Top 10 Best Cartoon Villains of the 2010s
They may be new to the villainy scene, but some of these baddies are sure to go down as modern classics. Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we're counting down our picks for the top 10 cartoon villains of the 2010s.
For our series on villains from animated series, we'll be looking at characters that left an impact on kids of a certain decade – in this case, that means those baddies who rose to prominence after 2010. Considering we'll be discussing some of their evil highlights, a spoiler warning is now in effect.
#10: Vandal Savage “Young Justice” (2010-13)
He’s a well-established enemy of the Justice League and a formidable foe for a new generation of heroes. Exposure to a meteor’s radiation fifty thousand years ago granted Savage an extraordinarily long life, which he’s used to garner influence and power. This particular incarnation of the classic comic book character is a member of The Light, a group of super villains that are “enlightened” and see the Justice League as an obstacle in the way of humanity’s growth. He’s got centuries of experience under his belt, packs a mean punch, and has the balls to waltz up to Darkseid without a even a hint of fear. One thing is for certain; time is most certainly on his side.
#9: Megatron “Transformers Prime” (2010-13)
It certainly says something when the same villain manages to stay relevant and fearsome with each new incarnation spread over three decades, and much like his predecessors this version of Megatron is just as lethal. As the classic story of the Autobots and their timeless battle against the Decepticons is given a fresh coat of paint, Megatron is not only presented as a much more menacing and intimidating figure, we’re also given deeper insight into his past and why he chose the path of violence and conquest. It’s a reimagining sure to please any Transformers fan, and the fact that this villain is also voiced by the original voice actor, the legendary Frank Welker, makes it all the more awesome.
#8: Queen Chrysalis “My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic” (2010-)
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Discord may have stolen the show for a brief time, but his subsequent shift to good puts him a step behind the Queen of Changelings in our books. Chrysalis spearheads the invasion of Equestria by posing as Princess Cadence, trapping the original in a cave before feeding off the love of her fiancé, who just so happens to be Twilight Sparkles’ older brother. Even after her plan is revealed, she still manages to launch a full-scale assault with her Changeling army, knocking Celestia down a peg in the process. Fortunately even an army of creepy shape shifters can’t beat the power of love.
#7: Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz “Phineas and Ferb” (2007-15)
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While the antics of two brothers during their summer vacation do give this show its heart, the side story involving an anthropomorphic platypus superspy and a bumbling evil scientist is by far the most entertaining aspect. As with all self-proclaimed evil geniuses, Doofenshmirtz did not have a happy childhood, and the various hilarious cruelties he was forced to endure end up serving as the backstory for his various schemes. With his mad contraptions, an accent that no one can place, and a burning desire to take over the tri-state area, this is one villain that had us in stiches from the first episode. But seriously, no one should be forced to dress like garden gnome…
#6: Bill Cipher “Gravity Falls” (2012-16)
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If ever someone warns you to never summon the dream demon from the Second Dimension, you’d better heed that advice, otherwise you’ll accidentally let loose the eccentric, sadistic and utterly insane Bill Cipher. He’s been manipulating humanity for millions of years to try and forge an actual body for himself, finding one such unlucky puppet in Ford Pines. Try to stop him or get in his way and he’s more than likely going to make your life a living hell, whether it’s through constant, unrelenting trickery or just by blowing you to bits. With all the craziness that happens in Gravity Falls, Bill is by far the most deadly and scariest thing to ever come out of Oregon. And that’s saying something.
#5: Pythor P. Chumsworth “Lego Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu” (2011-)
This is one snake that refuses to die. After breaking free of his imprisonment, this slippery and sinister serpent sets out to unite the remaining Serpentine tribes so that they can take their revenge on all of Ninjago by summoning a fearsome beast known as the Great Devourer. He may be lacking when it comes to actual combat capabilities, but his deceptive nature makes him a cunning and worthy enemy to the Ninja. Even after he’s betrayed and seemingly killed by the Great Devourer, he simply refuses to go down and becomes a recurring character that blurs the line between hilarious villain and badass anti-hero, even outshining more powerful villains like Garmadon.
#4: Foop “The Fairly OddParents” (2001-)
Ah, the Anti-Fairies. These blue, mischievous creatures provide some of the funniest moments in this show’s later seasons. Perhaps what’s funniest about them are their opposing personalities to their fairy counterparts – and the fact that they often bringing widespread disaster and mayhem wherever they go. Considering Poof is an incredibly powerful source of magic and love, you can imagine what his Anti-Fairy is like. When a character is so dastardly and evil that he’s literally born with a villain’s moustache, you know he means business. Determined to eliminate his good natured counterpart, Foop’s hellish powers and Hannibal Lecter-inspired personality easily put him up there as one of Timmy Turner’s worst enemies.
#3: Jasper “Steven Universe” (2013-)
The Crystal Gems fought their fair share of dangerous monsters during the better part of the first season, but they ended up meeting their match when this powerhouse from Homeworld made her debut. Jasper quickly establishes that she is not to be messed with when she slices Garnet in half during their first scuffle. Viewers haven’t seen much of Jasper, and no one really knows where she is since the last time we saw her she fell into a crack, but no one can deny that her second battle with Garnet (and the accompanying song) was downright stunning and an incredible piece of animation. Needless to say fans are eagerly awaiting more from this vengeful gem.
#2: Ice King “Adventure Time” (2010-)
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The Lich may be the most deadly villain in the series, but there’s no denying the Ice King set the standard for great bad guys in the Land of Ooo. When we first meet the Lord of the Ice Kingdom, he’s little more than a deranged lunatic obsessed with kidnapping princesses. However, as time goes on we learn that his name was once Simon and that he’s merely a victim of his magical crown’s influence, as overexposure to the source of his magical powers has caused him to lose his mind and forget who he once was. There’s no denying that Simon’s story, specifically his relationship with a young Marceline the vampire queen, melted a lot of hearts and added a whole new dimension to what could’ve been a one-note character. Before we reveal our number one pick here are a few honourable mentions. The Inquisitor “Star Wars Rebels” (2014-) Lord Dominator “Wander Over Yonder” (2013-16) The Beast “Over the Garden Wall” (2014)
#1: Zaheer “The Legend of Korra” (2012-14)
While Ozai had been established as Aang’s mortal enemy throughout the original Avatar series, Korra was given a new nemesis to deal with in every season, and none was more dangerous than the leader of the Red Lotus. Not only does Zaheer master Airbending within a few days; he also succeeds in his mission by throwing the Earth Kingdom into chaos, assassinating the Earth Queen and even putting Korra through such intense trauma that she’s left fundamentally broken. Throw in his disturbing philosophical views and eerily calm demeanor and you have a villain that may have lost the final battle, but whose actions sent ripples across the entire world.