This shady sorcerer of Agrabah is one of Disney's most notorious and most popular villains. With his twisted beard, maniacal laugh, and serpentine staff, Jafar is unmistakable as a malicious magic-user. He's beguiled and bewitched the sultan and possessed phenomenal cosmic powers. What more could a villain ask for, or could we ask of a villain?
With such a highly impressive pedigree, what lies behind those sunken, sinister features? Who is the man who holds the staff? Well, hop a carpet and fly, readers. We're surfing the sands and searching the Cave of Wonders for some surprising Jafar trivia.
A Chance in Hades
The 90s were a great time for Disney, weren't they? The films were all memorable and stylish, and their animated spinoffs weren't bad either. The ones based on Hercules and Aladdin were certainly enjoyable, but what if they came together?
In a chance encounter in the underworld, the Lord of the Dead finds a kindred spirit in the Sorcerer of Agrabah. When both realize they've suffered humiliating defeats at the hands of their respective heroes, they decide to come together to make things a little more interesting. Too bad we can't have more Disney cross-overs this cool.
A Gruesome End
Let's be honest, Disney's direct-to-video sequels are not exactly the company's best and brightest work. With watered-down animation and a slew of other gripes, they're not always worthy of the Disney name. However, there are a few hidden gems. The Return of Jafar definitely had its problems, but it did bring back a classic villain.
The movie brought Jafar out of the Cave of Wonders to wreak his vengeance on Aladdin and company. It also shows Jafar suffer one of the most gruesome defeats ever made by Disney. Once his lamp is destroyed, Jafar is literally vaporized in graphic detail.
Learning From the Classics
Jafar certainly has a distinct look and persona, doesn't he? The character had a lot of different influences, but one of his real-life inspirations was actor Conrad Veidt's portrayal of the Jaffar, the evil sorcerer in The Thief of Bagdad. From the style of his costume to his facial hair, there are several notes of Jafar in this character.
The facial features, dark robes, and mystical demeanor echo back into the animated character. It definitely makes us want to watch the original film to see more of this familiar face.
Maleficent Influence
Another source of inspiration for the character was animator Marc Davis's designs for Maleficent. Disney's infamous Mistress of All Evil is certainly a wellspring of villainous features, so it's no wonder Jafar took a few cues from her. Though lacking her feminine graces, there are a few traces of her in his design.
His flowing garments and choice of magical weaponry mimic Maleficent magnificently. Both are spellcasters that change into giant reptiles, both wield the power of fire, and both are quick with a verbal jab at the hero. Looks like Jafar definitely learned from the best.
Captain On the Bridge
Before the talented Jonathan Freeman stepped into his pointy shoes, the role of Jafar was originally intended for another famous actor of stage and screen. Unfortunately, said actor was tied down to another famous role on a popular series called Star Trek: The Next Generation. That actor was Sir Patrick Stewart.
Stewart was reluctant to pass up the role, and it was not the first time he declined a role for Walt Disney Pictures. Previously, he was offered the role of Cogsworth in Beauty and the Beast but had to decline due to Star Trek conflicts.
A Change in Direction
Aside from his super-creepy laughter, Jafar is one of the more calm, cool, and collected villains in Disney's rogues gallery. He doesn't even raise his voice until the start of the second act. This works perfectly when set against his shouting, squawking companion, Iago, but it was not always supposed to be that way.
Originally, Jafar had more of a Queen of Hearts-styled demeanor and Iago was the quiet and calculating one. The film-makers noticed this didn't exactly fit the tone they were hoping for, so they had their personalities switched. As strange as it sounds, it would be somewhat interesting seeing what might have been.
Designed by Deja
Disney animator Andreas Deja is responsible for a great deal of what makes Jafar work. Deja is the brilliant artistic mind behind famous characters like Scar, Gaston, and the Horned King. Much like Marc Davis, he has a knack for making great villains.
Deja's designs for Jafar were phenomenally reminiscent of classic Disney villains; lots of black capes, evil smiles, and exaggerated features. His art style is distinct and very memorable but takes cues from what makes the character stick with the viewer. Without him, Jafar wouldn't benearly as iconic as he is.
Humiliate the Boy
Every villain needs a show-stopping villain song, right? Especially when you have someone like Alan Menken doing the lyrics. Scar has "Be Prepared" and Ursula has "Poor Unfortunate Souls." Jafar doesn't exactly have an original song, but that wasn't always the case.
Before singing a reprisal of "Prince Ali," Jafar had a little diddy called "Humiliate the Boy." This number was 80% vaudeville slapstick and 20% creepy. We're talking a sequence where Aladdin's hair falls out and all his treasures turn to flies, rats, and fleas. Seeing how this sequence didn't fit in with the film or the character, it was cut. In the end, sometimes less is more.
Twisted Sister
We don't know if we should count this as canon, but it's certainly worth exploring. Disney Interactive released a video game title that sorta served as a follow-up to Return of Jafar. In Nasira's Revenge, we're introduced to Jafar's sister, Nasira, who tries to resurrect Jafar to wreak his revenge on Aladdin.
The game wasn't exactly Kingdom Hearts material, but its premise was interesting, to say the least. Nasira was certainly a memorable foe and we can see the family resemblance, but we think this would do better as an episode of the TV series.
An Impressive Career
We can't leave without talking about Jafar's voice actor, Jonathan Freeman. Yes, we all know how talented he is and how distinct his vocal abilities are, but it's been over twenty years since Aladdin hit theaters and he is STILL playing Jafar. We're not kidding, over twenty years and still playing the same character.
Since 1991, Freeman has played Jafar in the film, the direct-to-video-sequel, Disney Park shows, video games, and even reprised the role on stage for the Broadway musical. That's quite an impressive list of material for one character. You know you've made it big with Disney when you stick to a part for that long.