Top 10 Most Unhinged Disney Characters

“Lilo & Stitch” (2002)

Granted, Pleakley and Jumba are both aliens from totally different worlds, so maybe their personalities are considered normal where they come from. But judging by the Grand Councilwoman’s reaction to them, we suspect not. Neither one of them knows about Earth customs, so part of their strangeness comes from them simply trying to fit in - and not knowing exactly how to figure out what fitting in means here. Which, of course, is also what the whole film is about. Jumba’s weirdness tends to be a bit subtle - certainly compared to the worried and anxious Pleakley. But their odd ways of expressing themselves endear themselves to viewers and make a fun movie even more entertaining.

“Aladdin (1992)


It would be easy to go with the Genie for this entry; after all, he was voiced by Robin Williams, whose performances often made unhinged an artform. But we went with Jafar, perhaps because his villainy is the unhinged flip side of the Genie. Jafar doesn’t let his evil burst through for much of the film. Instead, he lets it boil over in smaller moments, until he is free to at last embrace his full vileness. I mean, stripping the Sultan to his skivvies and making him an actual puppet? That’s a little extra. And of course, wanting to become a genie so he can be all powerful - very scary. Fortunately, that desire for power fittingly brings about his downfall.

“Hercules” (1997)

One of the things that makes Hades such a memorable villain is how he defies expectations. He is absolutely evil, but for much of the film Hades provides great comic moments - often due to his reactions to how his plans get foiled. There are quite a few reasons why Hades comes all unhinged. The writing is key, of course, as the script builds in situations that get under the character’s skin and justify his severe mood swings. And the animators make great choices, such as that head of flames that can change to reflect his moods. But it’s the pitch-perfect performance from James Woods that ultimately makes the biggest difference. The actor makes inspired choices that are right in character but nevertheless surprise and delight.

“Sleeping Beauty” (1959)

Look, we’ve all suffered a snub that hurt or offended us, but most people get over it and move on. Well, not this evil fairy. Maleficent takes holding a grudge to a whole new level. And what’s the supreme insult that ticks her off? Not getting invited to a christening. That’s right, because she is not asked to celebrate the birth of Princess Aurora, she decides to basically dedicate her life to getting revenge. When the curse she gives as a gift gets sidetracked, she rages and rants. And even when the princess does fall under a sleeping spell, she goes to extremes to keep her asleep - even going overboard with the thorns and ultimately turning herself into a dragon. Um, a little perspective, maybe?

“Winnie the Pooh” Franchise (1966-)

Okay, so some might think “unhinged” is a tad harsh to describe someone as lovable as Tigger. But if in real life you had a friend who was constantly as boisterous, energetic, and off-the-wall as Tigger, you might think differently - no matter how much you love him. Tigger certainly never means to cause any trouble; he just simply has no concept of how wild he is compared to those around him. That, combined with a tendency to run into things - and friends - and a habit of flying off the handle can make him a bit of a menace. But his heart is so good and his enthusiasm so catching that he makes being unhinged very appealing - especially from a distance.

“Encanto” (2021)

As with Tigger, perhaps “unhinged” is a little much to describe Pepa, especially when she’s just in a normal, everyday situation. But even then, Pepa tends to be emotional and a little - or a lot - on the dramatic side. There’s nothing inherently wrong with that, but when you can control the weather, and that control is influenced by your emotional state - well, things can get a bit messy. With her tendency to swing between ups and downs, she can create a fair amount of trouble. But she’s basically a well intentioned and good person - just one who needs a bit more control over her emotions.

“Peter Pan” (1953)

Obsession can be a terrible thing. Just ask Captain Hook. He is so obsessed with defeating Peter Pan that he can’t really think about anything else. And we get it - Peter is the one who cut off Hook’s hand and gave it to that crocodile who now wants to eat the rest of the Captain. But Hook is stuck in an endless cycle of trying to capture and kill Peter Pan, failing, and trying again. For that matter, Peter is stuck in it, too - but Peter has other activities as well. Besides, he keeps winning, so he’s fine with fighting Hook over and over. But Hook, if you’re never going to succeed, it’s okay to give up eventually rather than just go off the rails.

Various (1934-)
You know, when he’s not irritated, Donald is as sane as you or I. But once the duck’s hair-trigger temper is set off, it’s batten down the hatches time. And we wouldn’t have it any other way. Indeed, half of the fun with a Donald cartoon is wondering what exactly is going to get under his skin and when it’s going to happen. It’s hard to understand him under the best of circumstances, but once he gives into his anger, there’s no deciphering the torrent of sounds that gush forth. And though he may have displayed some impressive physical comedy before, it’s usually when the madness overtakes him that he hits new visual heights.

“Alice in Wonderland” (1951)
So the character’s name is kind of a giveaway, right? With that moniker, you don’t expect him to be placid and pensive, do you? And, thanks to Ed Wynn’s voicing and the animators’ skillful work, he delivers on that name. Of course, in Wonderland, practically all of the characters are at least a little mad. But few of them are as delightfully crazed as the Mad Hatter, whose tea party is far livelier than most. Granted, he’s not someone you want to entrust your valuable timepieces to. And he certainly is not the best host. But for zany company that will always keep you on your toes, he’s hard to beat.

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

She’s Vain, Selfish, Corrupt, & Horrible at Choosing Henchmen

The Demented King Destroys Wishes - & Parts of the Disney Canon

That Manic Look in His Eyes Means There’s No Stopping Him

“One Hundred and One Dalmatians” (1961)
You don’t have to be an animal lover to realize that killing 99 dalmatian puppies just to have a fur coat is going a bit overboard. But ignoring what others think in order to get what she wants is what Cruella de Vil is all about. She’s so over the top that it’s hard to believe Anita was ever friends with her; certainly in the present day, Cruella has no consideration for her old chum. She also has no qualms about insulting Roger. And when it looks like her plans might get derailed, she is positively psychotic. I mean, who drives like that? Only someone whose grip on reality is tenuous at best.

Which unhinged characters would you most want with you in a visit to a strange, and possibly dangerous, new world?