music in this film is so amazing and catchy that you cannot help but belt it out in the car with the windows down (no shame at all). In the beginning, Frollo is responsible for Quasimodo’s mother’s death and ultimately
   

   Frollo and I at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in 2012

   becomes responsible for taking care of the child. He is so cruel to him throughout the entire film. His part of the song “Out There” is basically him telling Quasi how ugly and terrible he is. “Hellfire,” sung by Frollo, is a great Disney Villain song that is underappreciated. Frollo’s death is also pretty cool. I mean, he falls from the cathedral into the fire, symbolizing him going to hell.

4. Hades (Hercules, 1997)– “Whoa, is my hair out?” This is one of the films funniest lines and always made me laugh as a child, teen, and 21 year old. Hades is the ruler of the Underworld and wants nothing more than to unleash the Titians and take over Mount Olympus. Hades has two little minions, Pain and Panic, who provide plenty of jokes throughout the movie. Hades meets his demise in the Underworld in the river Styx. “Hades is gonna kill us when he gets out of there!” “You mean if he gets out of there.” “If?… If is good.”

3. Ursula (The Little Mermaid, 1989)– Ohh where to begin with the Sea Witch herself? I love Ursula. She is such a great villain with an AMAZING song, “Poor Unfortunate Souls.” Ursula is diabolical and always is ruining Ariel’s chances for true loves kiss with Eric. Seriously, she turns into a human (named Vanessa) with Ariel’s voice so that that little mermaid doesn’t succeed (see what I did there?). Honestly, I get upset every time she dies. That whole battle scene last a whole 5 seconds and she’s barely the ruler of the ocean. In bonus features of the Platinum Edition of the movie, they reveal that Ursula is actually King Triton’s sister; clearly some family drama under the sea.

2. Maleficent (Sleeping Beauty, 1959)– All hail the Mistress of all Evil. Look, she’s just upset for not getting an invitation to Aurora’s christening. I would be upset too if the whole kingdom got an invite and not me! She is by far the coolest Villain. She turns into a DRAGON! And not a Mushu-sized dragon, but a massive “watch out, here I
   

   Maleficent at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in 2012

   am” dragon. The battle scene of Maleficent and Phillip is just so amazing. Think about it, in 1959 there were no computers to assist the animators. This is all hand-drawn people!! Take a moment to appreciate it. Now, personally I’m not that big of a fan of the live-action Maleficent (2014). I’m not really fond of Angelina Jolie to start, and honestly found the movie to be a letdown to the awesome villain from the original 1959 film.

1. Scar (The Lion King, 1994)– The Lion King was the first movie I ever saw in theaters and is my number one favorite Disney movie. It is such a 90’s kids staple, and I grew up with Lion King everything! My parents were loyal customers to The Disney Store. I do not blame Scar for not being fond of his new nephew; he’s now behind another lion in the lineup for king of Pride Rock. He is full of sass and sarcasm, kind of like me. Scar sends a young, naïve Simba to the elephant graveyard knowing that this could kill him. Scar also brings him down to the gorge where he plans to kill him as well as Mufasa. After finding out that Simba survives, he sends the hyenas (Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed) to finish the job. The final battle between Scar and Simba is a great, action packed sequence. Scar meets his demise from his henchmen, the hyenas; how ironic.

Trust me, making this list was very difficult and some of my other favorites didn’t make the cut. Here are some honorable mentions:

• Commander Lyle Tiberius Rourke (Atlantis: The Lost Empire, 2001)
• Facilier (The Princess and the Frog, 2009)
• Gaston (Beauty and the Beast, 1991) (Princess Danielle edit: MY FAVORITE)
• King Candy / Turbo (Wreck-it Ralph, 2012)
• Mother Gothel (Tangled, 2010)
• Yzma (The Emperor’s New Groove, 2000)