Top 10 Scariest Cartoon Villains
Their brand of evil is truly terrifying... and a little animated. Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we are counting down our picks for the top ten scariest cartoon villains.
For this list, we'll be looking at animated villains that weren't just evil, but were also pretty damn scary in their own right.
#10: Vermious Skumm “Captain Planet and the Planeteers” (1990-96)
Yes, this rat mutant not only looks horrifying but also actually managed to cause some real down to Earth damage during his prime. Aside from the everyday evildoings like poisoning water supplies to turning people into giant rats, Skumm was responsible for turning an entire town against a student with AIDS. He also caused one of the Planeteers as well as her cousin to become addicted to drugs, the latter eventually dying of an overdose. That’s pretty savage for a Saturday morning cartoon villain, especially one that was voiced by Jeff Goldblum.
#9: Violator “Todd McFarlane's Spawn” (1997-99)
Bringing you two hellish characters for the price of one, the nemesis of our demonic anti-hero Spawn didn’t only take the outward appearance of a grotesque clown, but also just beneath the flesh held the form of a monstrous denizen of the inferno. Acting as the literal devil on Spawn’s shoulder, he once tried to veer him towards the dark side and lead Hell’s army, but when that plan backfired he settled for trying to tear him apart the old fashion way. In-between causing plenty of chaos on Earth of course. To be honest, it's hard to decide which look is worst.
#8: Freaky Fred “Courage the Cowardly Dog” (1999-2002)
The writers of this show were really pushing the envelope when they introduced the sociopathic Fred. If you think that smile is unnerving, just wait until you discover his fetish for shaving hair, or in this case, fur. Not only does he narrate an entire episode in which we get a disturbing look into how much he loves his job as a barber, but we also get to watch him practically torture Courage when they’re trapped inside of a bathroom. Nauseating and terrifying, Fred manages to surpass many of the show’s actual monsters by being scarily close to home as far as psychos go. Talk about a close shave.
#7: The Lich “Adventure Time” (2010-)
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Before he was transformed into a still not-so-harmless baby, The Lich was by far one of the most dangerous enemies that our favourite Human and Dog ever had to face. Once imprisoned by the great hero Billy, the Lich eventually frees himself and brings ruin to the Land of Ooo. Unleashing an army of evil, killing Prismo and eventually taking control of Princess Bubblegum’s body, even the most battle-hardened of adventurers would be foolish enough to take on such a creature, especially one voiced by Hellboy himself, Ron Perlman.
#6: King Ramses “Courage the Cowardly Dog” (1999-2002)
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Oh Courage, you really did draw the short straw on this one. While Fred is his own brand of creepy, in terms of legitimate monsters nothing tops the spirit of a deceased monarch who, despite being made of some pretty shoddy CGI, still manages to scare the crap out of us. After Eustace refuses to give back a cursed Egyptian slab, Ramses unleashes three deadly curses upon them, nearly deafening, drowning and devouring them in the space of a single night. Sure, that's a high standard of evil, but just that appearance alone would be enough for most.
#5: Hexadecimal “ReBoot” (1994-2001)
Rendered in old school CGI but just as terrifying today, this secondary antagonist may not have the intellectual villainy of her brother, but she makes up for it in madness. As the Queen of Chaos, Hexadecimal lives to cause unpredictable destruction all over the Net, while her intentions are often reflected in the series of horrifying masks she uses to express her mood. Even the ones that aren’t scary can still give you the chills, on account of her distorted voice making her sound permanently on edge and all. This is definitely not the kind of virus you want on your system.
#4: Scarecrow “Batman: The Animated Series” (1992-95)
The Joker may have his moments of sheer cruelty, but then it comes to fear there’s only one villain who has turned it into an art form. Due to his mastery of chemistry, Dr. Crane managed to create an air-based toxin that causes hallucinations relating to the victim’s deepest phobias - something that not even the Dark Knight is immune to. His weapon of choice may be more frightening than his initial look, at least until The New Batman Adventures, where he gets a makeover that elevates him from average villainy into something straight out of a nightmare.
#3: Koh the Face Stealer “Avatar: The Last Airbender” (2005-08)
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Its debut may have been brief, but there is no denying that the appearance of this spirit created a true sense of horror that remains unmatched. Seeking information on the Moon and Ocean spirits, Aang finds himself conversing with the infamous Koh, a creature that not only came with a creepy insect-like shell but also with the nasty habit of killing and snatching the face of its victims should they blink in its presence. Given how much it loves to jump out, switch faces and invade personal space, we’re still not quite sure how Aang managed to remain so composed.
#2: Mumm-Ra “Thundercats” (1985-89)
The “ever-living source of evil” on Third Earth, this undead sorcerer exists only to smite the heroic felines that threaten his rule, and of course to petrify all ‘80s kids in his decaying state of being. Of course that’s not to say he’s totally helpless. By calling on the power of his masters, Mumm-ra can transform his body into a muscular yet equally fearful form. Whether it’s as a decrepit overseer or as a vicious juggernaut, he remains a powerful enemy whose talents in deception and dark magic ensured that the Thundercats were never short of obstacles to overcome. Before we reveal our number one pick, here are a few honourable mentions. Rampage “Beast Wars: Transformers” (1996-99) Skeletor “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe” (1983-85) Bill Cipher “Gravity Falls” (2012-16)
#1: Him “The Powerpuff Girls” (1998-2005)
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There are many cartoon villains that could be described as demons, but rarely will you meet one who captures the traits you would find in the devil himself. While he certainly possesses flamboyant traits, the being known as Him never ceases to remind viewers that he is evil incarnate. He does this by demonstrating the seemingly limitless powers at his disposal or just by that warped and unnerving voice. When you have a whole list of atrocities to your name, such as poisoning an entire town with hatred or being responsible for creating an apocalyptic future with minimal effort, then you know you’re dealing with a whole different breed of villain, and a damn scary one at that.
