Top 30 Cartoon Villainesses from Film & TV

#30: Eris

“Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas” (2003)

Eris may live up to her reputation as the Goddess of Discord, but the character is a harmonious fusion of fluid animation and Michelle Pfeiffer’s juicy voiceover performance. A master of manipulation, Eris doesn’t just treat the other characters like chess pieces. The world is her chessboard, and she can change the game as she pleases. Every time Eris appears on screen, you never know what new visual tricks she’ll have up her sleeve. Even if her screen time is relatively brief, she looms over the picture with main character energy, always knowing how to make an entrance and exit. Seductive, shadowy, and sinister in a sassy way, Eris is a force of nature whether surfacing against the stars or the sea.

#29: Ember McLain

“Danny Phantom” (2004-07)

Of all the ghosts that Danny Phantom clashed with, few have more fans than Ember McLain. Once you hear her signature song, “Remember,” it’ll never leave your head. That’s part of Ember’s dastardly scheme, weaponizing her music like a siren luring sailors to watery graves. If the song is indeed a reflection of her mortal life, isolation very well might’ve been the cause of Ember’s death. Her time as a human may’ve brought nothing but loneliness. As a punk rock ghost, though, Ember commands the stage and all those who chant her name. The wider Ember’s following grows, the hotter her flame burns, ensuring nothing but ashes will remain once her voice reaches enough souls. Even if she’s defeated, you won’t forget her.

#28: Magica De Spell

“DuckTales” (1987-90) & “DuckTales” (2017-21)

Voiced by June Foray in the original series and Catherine Tate in the reboot, Magica De Spell essentially has the same goal in both series: to possess Scrooge’s Number One Dime. At first, it’s somewhat vague as to how the dime is supposed to make Magica even more powerful. All we need to know is that she’ll stop at nothing to get it, pulling every deceitful trick in the spellbook. In the reboot’s continuity, the dime isn’t merely a lucky charm. It imprisons Magica, who still operates from the shadows as she plots her escape. Once she does, this sorceress reminds us why few names in the “DuckTales” universe conjure more dread than hers, making the Beagle Boys look like child’s play.

#27: Asajj Ventress

“Star Wars” franchise (1977-)

Initially conceived as a villainess who could potentially appear in “Star Wars: Episode II,” Asajj Ventress instead made her debut in Genndy Tartakovsky’s animated “Clone Wars” microseries. While that series is no longer considered canon, Asajj went on to appear in other “Star Wars” shows, which is a testament to her staying power. When reintroduced in “The Clone Wars” animated feature and subsequent series, Asajj has allied with Count Dooku after losing her Jedi master. Despite turning to the dark side, this Zabrak goes through a fascinating evolution, from assassin, to bounty hunter, to traversing both sides of the Force. She may lean more towards the light than she did in the past, but that doesn’t mean darkness no longer dwells within Asajj.

#26: Queen of Hearts

“Alice in Wonderland” (1951)

The Queen of Hearts is one of the brattiest Disney villains, yet also one of the most threatening. For an offense as minor as painting her roses red, she’ll order your execution without so much as a trial. Even those who do get a trial aren’t entitled to a fair one. The Queen is like an overgrown child who has been given unchecked and absolute power. So, a majority of modern politicians! The only real rule in Wonderland is that whatever the Queen says goes, no matter how irrational. And since every resident in Wonderland is mad, they go along with her orders with few questions asked. The Queen is mad in both senses of the word, being insane and incredibly angry.

#25: Mrs. Tweedy

“Chicken Run” franchise (2000-)

“Chicken Run” takes on a whole new meaning when you notice a resemblance between Tweedy’s Farm and a POW camp. We all know what that would make Mrs. Tweedy, voiced by a downright malevolent Miranda Richardson. The parallels between Mrs. Tweedy and real-world evils become even more apparent as she plots to pop her incarcerated chickens into an oven. As the chickens execute their great escape, the hellbent Mrs. Tweedy emerges as a seemingly unstoppable force. While Tweedy is defeated, not even getting crushed by a barn can keep her down. She reemerges years later with a new plan involving a fast-food innovation called chicken nuggets. In a franchise about chickens, Mrs. Tweedy is ironically the most animalistic and foul.

#24: Madame Medusa

“The Rescuers” (1977)

Animator Milt Kahl supposedly based this flamboyant villainess’ design on his wife, Phyllis Bounds. Kahl and Bounds got divorced a year after “The Rescuers” came out. We’re not saying Madame Medusa was at all the reason for their split, but the timing is interesting. Medusa dreams of a more glamorous lifestyle, yet she finds herself stuck running a pawn shop. A diamond called the Devil’s Eye is her ticket to easy street. To reach it, Medusa kidnaps a little girl named Penny, whom she’ll gladly drown to get her payday. As conniving as Medusa is, she’s a highly satisfying character to watch, whether commanding her crocodile minions or doing something as mundane as removing her eyelashes. She’s a mess, but a hot mess!

#23: Lady Deathstrike “X-Men” (1992-97)

We saw her trade blows with Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine on the silver screen, but this assassin has been coming into conflict with our favorite heroic mutants since the ‘80s. Her first televised incarnation came in the form of Wolverine’s former love interest, Yuriko Oyama. Seeking revenge for the death of her father, which she blames on Logan as a result of his explosive escape from the Weapon X facility, Yuriko gets some cybernetic enhancements to become the fearsome Lady Deathstrike. The leader of the cyborg gang known as The Reavers, her Adamantium-laced claws certainly give this Canadian death machine a run for his money. You sure know how to pick em’ Logan.

#22: Angelica Pickles “Rugrats” (1991-2004)

She may’ve softened near the end of the series’ run, but everyone remembers this spoiled brat for her villainous nature and smart aleck attitude. She could be downright cruel when it came to the way she treated the babies that were so often placed in her care. Due to the complete lack of parenting she received from her workaholic mother and father, Angelica is portrayed as selfish to the core, and she often exploits Tommy and the gang to get what she wants. Always lying and forever craving attention, Angelica is a perfect example of how a child can turn into a little monster when left without any moral guidance. Actually, we’re a little surprised her parents weren’t called on their failings sooner!

#21: Dawn Bellwether“Zootopia” (2016)

Looks can indeed be deceiving. When we’re first introduced to Miss Bellwether, she seems like a sweet, shy, and clumsy sheep who is constantly getting pushed around by her lion of a boss. As we soon discover, this is the perfect cover for a conniving megalomaniac who lacks any empathy for anyone else during her rise to power. Taking advantage of the tension between predators and prey, Bellwether manipulates events and the citizens of Zootopia until she’s standing atop them all, showing herself to truly be a wolf in sheep’s clothing. And it was an almost-flawless plan, save for one fatal error: Bellwether’s confession by way of monologue.

#20: Baroness“G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero” (1983-86)

Don’t let the tight outfit, sexy yet generic Eastern European accent, and good looks fool you - this villainess is far more evil than she is beautiful – and that’s saying something. As a member of Cobra, the Baroness is highly skilled when it comes to combat and deception. She’s also attracted to power, which explains why she and her lover Destro were always so eager to step up and take control of the terrorist organization whenever Cobra Commander was knocked off his pedestal. She’s gone through many incarnations over the years, but each is beautiful AND deadly.

#19: Madam Mim“The Sword in the Stone” (1963)

She may not be the most intimidating of villains, but you have to give it to Mad Madam Mim, because she stays true to herself to the very end. With a love for all things wicked and an abject hatred for everything good, especially sunshine, Mim is an oddly hilarious ball of villainy that’s still a pleasure to watch. That’s not to say she’s not dangerous. With powers that rival Merlin’s, she gave us one of Disney’s most entertaining and creative battles sequences, with her ability to shift between various animal forms almost instantly. Anyone who nearly barbecued fiction’s most famous wizard has more than earned her spot on here.

#18: Hexadecimal “ReBoot” (1994-2001)

This is quite possibly the worst kind of computer virus you could get. As the Queen of Chaos, Hexadecimal is prone to fits of insanity due to her programming, though what do you expect? Her brother is Megabyte. Hexadecimal is made all the more intimidating by her ever shifting masks, which range from scary to absolutely terrifying. While she is ultimately redeemed due to her interactions with and deep-seeded love for Bob, her time as a villain is definitely a highlight of this series, with her sinister traits, unforgettable design, and mischievous nature transcending the dated CGI.

#17: Mom “Futurama” (1999-2003; 2008-13; 2023-)

This lady only has one thing in mind: making money! As the CEO of a company that specializes in the maintenance of robots, Mom portrays herself as a kind old dear that wouldn’t hurt a fly, when in actuality she’s a foul-mouthed chain smoker whose not above beating her sons, committing fraud, and even attempting murder. Come between Mom and a business opportunity and you can expect some pretty heavy punishment coming from her end. We have to give it to the old gal, though, she doesn’t let her twilight years stop her from having fun: she still gets raunchy with the equally ancient Professor Farnsworth.

#16: Natasha Fatale “The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show” (1959-64)

Behind every thickheaded villainous henchman, there’s a slightly less idiotic henchwoman to point out the flaws in their ridiculous plans. Natasha simply can’t figure out how to capture the ever elusive “Moose and Squirrel.” As a spy hailing from Pottsylvania, Natasha takes great pleasure in all the trouble she and her partner get into despite the fact that they always, always fail to accomplish their goal. You have to admire that level of commitment. She may not be the most complex of characters, but she set the benchmark for female villains all the way back in the ‘60s and you gotta give credit to the classics.

