Disney has been a beloved film company to audiences everywhere for decades. The brand has produced films like Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, The Rescuers, and - through Pixar - Toy Story. These films have made us laugh (The Emperor's New Groove) and some have even made us shed a tear or two (Up).
Disney is something we hold near and dear to many of our hearts, something that provides guidance in good times and bad. Of course, these films are endlessly quoted or referenced (not that anyone minds). In this line-up of Disney classics, we've seen many villains - some more evil than others. Here's 10 you may have been underestimating over the years.
Ratigan
The Great Mouse Detective's main villain is a rat who seeks to rule over all the mice of England, despite being a rat himself. He has his moments of evil (like when he tries to kill Basil, Dawson, and little Olivia), but for the most part, can be widely regarded as a joke of a villain.
Yet, dig deeper and it soon becomes apparent that Ratigan is truly unstable. Considering his identity crisis in his denial of being a rat, it makes him mentally unstable to some degree. You never know what that kind of instability, combined with his thirst for power, could have led to had Basil not swooped in to save the day.
Captain Hook
Known as Peter Pan's greatest foe, Captain Hook is best remembered for snapping at his sidekick, Mr. Smee, and running from his ever-present pursuer, the crocodile. Upon first glance, Hook doesn't seem so threatening.
Nevertheless, his persistent desire to kill Peter and the other Lost Boys is quite serious. Furthermore, Hook certainly never appears guilty or conflicted about it. We may have underestimated his villainous nature.
Edgar Balthazar
The Aristocats features Edgar as the central villain and the main obstacle to Duchess and her three kittens. In this case, the butler actually did it. His efforts to get rid of his employer's cats are thwarted and overcome in one of Disney's famous happy endings.
Yet, Edgar's greediness for his employer's fortune prompted the villain to perform some truly nasty acts. He was reckless when it came to the care of the cats and he obviously had no respect for his employer, exemplifying a lack of moral obligation or a conscience. Edgar was served just desserts in the end, much to our amusement.
Bruce
In Finding Nemo, Bruce (the shark) pledges that he has sworn off fish. For the most part, Bruce is a supporting character rather than a villain. Unfortunately, the shark loses control when Dory begins to bleed following an accidental hit to her nose, causing Bruce to give into nature and chase after some fish. By the film's end, Bruce and his two buddies are happily visiting the reef where Marlin and Nemo reside.
The thing is, Bruce and his two friends will always be unreliable characters; they will always have an internal struggle to go against their natural instincts and thus that makes them threats.
Madame Medusa
Trashy but ambitious, The Rescuers' Madame Medusa is diamond-obsessed and relentless. She's cruel, twisted, and insists that child abuse is the way to get children to like you. Her crazy driving, consistent insults to Snoops, and outrageous demands render her an almost comical character.
Yet, Medusa's threats to kidnapped orphan Penny ("you'll never see daylight again!") and her neglect of children, in general, secure her spot as an underrated villain on this list.
Kaa
"Trust in me..."
Kaa's most memorable line in The Jungle Book is just the opposite of what you should do when approaching Kaa. He hypnotizes his victims before squeezing them to death. Luckily, Kaa fails to get Mowgli and ends up with a knot in his tail.
The thing that makes Kaa dangerous as a villain is that the snake's target does not necessarily see the danger coming, especially when there's Shere Khan overshadowing the reptile. Kaa is dangerous in his own way, so Mowgli should not underestimate his capabilities.
Percival C. McLeach
A menacing poacher in Australia, McLeach kidnaps a young boy named Cody, hoping he will lead him to a rare eagle that is worth a lot of money. This sends Bianca and Bernard to Cody's rescue in The Rescuers Down Under. McLeach is selfish and obviously has no respect for human life (he tries to feed Cody to the crocodiles at one point in the film).
The poacher immediately comes off as mean; the thing is, McLeach has a depth of cruelty that separates him from most of Disney's other antagonists. He didn't make it all the way through the third grade for nothing, and we shudder to think of the malicious acts he's committed as a poacher over the years (especially considering his vehement pursuit of the rare eagle and his willingness to sacrifice a young boy to get it).
Jackson Storm
Cars 3 finds Lightning McQueen feeling phased out of the racing industry by younger cars (Jackson Storm) backed by the newest technology and gadgetry. Storm isn't short on jibes and unnecessarily taunts McQueen, even causing a crash as McQueen strives to keep up with Storm on the racetrack.
The underrated component about Storm as a villain is simple: He is realistic. Many people feel threatened by new and upcoming people in their industries and even their lives. No doubt Storm's presence struck chords with members of the audience who could relate to McQueen's struggle, making him an underrated villain.
Sid
Everyone - toys included - is terrified of Sid. He tortures the life out of toys simply for his own amusement. He nearly destroys Buzz with a rocket until the toys teach him a lesson to be more respectful. The underrated aspect regarding Sid is the meaning behind why he tortures his toys.
Was he a serial killer in the making? Or, a disturbed child in a chaotic household looking to release some tension? The answers are limitless and may have fueled a far more dangerous boy (if you can believe it) had Woody and Buzz not intervened.
Cruella de Vil
Cruella of 101 Dalmatians is no doubt among one of Disney's most immoral villains, and perhaps even one of the most underrated. She's crazy, eccentric, manipulative, and power-hungry. Cruella still brings the laughs with her psycho tendencies (like engaging in a driving duel while the dalmatians are making their escape) but she was willing to kill puppies for coats. Worse yet, she paid Jasper and Horace to do her dirty work. If you've got a song describing your awfulness, it's a sure sign you are evil. Don't underestimate anyone named "de Vil."
Without villains, there wouldn't be much for our Disney heroes to overcome. They are a crucial part of the story. While some are beyond heinous, it doesn't take away from Disney's wholesome themes. The villains' true depth of evil is meant to serve as a counter to the protagonist's heroic drive; if it was more focused upon, we'd be more disturbed than enchanted by Disney films.