Top 10 Underrated Disney Voice Acting Performances

Set within the plot of the first movie, “The Enchanted Christmas” tells the story of how Belle saved the holiday. While Robby Benson’s Beast also never seems to get enough love, this sequel really benefits from having the excellent Tim Curry voice its villain. Forte was once the castle’s royal composer, but was turned into an organ by the Enchantress’ spell. Preferring this form, he tries to drive a wedge between Belle and the Prince to make it last. It’s pretty vile to doom everyone else with a curse that only benefits you, and Curry seems to have fun with it. He brings his usual flair and charisma to the role, elevating Forte’s arrogance and displeasure with his fellow humans.

This underappreciated gem features a lot of unique characters, and several actors, such as Michael J. Fox, deliver dynamic performances. But on every rewatch, we can’t help but be mesmerized by Cree Summer’s Kida. As the Princess of Atlantis, she seeks any solution to fixing her kingdom’s decaying state while upholding the necessary strength to keep it safe. In the actress’ capable hands, Kida is passionate, curious, loving, and slightly scary (in the best way). Interestingly, Summer had more than just an impact on Kida’s voice. Indeed, supervising animator Randy Haycock reportedly based some of the character’s appearance and behavior on his initial meeting with the actress. With so many other memorable characters, Summer’s performance often gets swept aside, but it’s time that changes.

Keith David is one of the greatest voice actors of our time, spreading his talent across film, TV, and video games. As the villain of “The Princess and the Frog,” he delivers one of his strongest performances, so we aren’t sure why everyone isn’t talking about it more. Dr. Facilier is a charming witch doctor with big plans for New Orleans. To meet his goals, he calls upon his “friends on the other side” – though that ends poorly! Whether he’s singing about his mystical powers or characteristically pulling strings from the shadows, every scene with Facilier is a joy to watch. Part of that is due to the stellar animation, but it’s David’s vocal work that makes us love the slimy fast-talker so much.

Getting Vincent Price to voice a Disney villain was a big deal, though most kids didn’t realize it in 1986. As more time has passed, we’ve grown to greatly appreciate the late horror legend taking on the role of Professor Ratigan. As the film was inspired by Sherlock Holmes, Price plays the Moriarty to the Holmes-like Basil. Preoccupied with status, influence, and power, Ratigan plots to rule over Mousedom. Every time the villain appears on screen, Price’s delivery drips with a debonair menace perfectly befitting of a crime lord. The underrated performance balances posh and snooty attitudes with fierce and imposing ones. It molded the type of Disney villain you crave more scenes of, savoring every encounter.

The late David Ogden Stiers brought many Disney characters to life, and some of his most impressive yet overlooked work can be found in “Pocahontas.” Not only is he the selfish, greedy villain Governor Ratcliffe, he also voices Ratcliffe’s lackey, the kind-hearted Wiggins. They’re such vastly different characters that for years, we assumed Ratcliffe and Wiggins were voiced by different people. When “Pocahontas” comes to mind, many remember the wonderful songs, the cute comedic animal sidekicks, or the almost impressive display of historical inaccuracy. And when it comes to Stiers’s work with Disney, he’s most fondly remembered as Cogsworth from “Beauty and the Beast.” However, his dual roles here really show how talented he was.

“The Black Cauldron” is undoubtedly one of the most underrated Disney movies of all time. It’s certainly one of the studio’s darkest, with twisted imagery and an absolutely frightening villain named the Horned King. Voiced by the late John Hurt, this intimidating baddie seeks the magic Black Cauldron that will give him the power to become the world’s ruler. Hurt’s performance contains a multitude of tricks, ranging from an almost mysterious rasp to a blood-curdling ferociousness. Sure, the Horned King definitely looks the part with his imposing stature and spooky design. But it’s Hurt’s voice acting that brings it home. “The Black Cauldron” was a box-office bomb on release, but those who have seen it were probably left with nightmarish thoughts of this memorable antagonist.

If there was ever any doubt, “Tangled” proved Disney was still very capable of adapting classic tales and Princesses. The songs are delightful, the animation is gorgeous, and there’s an inescapable sense of adventure. Oh, and the villain is amazing. While Mother Gothel is undoubtedly a super memorable antagonist, we should all be singing about our love for Donna Murphy’s performance from the rooftops. Her acting is both sickeningly sweet and maliciously evil, and we cherish literally every second of it. Her vocals work wonders in “Mother Knows Best,” flipping between different deliveries to make every line stand out. She’s one of the best parts of the movie, and she’s also one of Disney’s strongest villains in the modern era.

How often does a film’s co-director and writer voice one of its central characters? If Chris Sanders’ stellar performance as the alien Stitch is any indication, not often enough! The character’s silly noises and rudimentary English is mostly played for laughs, but it’s actually quite impressive. In fact, Stitch is the type of character that could’ve grown annoying in someone else’s hands. But instead, he’s hilarious and warms our hearts. With such specific and strict limitations, his journey from chaotic to vulnerable deserves more substantial praise. Sanders’ work was so great, he got to do more of it in sequels and an animated series. Special shout out also goes to Tia Carrere as Nani, Lilo’s older sister who doesn’t get nearly enough credit either.

“The Hunchback of Notre Dame” is another dark story in Disney’s overall light-hearted catalog. Lead character Quasimodo is easy to root for, given how he’s forced to live and how poorly he’s treated by his adoptive father, Judge Frollo. But despite bringing the lead character to life, Tom Hulce’s performance is often overshadowed by the film’s other elements. Hulce reportedly worked on Quasimodo’s voice with the filmmakers, trying different approaches until finding the right fit. The hard work certainly paid off; Quasimodo may have been written to be kind, but his layered delivery makes him that much more so. Hulce was also talented enough to sing as Quasimodo in an era where many Disney hero songs were performed by someone other than the voice actor.

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

Verna Felton, Barbara Jo Allen & Barbara Luddy as Flora, Fauna & Merryweather, “Sleeping Beauty” (1959)
They Provide Delightful Comedic Relief While Showing an Immense Warmth Toward Aurora

Octavia Spencer as Mrs. Otterton, “Zootopia” (2016)
Sweet & Unwavering in the Search for Her Husband

Sterling K. Brown as Mattias, “Frozen II” (2019)
We Sincerely Hope to See More of Him in the Franchise

Brian Murray as John Silver, “Treasure Planet” (2002)
Balances the Duality of the Literary Icon Well

Susan Egan as Megara, “Hercules” (1997)
Egan’s Sultry Sass Is a Flawless Fit for the Character

“The Lion King” is one of the most beloved Disney movies in existence. While it can’t be called underrated, Jeremy Irons’ voice acting as Scar surely is. As the jealous brother of King Mufasa, Scar steals the throne after murdering his brother. He’d probably be a well-written villain regardless, but Jeremy Irons is the reason he works exceptionally well. Each line is soaked with an air of haughtiness, making it so even the most innocuous words sound like threats. We often hear about James Earl Jones’ excellent work as Mufasa (deservedly so), but Irons deserves that same recognition. The pitch perfect supporting characters and phenomenal soundtrack are just some other things that often eclipse his work. It’s time to give credit where credit is due!