Cartoon characters have always remained intriguing and engaging for people of all age groups. Over the last two decades, the growing popularity of cartoons has made cartoon villains into complex and deeper personalities.
In fact, not only heroes but villains in the cartoon series have captivated the viewers. The importance of the hero in the cartoon series is recognized only when there is drama, challenges, and action are brought together by these villains.
We usually grow up keeping these cartoon characters as inseparable parts of our lives. These are those villains whose memories will stay forever. Here, we have compiled a list of classic cartoon villains for you. You can relive your childhood nostalgia with this collection.
Table of Contents
Vilgax – Ben 10 (2005)
Vilgax is the most well-known nemesis in the series. He is an interplanetary extraterrestrial ruler and invader who is a Chimera Sui Generis and Ben Tennyson’s main rival.
In Ben’s opinion, he is one of the most dangerous villains Ben has encountered.
This American media franchise, Ben 10, was developed by Man of Action Studios, produced by Cartoon Network Studios, and is a product of Warner Bros. Discovery.
The show follows Ben Tennyson, a young boy who discovers the Omnitrix, an interplanetary wristwatch that stores DNA from several alien species.
Ben may change into a strong alien with a variety of skills by using the Omnitrix. Ten aliens are initially present in the Omnitrix, but later on, Ben adds more species by incorporating their DNA.
Light Yagami – Death Note (2003)
The antagonist of Death Note is Light Yagami, who is a dangerous serial killer. Takeshi Obata and Tsugumi Ohba are the makers of the Japanese manga series Death Note.
The narrative centers on Light Yagami, a young genius who comes across the enigmatic “Death Note,” a book that was once owned by the shinigami Ryuk.
It gave its owner the extraordinary power to assassinate anybody whose name was inscribed on its pages. The series is focused on Light’s attempts to exploit the Death Note to carry out a global purge of people he views as immoral and to establish a society free from crime, using the nickname of a godlike vigilante named “Kira.”
Aku – Samurai Jack (2001)
In Samurai Jack, Aku served as the main villain. Samurai Jack’s archenemy Aku, a terrible, shape-shifting demon that was created from The Black Mass of Darkness, was the biological father of Ashi and her twin sisters as well as the world’s ruler for infinite ages.
Genndy Tartakovsky built the American animated action-adventure television series Samurai Jack for Cartoon Network, and Warner Bros. Domestic Television broadcasts it.
After finishing his first Cartoon Network original series, Dexter’s Laboratory, which debuted in 1996, Tartakovsky had the idea for Samurai Jack.
Tartakovsky’s fondness for samurai civilization and the 1972 television drama Kung Fu, which starred David Carradine, acted as the inspiration for Samurai Jack.
Plankton – Spongebob Squarepants (1999)
Spongebob SquarePants features Plankton as one of the ten main characters. He is the main villain character of this franchise. Plankton’s voice is the work of one of the staff writers of the show.
Stephen Hillenburg, a nautical science professor, and animator, created the American animated comedy tv show SpongeBob SquarePants for Nickelodeon. It follows the exploits of the title character and his aquatic pals in the imaginary undersea city.
Its massive popularity has diverted the fifth-longest-running American animated series into a media franchise.
With over $13 billion in revenue from merchandise sales as of 2019, it was Paramount Consumer Products’ most successful franchise and had the highest Nickelodeon series rating.
Mojo Jojo – Powerpuff Girls (1998)
The main villain and rival of the Powerpuff Girls in the Cartoon Network television series is Mojo Jojo. He plays the lead adversary in The Powerpuff Girls Movie as well.
Mojo Jojo is continually hatching conspiracies to rule the entire planet and exterminate The Powerpuff Girls.
The Powerpuff Girls is a superhero comic television series produced by Hanna-Barbera for Cartoon Network and broadcasted by Warner Bros. Domestic Television. Craig McCracken was the creator of these characters.
Blossom, Buttercup, and Bubbles, the three kindergarten-aged girls with superpowers, are the main lead in the show.
The girls are very frequently called upon by the mayor of the city to use their talents to combat local criminals and other foes. The girls all reside in the fictitious city of Townsville with their scientist father and inventor, Professor Utonium.
Hades – Hercules (1997)
The main villain of the Disney Hercules series is Hades, who also serves as the antagonist of the studio’s 35th full-length animated feature film Hercules and Hercules: The Animated Series.
Hades is also one of the secondary nemeses in Mickey’s House of Villains and a repetitive archenemy in the Kingdom Hearts series.
He is the monarch of the Underworld, the commander, and the boss of Pain and Panic.
American animated musical fantasy comedy Hercules was released in 1997 by Walt Disney Feature Animation for Walt Disney Pictures.
Team Rocket – Pokemon (1997)
With offices in the Kanto and Johto regions and a branch in the Sevii Islands, Team Rocket is a criminal organization out to steal other people’s Pokemon.
They are led by Giovanni, who serves as both the Gym Leader of Viridian City and their leader. In order to aid their criminal organization and eventually rule the globe, Team Rocket’s major goal was to acquire strong and uncommon Pokémon.
These Pokemon are acquired by routine capture or, more frequently, stealing. Inhumane experiments are also carried out on Pokemon in order to increase their power.
Pokemon is the abbreviation for Pokemon Monsters in Japan. This franchise also belongs to the Japanese Media Franchise.
The franchise, which Satoshi Tajiri founded in 1996, is focused on imaginary “Pokemon” animals. Pokemon Trainers are those who capture, educate, look after, and engage in combat with Pokémon.
Overall, There are 905 different Pokemon species exist.
Mandark – Dexter Laboratory (1996)
In Dexter’s Laboratory, Mandark, whose full name is Susan Mandark Astronomanov, serves as the main villain of the show. His voiceover was performed by Eddie Deezen.
He is Dexter’s adversary and later mortal nemesis. Mandark frequently tries to kill Dexter and his lab in order to establish his superior genius once and for all.
Genndy Tartakovsky made the American animated television series Dexter’s Laboratory for Cartoon Network. Warner Bros. Domestic Television handles the distribution of the show.
The show revolves around Dexter, a young brainiac who is short and has lots of energy. He has a secret science lab full of inventions in his room that he hides from his ignorant parents and from the rest of the world.
Dee Dee, his taller, older, and more outgoing sister, frequently gains entry to the lab and unintentionally thwarts Dexter’s research, which puts them at odds.
Dexter and Mandark, a malicious boy genius who bullies Dexter constantly, are fierce rivals who live next door and attend the same school.
Scar – