Top 10 Scariest Cartoon Movie Villains

They’ve been giving children nightmares since the early 20th century. Welcome to WatchMojo and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 Scariest Cartoon Movie Villains.

For this list, we’re looking at cartoon villains with such a terrifying presence that after all these years, they still continue to give audiences goosebumps!

“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” (1937)



What better place to start than the very beginning? Chiefly known as The Evil Queen, Grimhilde set the pace for cartoon villains and very few successors have managed to eclipse the egotistical tyrant. Petty and motivated by jealousy, Grimhilde transforms into a wretched old witch in order to poison the "fairest" girl in all the land, which happens to be the titular Snow White. As the crackling crone, the Queen chews the scenery and is the living embodiment of evil. While the scariest scene in the movie arguably involves - of all things - trees, Grimhilde set the bar high for Disney.

“FernGully: The Last Rainforest” (1992)



In terms of aptitude for destruction, this evil spirit ranks among the most potent. Voiced by the always entertaining Tim Curry, Hexxus is, more or less, sentient pollution, and "FernGully's" villain strives to turn the entire planet into a toxic and uninhabitable dystopia. Though he’s initially trapped in a tree, man's disregard for nature ends up freeing the heinous villain, and Hexxus celebrates his comeback with an insanely fun musical number. While somewhat campy in nature, Hexxus actually shares quite a few traits in common with humans and this film serves as an effective cautionary tale.

“Anastasia” (1997)



Very loosely based on the Russian healer with the same name, this fictionalized version of the "Mad Monk" may as well have evil stamped across his forehead. Banished for treason by the royal family and seeking revenge, Rasputin has no qualms with murdering anyone who stands in the sorcerer's way. Manipulative, overbearing, and obsessive, "Anastasia"'s gorgeous animation juxtaposes brilliantly with the villain's decrepit appearance, and Rasputin's introduction is bone-chilling. Also, the dude's body parts are detachable, and there is just something perverse about watching a living human head bounce around like a basketball.

“Aladdin” (1992)



Agrabah's sultan might not be the most competent ruler of all time, but anyone is better than Disney's psychopathic sorcerer. Under the guise of normality, Jafar works as the throne's chief adviser, but the scoundrel secretly craves to gain enough power to usurp Jasmine's father. Constantly trying to kill Aladdin and not above abusing Iago, there is nothing the Grand Vizier is not willing to do to rule Agrabah, including transforming into a powerful genie or forcing Princess Jasmine to rule by the antagonist's side. Wholeheartedly embracing his villainous role, Jafar is entertaining and intimidating.

“The Little Mermaid” (1989)



There is no rule saying a villain cannot have fun while trying to ruin the hero's day. Comfortably the best part of "The Little Mermaid," Ursula is a banished sea witch who offers lost souls the opportunity to achieve their dreams for a price. Even though the fabulous witch holds an undying grudge against King Triton and Ariel, Ursula's deals seem to be driven more by a desire to cause havoc rather than any singular scheme. Funny and almost endearing, Ursula would probably have not made this list if it was not for the villain's final massive transformation. Angry Ursula is the stuff nightmares are made of!

“Watership Down” (1978)



Oh, a film about adorable rabbits? What could possibly go wrong? On the surface, "Watership Down" seems like a typical children's movie, but this cartoon puts most horror films to shame! As the main antagonist, General Woundwort is a brutal rabbit who establishes a dictatorship by butchering multiple fluffy leaders and threatening anyone who does not fall in line. "Watership Down"'s grim death scenes will scar the majority of children, but Woundwort's fear factor comes from the tyrant's realistic depiction. Sure, the General might be a bunny, but Woundwort's actions are very human.

“Sleeping Beauty” (1959)



Grimhilde did it first, but Maleficent arguably did it best. A dark fairy who throws a hissy fit due to not receiving an invite to Princess Aurora's christening, Maleficent steals the show whenever "Sleeping Beauty" allows the villain to make an appearance. Elegant but prone to violent outbursts, Disney crafted perfection with this classic antagonist. Whether referring to the haunting curse scene or the climactic battle, the sarcastic Maleficent never fails to leave a nasty impression. At the end of the day, any villain who can transform into a dragon is going to be hard to beat!

“The Black Cauldron” (1985)



As the studio's first PG-rated animated feature and a well-known flop, this 1980s cartoon stands out among Disney's extensive filmography. Gloomy and surprisingly intense, "The Black Cauldron" is a visual delight that oozes atmosphere, and the story's darkest moments involve the Horned King. A self-appointed deity, Disney's mysterious villain seeks to take over the world by unleashing an undead army, and the monarch refuses to hide his intentions. Alongside a truly terrifying design, everything about the Horned King – from the sorcerer's limited physical motion to the voice acting – feels unnatural.

“Fantasia” (1940)



Despite starring in a segment that is a little over 11-minutes long and features no dialogue, Chernabog is simply unforgettable. "Fantasia's" final short, "Night on Bald Mountain" sees Chernabog raise up from a mountaintop before summoning a group of demons to spread chaos. Representing pure evil and undoubtedly among Disney's most powerful villains, Chernabog's design is enough to evoke fear in pretty much anyone. Backed by Modest Mussorgsky's eerie composition and Walt Disney's vivid animation, this devilish creature is beyond comprehension. "Fantasia" is an all-around masterpiece, but Disney left the scariest for last.







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



Scar

“The Lion King” (1994)





Beldam / Other Mother

“Coraline” (2009)





Headless Horseman

“The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad” (1949)





Ernesto de la Cruz

“Coco” (2017)





Dragon

“The Secret of NIMH” (1982)

“The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (1996)



With this antagonist, Disney went full dark. Possessing no magical or otherworldly talents, Judge Claude Frollo is 100% human and this just makes the religious fanatic's actions all that more terrifying! Under the pretense of justice and the righteous, Frollo commits widespread murder and genuinely believes such acts are warranted. Usually, Disney only hints at a possible sexual attraction between its characters, but Frollo straight up craves Esmeralda's body and will stop at nothing to satisfy this urge. Besides being a nearly flawless song, "Hellfire" illustrates why the villain’s depiction is so unsettling: on a certain level, Frollo understands that his behavior is immoral.