10 Greatest Animated Villains of the 21st Century, Ranked

The 21st century has seen massive changes in the world of animation. It saw CGI supplant 2D as the main animation style in the West, while new studios have risen to challenge Disney’s dominance. Now there are many animation studios, such as Disney, Pixar, DreamWorks, and Sony Pictures, allowing for a vast selection of different animation styles and engaging stories.

With new animated films also comes new animated villains. Many of the best films of the last 25 years also have fantastic antagonists, brought to life through excellent voice work and character writing. This list will rank the best animated villains of the last quarter-century, and considering there is an embarrassment of riches to choose from, it won’t be an easy task. Everyone has their pick for who could be the best villain of the 21st century, so consider this ranking just one of many.

10

Dr. Facilier – ‘The Princess and the Frog’ (2009)

Thanks to a deal he made with his Friends on the Other Side, Dr. Facilier (Keith David) learned how to practice voodoo magic and uses it for personal gain. When Prince Naveen of Maldonia (Bruno Campos) visits New Orleans, Dr. Facilier tricks him into a deal that turns him into a frog and collects his blood inside a magic talisman. He then recruits Naveen’s disgruntled manservant, Lawrence (Peter Bartlett), to wear the amulet and become the prince’s doppleganger as part of a plot to acquire the fortune of Big Daddy La Bouff (John Goodman).

Dr. Facilier is the last Disney villain who feels like one of their classic rogues, mixing a charlatan’s charm with malicious intent. His use of voodoo magic is also unique, as it gives him a look and style that sets him apart from other spellcasters like Jafar or Maleficent, and allows the film to get creative with his spells and minions. Finally, there is David’s performance, which is the perfect voice to lure you into a false sense of security.

9

Tai Lung – ‘Kung Fu Panda’ (2008)

Raised by kung fu Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman), Tai Lung (Ian McShane) was pushed to be the best warrior he could be, but it wasn’t enough. He wanted to claim the Dragon Scroll, but was denied by Master Oogway (Randall Duk Kim), who subdued Tai Lung when he tried to claim it by force. Tai Lung was then imprisoned for 20 years, but broke free to claim the title of Dragon Warrior and defeat anyone who stood in his way.

Tai Lung is a cautionary tale about pushing others too hard and telling children that they are destined for greatness. He believes his worth comes from constant success, and when he can’t get what he wants, he lashes out with violence and anger, captured beautifully through McShane’s voice work. Ultimately, what sets Tai Lung apart from the real Dragon Warrior, Po (Jack Black), is that, while they both struggled with their self-image, Po accepted his limitations and embraced what made him unique. Meanwhile, Tai Lung’s entitlement makes him focus only on his goal, leaving him with nothing else.

8

Big Jack Horner – ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ (2022)

After being upstaged by Pinocchio (Cody Cameron) as a boy, Jack Horner (John Mulaney) inherited his parents’ baked goods empire and became obsessed with magic. He spent much of his time collecting magical artifacts and creatures, mainly so that he would have them over anyone else. When the map of the last Wishing Star is found, Jack hires bounty hunters to get it, with ambitions to wish for all the world’s magic for himself.

While Death (Wagner Moura) is the stand-out antagonist of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, Big Jack Horner is the movie’s true villain. He’s a great throwback to classic animated villains: he has no tragic backstory or Freudian excuse behind his actions; Big Jack just does evil things because he wants to. Mulaney’s gleefully unhinged performance elevates the character even further, and he provides some of the film’s funniest lines.

7

The Spot – ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ (2023)

When Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) stopped Kingpin (Liev Schreiber) and destroyed the Super-Collider, Dr. Johnathon Ohnn (Jason Schwartzman) was caught in the explosion and merged with dark matter. The accident left him without a face, his body pure white, and the ability to open portals. Now known as the Spot, he makes a poor first attempt at supervillainy, but gradually grows into a threat that could destroy the multiverse.

The Spot is a fantastic example of a villain undergoing a considerable character progression. Initially, he is seen as a joke that nobody takes seriously, but once he learns how to properly use his powers, he becomes a terrifying foe motivated by spite. Once he reaches full control, The Spot transforms into something akin to an eldritch horror, and Schwartzman’s voicework changes accordingly, becoming more detached and supernatural.

6

The Fairy Godmother – ‘Shrek 2’ (2004)

Years ago, King Harold (John Cleese) of Far Far Away made a deal with the Fairy Godmother (Jennifer Saunders) that, in exchange for helping him marry his love, Lillian (Dame Julie Andrews), his daughter would one day marry the Fairy Godmother’s son, Prince Charming (Rupert Everett). However, Charming took too long to rescue Fiona (Cameron Diaz) from a dragon-guarded castle, and she instead married the ogre Shrek (Mike Myers). Rather than throw in the towel, Fairy Godmother blackmails Harold to get Shrek out of the picture, because ogres don’t live happily ever after.