#15: Catra

“She-Ra and the Princesses of Power” (2018-20)

First appearing in the original “She-Ra” series, Catra becomes a fully fresh-out (or we guess furred-out) antagonist in the reboot. Catra is the baddie we wanted to see go good. Don’t get us wrong, villainy suits her purrrfectly. Yet, we know that her descent into corruption largely stems from the betrayal she feels when childhood bestie Adora switches sides. As Adora rises as a hero, Catra commits even harder to the Horde, climbing the ladder of power. Even after falling from that ladder, Catra doesn’t believe redemption or love are in the cards for her. When Adora is at her most powerless, though, it’s Catra who reaches her with a heartfelt declaration. Catra’s journey comes full circle, from friend, to enemy, to lover.

#14: Shego“Kim Possible” (2002-07)

If anyone could be considered the teenage superspy’s equal, it would be the mercenary known as Shego. Serving as Dr. Drakken’s muscle, Shego is a master of sabotage, infiltration, and taking apart her enemies, mostly via the green-flames she’s able to produce from her hands. Despite working for the blue-skinned megalomaniac, Shego is fiercely independent by nature, and isn’t above betraying her employer or taking out other villains for her own ends. Her driving force is undoubtedly the fierce rivalry she shares with Kim, a rivalry that often leads to a lot of collateral damage.

#13: Fairy Godmother

“Shrek 2” (2004)

She’ll make your dreams come true, albeit with a few strings attached. The Fairy Godmother presents herself as a legitimate businesswoman and a maternal figure to all. Of course, Prince Charming is her sole biological child. As such, her nepo baby’s wish is the only one she’s truly interested in granting. To ensure her son’s happily ever after, she’ll commit blackmail behind the scenes, with murder also on the table. All the while, she’ll parade herself before the public as a celebrity who cares. Ironically, this godmother acts more like a wicked stepmother, deceiving others and ruining lives for her own selfish gain. Yet, she looks absolutely fabulous while doing it, and has the vocal chops to stop any show.

#12: Mother Gothel“Tangled” (2010)

Evil mothers seem to make up a large chunk of Disney’s villain roster. Luckily, fabulous characters like Gothel manage to breathe new life into the archetype, giving us an antagonist who thrives upon deception. After kidnapping a princess whose hair contained healing properties, Gothel locks her in a tower and raises her as a daughter. While Gothel manages to convince Rapunzel that the world is cruel and that the teen is safest with her for most of her young adult life, eventually the princess slips away. And that’s when Gothel shows her true colors. Cruel, vicious, and not above imprisoning and murdering in order to keep her youth, she won’t be winning any parent of the year awards anytime soon.

#11: Jinx

“Arcane” (2021-24)

To some, Jinx is the embodiment of anarchy. To those who’ve grown up surrounded by nothing but anarchy, she becomes an unlikely symbol of hope. Even Jinx isn’t entirely sure how she’d classify herself by the end of “Arcane.” In any case, she spends much of the series on the opposite side of her sister, Vi. When tragedy separates the orphaned sisters, Jinx becomes convinced that everything she touches gets destroyed. Taken under the wing of crime lord Silco, Jinx descends deeper into the psychological trauma, so much so that not even her new adoptive father can control her. Jinx commits to watching the world burn, but from the ashes of the destruction she caused, a chance of reconciliation between the sisters may rise.

#10: Other Mother“Coraline” (2009)

Be careful what you wish for. When Coraline first meets this being from another pocket of reality, she seems like the perfect parent. Aside from the creepy buttons she has for eyes, she’s everything Coraline’s regular mom isn’t. She dotes on her and gives her everything she wants, all the while keeping the guise of a loving mother. And then things turn nasty. As the film reaches its gothic climax, the Other Mother is revealed to be a devourer of children’s souls, using their greed as bait in order to ensnare them. Should that fail, she’s not above resorting to violence. Throw in the fact that her true form is absolutely horrifying, and you have the makings of a solid villain.

#9: Lady Tremaine [aka the Wicked Stepmother]“Cinderella” (1950)

Presenting the original lady who pioneered the wicked stepmother role. She may not have any superpowers or even kill anyone, but her treatment of Cinderella and the fact that she does everything she can think of to spoil her happiness, Lady Tremaine skyrockets herself onto our list. Armed with an icy disposition, sharp tongue and determination to marry her children off in order to gain vast wealth, Lady Tremaine’s brand of villainy is a very human one, and in some ways, is all the more potent as a result. After all, are there many more despicable things than robbing a young girl of the chance at a fairy tale ending?

