Disney villains. They have no choice but to be what they are. They were written that way. But even villains want happy endings; in fact, most of the time, it's the reason for their actions. But instead of being noble and using honest means, they resort to cruel trickery and magic. Because why should someone else be happy while they suffer?
This list is a compilation of artists who have decided to show some compassion and have animated a different life for these wronged friends. A life where they are the heroes.
Updated June 3rd, 2020 by Meg Pelliccio: Whenever fans watch a film or read a story with a strong villain in it, they often can't help but ask the question at what point in that person's life did they become destined to be "the bad guy". Were they born that way, or did something happen to them that made them hate the world or the hero so much? If something about their past had been different, could they have been one of the good guys?
Disney is no stranger to gifting viewers with detailed, multi-layered villains, and if anything, it makes us wonder all the more how these characters became so jaded. Fortunately, with such a massive fan base there are talented artists on hand who have taken it upon themselves to re-envision some of the Disney villains as good guys.
Scar: Better Brother
Via: Diego32Tiger
Scar is one of the most iconic villains of the Disney universe, someone that fans love to hate and one of the villains who received one of the best songs in their film. We know that Scar longs to be king, so much so that he is willing to kill his brother and nephew for it. But what if once he had killed Mufasa he then realized his mistake?
The idea of instantly regretting his misdeed is a sad thought. If The Lion King had followed this route, to repent for his sins, Scar could have gone on to be a better uncle and helped Simba to become the king the pride needed.
Dr. Facilier: The Shadow Man Can
Via DrZime
Voodoo isn't necessarily bad magic, there are good practitioners of voodoo too, and what if Dr. Facilier from The Princess and the Frog had been one of those? He could have used his talents and "friends on the other side" to help people rather than hurt them for this own gain.
This fan art image shows how he could have helped others, cleverly playing on his title of "The Shadow Man" and portraying him re-attaching Peter Pan's shadow to his soles. Both the shadow of Dr. Facilier and Peter Pan are shown to be self-aware in their respective films, so it's nice to see the shadows having their own interaction in this artwork too.
Frollo: The Father He Could Have Been
Via KelpGull
In The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Frollo is forced to raise Quasimodo as his own after the archdeacon infers he needs to repent for killing Quasimodo's mother. The original book by Victor Hugo actually tells it a little differently, with Frollo choosing to take the baby in. What if Disney had made Frollo more of a sympathetic character? Or what if he had been a better father to Quasimodo?
After all, Quasimodo was obedient and loyal to Frollo despite Frollo being mean to him, until he met Esmerelda of course. Imagine what kind of relationship he and Frollo could have had if Frollo had reciprocated that love and respect?
Turbo: Lessons on the Track
Via Turbotastique
Wreck-it Ralph presented viewers with some rather deep themes in its film, questioning the concept of what makes people the "bad guy," judging others on their looks or status, breaking boundaries, and building bridges. One of the saddest things about the film is actually how similar Turbo and Vanellope are, both showing two very different roads that their character type could have taken.
Vanellope was so desperate to race that she practiced and fought hard to prove herself, only resorting to breaking and entering because she was not allowed in otherwise. Turbo, on the other hand, wanted to race so badly he lied to and manipulated everyone around him, eventually claiming something as his own when it wasn't. But imagine if the two characters had been able to share this bond, Turbo could have been the racing mentor that Vanellope always wanted.
Hans: The Happy Ending
When viewers first watched Frozen, it seemed like Hans and Anna were a match made in heaven. Spoiler alert: they weren't. But what if things had been different? What if, even though Hans began his little love affair as a ruse for his own selfish reasons, he eventually went on to realize that he was onto a good thing? What if he had actually fallen for Anna while deploying his deception?
Of course, it wouldn't be a happy ending for Kristoff, but it's kind of nice to imagine these two members of royalty actually getting together and joining two kingdoms.
Hades: Working Hero
Via: Ponce Industries
Hades is shown in this fan art as loving. He's sassy, of course, but he's not the evil people claim he is. Hades is portrayed as someone who doesn't care so much about the family drama or want to be involved up top in Olympus.