Befitting the satirical nature of the Shrek franchise, Fairy Godmother is a hilarious and devious twist on the normally altruistic wish-granter. She instead runs magic like a business, with a factory that is constantly churning out potions and miracles to achieve that perfect fairy tale ending. To the public, she appears as a benevolent and friendly woman with a flair for showmanship. However, behind closed doors, Fairy Godmother reveals herself to be ruthless in pursuit of her goals and devious enough to use people’s greatest loves against them.

5

Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear – ‘Toy Story 3’ (2010)

After being left behind one day, Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear (Ned Beatty) led his fellow toys Big Baby and Chuckles (Bud Lucky) on a perilous journey home. However, their owner had replaced Lotso with another bear, hardening his heart to humans. He then infiltrated Sunnyside Daycare and turned it into a brutal police state, ensuring that older kids would play with him and his minions while new toys were handed over to the youngest.

Lotso is a beautiful example of how villains can have sympathetic backstories while still being irredeemable monsters. While his heart was broken, his actions now are to ensure that he receives as much love and attention as possible, and should anyone try to defy him, he lashes out and makes an example of them to keep others in line. Then there is the fact that Lotso preys on the insecurities and pain of other abandoned toys to keep them loyal, masking his insidious intent with the persona of a kind grandfather who just wants what is best for all toys under his care.

4

Lord Shen – ‘Kung Fu Panda 2’ (2011)

When Lord Shen (Gary Oldman) discovered that his family’s fireworks could be turned into weapons, his parents consulted a Soothsayer (Michelle Yeoh), who warned that a warrior of black and white would defeat Shen if he stayed on this path. Overhearing this, Shen massacred a village of pandas to show that he controlled his fate, prompting his parents to banish him from Gongmen City. Years later, Shen returns to the city with an army, cannons, and ambitions to conquer all of China.

What makes Shen such a great villain, especially compared to the rest of DreamWorks’ lineup, is the tragedy behind his character. His attempts to defy fate have left him scarred and alone, and nothing he does can fill the void, so he fixates on it and grows more bitter as a result. Oldman does a wonderful job capturing this pain and rage, as well as the confident mask that Shen wears when confronting others.

3

The Beldam – ‘Coraline’ (2009)

Beyond a small door in the Pink Palace apartments lies the dwelling of the Beldam (Teri Hatcher), a mysterious creature who spies on the world through dolls and looks for unhappy children. Once she finds one, she lures them to her world, which she alters to be everything they could hope for. That’s when she offers them the chance to stay forever, so long as she can sew black buttons onto their eyes, trapping their souls once she eats them.

The Beldam is one of the most terrifying villains in any family film because of how insidious her methods are. Like a spider waiting in her web, she lures children towards her and preys upon their negative emotions, and when they don’t give in to her demands, she commits petty acts like stealing their parents to force them to come to her. If the Beldam’s plans begin to unravel, so too does her world and her body, finally matching how twisted and monstrous she is on the inside.

2

Syndrome – ‘The Incredibles’ (2004)

During the golden age of superheroes, Buddy (Jason Lee) tried to become the ward of his favorite superhero, Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson), but was rejected. Angered by this, he dedicated himself to inventing powerful weapons, allowing him to amass a fortune and construct a superhero-killing robot called the Omnidroid. He plans to unleash the robot and, using the best weapons he kept for himself, establish himself as a new superhero called Syndrome.

Syndrome stands out as perhaps the best Pixar villain thanks to how far he is willing to go in the name of spite. It’s not enough for him to just kill off living superheroes; he also intends to kill the very idea of superheroes by eventually sharing his technology with the world to make everyone equal. Yet beneath his smug exterior and impressive gadgetry, Syndrome still is that young boy scarred by his hero, and his need to prove his superiority blinds him to the faults in his plan.

1

Yubaba – ‘Spirited Away’ (2001)

Within the Spirit World lives Yubaba (Mari Natsuki/Suzanne Pleshette), a powerful witch who runs a bathhouse for spirits. Should any humans find their way to her establishment, she has spells in place to transform them into pigs, which are fattened up and then served to the guests. As for her employees, Yubaba controls them by taking their names and assigning them new ones, allowing her to use and abuse them to get as much money as possible.

Yubaba is a terrific villain and one of the main reasons for Spirited Away‘s enduring success. Her effectiveness is thanks to her moral complexity: yes, she is a greedy witch who will happily curse others and serve former humans as bacon, but she does possess noble qualities, such as genuine love for her son, Boh (Ryunosuke Kamiki/Tara Strong), and always keeping her word. Yubaba feels more like a realistic person than a caricature, and plays into the movie’s themes about growing up into the complex world of adulthood.