#8: Yzma “The Emperor’s New Groove” (2000)

She’s an advisor with mad scientist tendencies who will do anything to secure herself the throne, and someone who will happily kill off the young, spoiled emperor, and practically anyone else, to do so. What makes her so different from the rest? She is hilarious. Despite having a skeletal figure, her energy is utterly infectious, especially when it comes to her mass freak-outs. Sure, she’ll use whatever means necessary in order to remove you and get what she wants, but you can’t help but kind of root for someone who puts so much gusto into trying to assassinate someone else. Good on you, Yzma. Never lose that drive. Oh and she’s also “scary beyond all reason.”

#7: Evil Queen Grimhilde / Witch“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” (1937)

Setting the trend for all great Disney villains who followed, this Queen with a desire to be “the fairest one of all” presented us with a character that may be beautiful on the outside, but is as ugly as could be within. When her Huntsman fails to tear out Snow White’s heart, this amoral monarch decides to personally see to it that her competition is silenced, disguising herself as an old hag and supposedly killing off Snow White with a poisoned apple. How fitting that the Queen perishes just as she shows herself for just how much of a monster she is, proving once and for all that beauty is not just skin-deep.

#6: Demona “Gargoyles” (1994-97)

As ferocious as she is tragic, Demona’s spiral into villainy was born from her hatred of humanity due to the prejudice that she and her clan experienced in ancient Scotland. When her plan to rid the castle of the humans goes awry, her fellow Gargoyles are sealed in stone, including her lover Goliath. As a result, the hate she harbored turns into a vicious and unrelenting obsession with humanity’s destruction, a vendetta that would last centuries all the way to the modern era. Now on opposing sides due to their conflicting ideals about the human race, Demona fights against her former mate and her clan.

#5: Harley Quinn“Batman: The Animated Series” (1992-95); “The New Batman Adventures” (1997-99)

On paper, the idea of giving the Clown Prince of Crime a girlfriend could be considered lame, but that’s exactly what writer Paul Dini decided to do in this iconic series. And Harley went from side character to a series favorite in no time. Fans were treated to a character that can stand on her own, and has a vulnerability about her that’s scarcely seen in a villainess. She enjoys committing crimes and anarchy as long as her puddin’ is by her side, but she’s also broken from all the physical and emotional abuse she’s suffered at the hands of the Joker. But ultimately, what would this awesomely grim cartoon be without Harley?

#4: Cruella de Vil “One Hundred and One Dalmatians” (1961)

How best to summarise the evilness of this fashion fiend? Well, she doesn’t appear all that intimidating at first, only seeming to care about what she wears and making sure it contains fur to some extent. But then things get surprisingly dark. She pays a couple of goons to kidnap dozens upon dozens of Dalmatian puppies so she can skin them for their spots and make a new fur coat out of them. If that’s not sickening enough, just wait until you get a load of her road rage. Honestly, we still have nightmares about that face she pulls.

#3: Azula“Avatar: The Last Airbender” (2005-08)

Kuvira from “The Legend of Korra” made her mark as a dangerous adversary for the Avatar, but there is just no matching this sociopathic, elitist princess with a tendency to set her enemies ablaze, Azula. Her disregard for human life, impeccable talents as a strategist, and combat ability make her a formidable threat to Aang and his friends. Plus, her sharp tongue and viciousness are as enjoyable as they are unsettling. Azula eventually dives into the realms of insanity during the final scuffle against Zuko and Katara, and that’s where she becomes downright terrifying. Now that’s how a true villain leaves a legacy.

#2: Ursula“The Little Mermaid” (1989)

When the boss is on a roll, you make sure to get the heck out of her way. Manipulating the sweet, but naïve, Ariel into surrendering her voice for a chance at true love, Ursula manages to secure herself the trident of Ariel’s father, the King. She then imbues herself with terrifying magical power, grows to a juggernaut size and turns the surrounding sea into her personal playground. If you thought the ocean was a scary place before, chances are, under Ursula’s rule, things would be a million times worse. Good thing Prince Eric knows his way around a ship.

#1: Maleficent“Sleeping Beauty” (1959)

It turns out that excluding this particular sorceress from a celebration is a death wish. The villain who stole the spotlight from the admittedly rather bland heroine, Maleficent places a curse upon the infant princess Aurora, dooming her to die by her 16th birthday. Fortunately, a good fairy named Merryweather reduces the fatal curse to one in which Aurora will instead fall into an eternal slumber unless she’s saved by true love’s kiss. But back to Maleficent: this witch is not one to stand back and let things play out without ensuring they will go her way. So years later, when Prince Phillip attempts to rescue Aurora, Maleficent goes full on alpha, transforming into a demonic-looking dragon. If it weren’t for the meddling of Merryweather and her fellow fairies, this villain would have ultimately won the day. Despite the fact that the fairy tale has evil perishing in the end, there’s no denying that this villainess certainly left an impact.

Who’s your favorite animated villainess? Let us know in the comments.