He's perfectly happy doing his job and having a blast doing it. Hades gets the bad wrap because it's easy to put the blame on the guy who has to shepherd the dead.
Randall: Heroic In Redemption
Via: Yula568
Sometimes the most heroic thing a person can do is to admit they made a mistake. Heroes don't have to be all pomp and glory, capes, and big death-defying stunts. Anyone can be a hero. But Monsters, Inc. gave Randall the villainous role.
But Monsters University (2013) takes the audience way back to when Randall was just a nerd and roommates with Mike. Showing he's not randomly angry and competitive. He got lost, ignored, and mixed in with the wrong people. But this fan art gives him redemption.
Gaston: House Hero
Via: Coffee Vulture
Big, burly Gaston has turned around. He's no longer the man who grunts at women who read because they'll start getting ideas. Instead, he's the man who believes women can do what men can. He believes in the equality of men and women.
This fan art makes him a house hero, incorporating his song lyrics onto his apron. Gaston cleans, cooks, and reads with a smile on his face and no complaints.
Scar: Long Live The King
Via: Nighteba
There are a lot of fan art reimaginings that involve Scar being remorseful for what he has done to Mufasa, standing over his brother's body in tears. But this fan art gives a bit more spice to the original story, reimaging Mufasa as the villain. Now Scar is the one holding on for dear life.
His fate is resting in the claws of his brother. No one likes to think of Mufasa being the big bad, his laugh and love for Simba are legendary. Why couldn't Scar and Mufasa just get along? That's another reimagining for sure.
Ursula: Loving Aunt
Via: Ravietta
In this fan art, Ursula has been reimagined as a loving aunt. The Deviant Artist used the scrapped Disney idea that Triton and Ursula were siblings as inspiration. It would have been nice to see Ursula with her power and strength being used for good.
To see her loving and soft side make an appearance. Many fans think she had it in her, using the proof that Ursula could have given Ariel any type of legs but kept her bargain pure and worthy.
Maleficent: Hero Who Loves Black
Via: Caskippe
Maleficent is the villain in Disney's Sleeping Beauty. She is fiery, clad in black and petty to the next level. This fan art shows Maleficent in a softer light, no longer as angular and sharp. She has big eyes and is wearing Aurora's blue dress but wondering if it comes in black. Just because she's a hero, it doesn't mean black is off the table. Style is her thing, after all.
The Evil Queen: Drop The "E" Word
Via: Precia-T
Who said two people can't both be beautiful? That magic mirror had it all wrong and is obviously the real villain. In this fan art, The Evil Queen, now just The Queen, and Snow White, are taking a leisurely stroll.
Things seem to be going well since the Queen still has her crown and there are no apples in sight. An evil step-mom? More like a loving and healthy mother-daughter relationship.
Mayor Bellwether: A Mother Is A Hero Like No Other
Via: Must Love Frogs
Mayor Bellwether is a mother in this Deviant Artist's fan art. Being a parent is one of the most difficult jobs in the world. To care for the life of another and make sure that they grow up happy and safe. Moms and dads are often compared to superheroes because they have to be in so many places at once.
Homework, cleaning, traveling, working, cooking. Bellwether is shown here advising her lamb not to eat the blue ones. In the movie Zootopia, the blue ones are also referred to as the Night Howlers and harm anyone who goes near them.
Step Family: Kind And Beautiful
Via: M-Mannering
This Deviant Artist has reimagined Cinderella's step-family to be kind and beautiful. There's no need for antagonists in the story when they could have been Cinderella's best friends and help her get everything she wanted.
If they were good people, they would have let her go to the ball; there just wouldn't have been any drama concerning the circumstances in which she went. No clock striking midnight or Fairy Godmother. No birds attacking or heels cut and bleeding.
Cruella: Animal Lover
Via: Precia-T
Cruella is rethinking her puppy coat in this fan art piece. She's having a lovely time playing with the Dalmations. She doesn't seem to have any devilish instinct or a skinning knife around. She's made her peace with Pongo and Perdita.
A true animal lover. And even though she lives for and worships furs, she might just be living for the faux fur life instead. After all, the environment needs protection.