Top 10 Best Villain Entrances in Animated Movies

“Hercules” begins with the Muses singing, but it doesn’t take long for us to head to the eponymous hero’s christening. But the real man of the moment here is Hades, God of the Underworld and wicked uncle in residence. Silhouetted against a pillar, this specter at the feast has all eyes on him from his very first line. Zeus’ little brother is clearly the black sheep of the family, but as he wise-cracks his way through the disapproving guests we can immediately tell that he’s going to be entertaining. Hades may be one of Disney’s most charismatic villains, but as the Muses warn us, you really don’t want to get on his bad side.

Gru may not be a bad guy in the traditional sense - he’s the hero of the story, after all - but supervillain is his chosen profession. When we first meet our crafty protagonist, he’s indulging in some everyday acts of villainy - taunting a child, cutting in line, and threatening his neighbor in a mild-mannered sort of way. It’s dastardly behavior, but it’s pretty funny too. The opening scenes quickly establish the character as a bit of a meanie, but Gru never does anything truly despicable. Plus, he looks so happy when he’s causing mayhem that he remains stubbornly loveable.

Gary Oldman voices the evil Sir Ruber in this Arthurian animated tale, and he’s not the kind of villain you forget in a hurry. We first meet the renegade knight in a pivotal prologue scene, where he murders Sir Lionel, the father of Kayley, our heroine. Masked and flanked by henchmen, Ruber returns years later to the family he wronged - but he’s not there to make amends. There’s a real sense of threat to his arrival, but as villain entrances go, it’s pretty epic. Kayley manages to escape the antagonist’s clutches, but not before she and her mom witness a dramatic song and the transformation of Ruber’s cronies into weapons of war.

“FernGully” is an animated nineties film about fairies, but there are some deeper themes at play. The movie has an environmentalist message about the destruction of the rainforests, so technically the real villain is humanity. However, the devastating effects of pollution are personified in the character of Hexxus, an evil spirit who’s released when humans cut down the tree he’s been trapped in. The slippery bad guy slithers onto screen in the form of mobile dark sludge, but as he feeds on oil and smoke he begins to take on a physical form. Tim Curry’s seductive vocal brings the sinister spirit to life in a bluesy villain song that tells us all we need to know about the character.

“A Bug’s Life” tells the story of a colony of ants, who every year are forced to gather food for the grasshoppers, a horrible band of bigger bugs led by the one-eyed Hopper. From his first moments on screen, it’s obvious that this is a villain to be reckoned with. The tension builds as the ants realize that something’s gone wrong and they’ll have to face their evil overlords. The grasshoppers burst onto the scene en masse, but it’s Hopper alone who commands the room. Twice the size of the ants, he leads by fear and intimidation, employing a cold intelligence and mocking wit to keep the ants in their place. Plus there’s his savage attack sidekick, Thumper.

In one of Disney’s most atmospheric opening sequences, we’re introduced to Shan Yu, leader of the Hun army. A lone soldier walks the Great Wall of China, guarding his post, when he hears the screech of a bird of prey. It’s a warning call, signaling an attack. As the music ramps up the tension, a flurry of grappling hooks fly over the wall, followed soon after by their owners. The soldier rushes to light the beacon, but the enemy shows none of the same panic. When Shan Yu appears, he cuts an intimidating figure. His calm demeanor and cruel smile mark him as a real threat before he even says a word. When he does speak, it’s just enough to keep us intrigued.

All the best animated baddies have a villain song, but no one’s introduction is quite like Cruella de Vil’s. Composed by the husband of her old school friend, her theme might not be particularly complimentary, but it’s definitely catchy. After screeching up the street in her fancy car, Cruella’s shadow falls against the glass pane of Roger and Anita’s front door. As she walks up the path the anticipation builds until the door bursts open and she makes her big entrance. Loud, crass but indisputably glamorous, she’s as camp as Christmas - an almost pantomime villainess. With her two tone hair, cigarette holder, and fur, she acts as a stark contrast to the demure Anita, and steals the show from the moment she arrives.

When Bob Parr decided to take on some secret superhero work behind his wife’s back, he didn’t know he was being manipulated by a slighted fan turned supervillain. We first meet the freckle-faced Buddy at the beginning of the movie. However, the next time we see him, the little kid who hero-worshiped Mr. Incredible has turned into Syndrome. Now, he’s an evil genius with a grudge and some pretty awesome gadgets. His robot gets Mr. Incredible right where he wants him - but would he really be a proper supervillain if he just finished the job there and then? Of course not – so naturally, he reveals his identity and starts monologuing - but the initial reveal is still effective.

The eponymous anti-hero of this DreamWorks superhero comedy tries hard to be the best villain he can be - but it’s not really in his nature. Still, after he finally succeeds in beating his rival, Metro Man, and taking over the city, Megamind celebrates with style. It’s not the first time we see him, but it’s an entrance for the ages. Blasting AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell” the blue character makes his triumphant way up to city hall. There’s smoke, strobe lights, and a confused crowd of spectators, but Megamind is loving it. It’s a shame his trusty minion gets the tracks mixed up, but everyone got what he was going for, right?

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Shere Khan, “The Jungle Book” (1967)
The Tiger Introduces Himself to Mowgli with a Scary Solo

Scar, “The Lion King” (1994)
He Plays with His Food & Our Minds

Lord Farquaad, “Shrek” (2001)
He’s Short in Stature but He Makes a Big Impression

Claude Frollo, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (1996)
The Judge Casts a Long Shadow

The Other Mother, “Coraline” (2009)
Those Button Eyes Would Give Anyone a Shock

We couldn’t talk about villain intros without mentioning the original Disney party crasher, Maleficent. She wasn’t invited to Princess Aurora’s christening, but we can all agree that was a mistake - and not just because she’s fabulous. After all, it’s probably not the best idea to offend someone with the power to bestow a fatal curse. The villainess joins the event once the good fairies have begun giving their gifts. An ill wind blows and a dark shape materializes in the room. The wicked fairy then does her worst. The distinctive aristocratic tones in actress Eleanor Audley’s voice lend the character a terrifying gravitas, making her one of the most memorable Disney baddies ever. Maleficent definitely knows how to make an entrance.