With Hocus Pocus 2 set to premiere on September 30th of 2022, Disney fans everywhere are eagerly awaiting the triumphant return of the Sanderson Sisters to their screens. While Winnie, Sarah, and Mary are a set of sensational, sinister, and seasonal villains, they prove the very Disneyfied maxim that "teamwork makes the dream work."
Many villains have their own personal lackeys or henchmen, and some have even gone on to be equally as popular as their evil employers. But with characters like Iago, Le Fou, Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed earning some time in the spotlight, there are many minions that have fallen to the wayside in recent years. These unsung hellions have given their all in the name of villainy, and are more than deserving of a little recognition.
The Magic Mirror (Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs)
Despite appearing in a number of shows, video games, and merchandise, the Magic Mirror is often cast in the shadow of the wicked queen he serves. In retrospect, he clearly deserves more credit than he's given, seeing how his act of divination is what triggers the action of the story.
While there have been many variations of Snow White's tale, the Disney incarnation of the Magic Mirror is the most recognizable. The image of the ghoulish green face amongst the smoke and flame is one that would be permanently associated with both the story and even the character of the Evil Queen herself.
Maleficent’s Goons (Sleeping Beauty)
Disney's Mistress of All Evil is typically associated with two animal figures in her career, that being her famous dragon form and her flying familiar, Diablo. However, even some of the most dedicated fans easily forget that Maleficent has her own army of armed goons ready to do her bidding.
Similar to characters like Sauron or Darth Vader, Maleficent has her own army of armored minions that are more than willing to raid villages and forests at her command. While they might be dimwitted and "a disgrace to the forces of evil," they have it down when it comes to loyalty.
Trigger And Nutsy (Robin Hood)
Disney's version of Robin Hood is perhaps one of the most beloved, and while it certainly has its memorable villains in the form of Prince John, Sir Hiss, and the "honorable" Sheriff of Nottingham, this pair of bird-brained buzzards are just as fiendish and fun. Trigger and Nutsy might just be comic relief, but at least they commit to the act.
One's a loudmouth, the other is trigger-happy, but at least their hearts are in the right place. Even when their bosses are beaten and sent to the chain gang, they're still keeping their posts as a pair of guards. At least they're a dedicated duo.
Wiggins (Pocahontas)
"And he came so highly recommended." Mr. Wiggins is Governor Ratcliffe's giddy little manservant who's typically found at his master's heels in the settlement scenes of the movie. He doesn't do anything particularly evil, but he does act as a comedic foil and delightful antithesis to Ratcliffe's character.
Where Ratcliffe is large, important, and dark, Wiggins is light, bouncy, and comes with a brightly-hued color palate that practically makes him pop off the screen. Loyal to a fault, kind-hearted, and cheerful in his work, he clearly deserves a better work environment and employer than his current assignment.
Stain (Alice In Wonderland)
Tim Burton's adaptation of Alice in Wonderland wasn't a perfect rendition, though it very well could have been. But in spite of its faults, it gave viewers some pretty memorable characters, all with Burton's marvelous and eccentric touch. However, one of the main cast continues to be overlooked, and he goes by the name of Stain.
The Knave of Hearts is easily one of the most underappreciated villains in Disney's roster, and he's much more than the average sidekick. The one-eyed warrior brought to life by Crispin Glover is a sly and skeevish enforcer of the Red Queen and is as vicious and vile as they come, especially when he corners Alice in the castle hall. Truly an underrated and underutilized character.
Doug, Woolter, and Jesse (Zootopia)
Zootopia broke a lot of stereotypes when it premiered back in 2016, but one of the most unexpected creative choices was casting the sheep as the villains. Normally, sheep are far from the most intimidating of species, but Woolter, Jesse, and Doug were a trio of surprisingly intimidating henchmen under Bellwether's employ.
While two of them might have just been thrown in for a Breaking Bad reference, the use of sheep is both a clever use of species and a slight nod as to who the surprise villain is at the end. They might be wild-eyed and wooly, but that's not to say that they aren't decent at their jobs.
The Creeper (The Black Cauldron)
Taking one or two notes from Gollum, the fiendish Creeper serves as the put-upon little toady for the horrifying Horned King in Disney's Black Cauldron. While there are those uptight viewers that might find the Creeper annoying and unnecessary, he's actually an ingenious addition to the Horned King's court.
The Horned King is one of Disney's darkest characters to date, and every scene he's in absolutely drips with the gruesome and grim. Having his little green goblin around gives a much-needed breath of levity to break the tension of every scene he steps into.
Mr. Snoops (The Rescuers)
When it comes to obscurity, Madame Medusa and her bespectacled Lackey, Mr. Snoops, are equally matched. However, while the madame herself might be more memorable for her Swamp Mobile and penchant for alligators, her nerdy assistant has all but fallen to the wayside in recent years.
While Snoops might not have done much to aid in the conquest of the Devil's Eye Diamond, he did have a certain talent for fireworks. Hardcore Disney buffs will also know that his design and character model came from the animation historian and friend of the studio, John Cullhane. So, in a way, Snoops had a better career outside the studio than he did with Madame Medusa.
Johanna (The Rescuers Down Under)
While Madame Medusa and her friend Mr. Snoops might have been frequently forgotten in the first movie, the sequel to The Rescuers had a much more memorable pair of poachers. Percival C. McLeach had the phenomenal advantage of being voiced by George C. Scott, but he also came accompanied by his own creepy little sidekick in the form of Johanna.
Johanna is McLeach's slinky little monitor lizard who is never far from his side. She's much more cartoony than her human owner, resulting in some very comedic sequences between the two characters, particularly the scene with the lunchbox full of eggs. Not exactly the most complex of villainous sidekicks, but Johanna is easily one of the most entertaining.
Alonzo (101 Dalmatians)
The 1996 live-action remake of 101 Dalmatians did a lot of things in Cruella's favor, but it also gave her the addition of a butler/personal assistant who instantly became the character's personal punching bag. Alonzo is to Cruella as Alfred is to Batman, although the dedicated service is hardly as appreciated or rewarded.
Alonzo's main purpose in the film is to show just how cruel Cruella can be. He's berated, overworked, and more than likely underpaid while constantly under his employer's spiked stilettos. Fortunately, he did at least get a bit of karmic justice in the sequel.