Disney is known for creating villains who resonate with the audience and become highly popular. Despite the fact that they have immense character flaws and make the heroes' lives so much more difficult. Cruella de Vil is an excellent example of a villain whose eccentric behavior as well as personality made her impossible to overlook. As such, she has been depicted in movies and television multiple times. It helps that Cruella has a very distinct look as well as hobbies - which mostly include collecting the fur of Dalmatian puppies.
Since Cruella is such a popular Disney character her fans easily notice when the way she's depicted doesn't fit the standards they uphold. However, a lot of Cruella's portrayals in movies and televisions count among the best, as they paint the villainous Cruella in a way that makes it impossible not to be invested in her actions.
Cruella From The Animated Series
Cruella not only played a major part in the films but also appeared in 101 Dalmatians: The Series. However, those fans of the villainous character who were looking for her typical portrayal would be disappointed.
This Cruella was much more down to Earth, even though she still showed zero patience when things didn't go her way or people didn't behave as she wanted them to. She also wore no fur and was obsessed with making as much money as possible no matter whether her plans included the Dalmatians or not.
The Cruella From The Book Sequel
Cruella appeared in multiple books, but the first sequel to the novel came out in 1967. In this version, Cruella is still an evil and bitter woman but she no longer ruthlessly pursues the Dalmatians in order to get their fur.
Instead, she tries to restore her lost fortune and make the best for herself. While she's far from sympathetic, the sequel offers a unique way how to look at her character.
Cruella In Her Own Book Origin Story
Emma Stone's Cruella isn't the only one who got the chance to tell her origin story. Cruella who appeared in the book Evil Thing: A Tale of that De Vil Woman by Serena Valentino did the same thing. The readers got to learn more about Cruella's childhood which wasn't happy since her father died and Cruella's mother barely paid attention to her.
In this version, Anita is also Cruella's friend but their paths later separated as Cruella tried to steal Anita's Dalmatian puppies. In her effort to get her revenge, Cruella slides into madness but before that happens, it's intriguing for the readers to find out what Cruella used to be like.
The Audio Cruella
Since Cruella and the story of the 101 Dalmatians is so popular, it appeared in various forms in the media. One of the less known is the audio version. Nevertheless, the fans of the story shouldn't miss it since it gives them the unique opportunity to hear plenty of songs.
The audio version came out in 1996, Patricia Hodge voiced Cruella and her character is fairly close to the way how she's described in the original book from the 1950s.
Cruella In The Simpsons
The Simpsons excel at making fun of popular fictional characters, offering their own take of them. Cruella also had her opportunity to shine on the show, except it was Mr. Burns who acted like her. In the episode Two Dozen and One Greyhounds, Mr. Burns steals the Simpsons' puppies to make them into a tuxedo.
Considering Mr. Burns is just as evil as Cruella, it's fun to watch his take of the famous character. Plus, the audience gets an excellent musical number from Mr. Burns.
Cruella Of Once Upon A Time
The TV show Once Upon a Time managed to portray many well-known fairy-tale characters in a different way and Cruella was one of them. In a wonderfully re-imagined world, Cruella wasn't a fashion icon but instead an evil witch who had the power to control animals. What remained the same was that she turned animals into clothes.
Thanks to Victoria Smurfit's performance, those interested in a different, but still familiar version of Cruella shouldn't miss the fourth and the fifth season of the show where Cruella appears.
The Young Cruella
With the idea to explore Cruella's origin story also came an opportunity to introduce the iconic character in a brand new way. Emma Stone's Cruella does have evil tendencies, but they're very well explained thanks to her uneasy past and her biological bond with the evil Baroness who turns out to be her mother.
Either way, Emma Stone's Estella/Cruella is refreshingly funny, smart, and relentless - so even when her original plan doesn't work, she comes up with another. More importantly, she's not obsessed with killing puppies and getting their fur even though fashion is highly important for her.
Glenn Close As Cruella
Before Emma Stone came along, Glenn Close was known for playing Cruella in the first live-action movie from 1996's 101 Dalmatians, and the sequel 102 Dalmatians from 2002. Albeit older than Stone's version, both portrayals of Cruella have a lot in common. They also work in a fashion house.
Cruella is then pompous and quick to take offense and plot revenge but also devilishly smart and dangerous. Glenn Close's charm and talent made this live version of Cruella a success even though the film itself wasn't as high-rated as previous animated films of the same topic.
The First Animated Cruella
Even though the film is no longer as well-known as it once was, the original animated One Hundred and One Dalmatians movie from 1961 set out an example that many newer movies followed. Thanks to Cruella's voice actress Betty Lou Gerson and her animator Marc Davis, the iconic version of Cruella with her typical mannerisms was created. Unlike the book version of Cruella who was detached and didn't show off her emotions very much, this Cruella was much more unhinged, expressive, in other words, fun to watch.
Cruella decides to steal the puppies from her friend Anita (who also appeared in the latest movie) after Anita refuses to sell them to her. She hires two thugs to do it, Jasper and Horace, but despite all her efforts and cunning nature, Cruella doesn't manage to fulfill her plan.
The Original Cruella
Of course, there would be no Cruella in films and on TV if it wasn't for the book where she appeared for the first time. It happened in the novel The Hundred and One Dalmatians that came out all the way back in 1956. In the original version of the story, Cruella is a rich and cunning London heiress who steals the Dalmatians from Mrs. Dearly, her former classmate.
She's married to a man who makes fur but the marriage is far from happy as Cruella controls her husband and doesn't truly love him. In the end, her evil actions turn against her, and Cruella is forced to flee. In the children's book, Cruella serves as a clear antagonist and she comes across as truly frightening and merciless, with no respect for the feelings of people or the lives of animals.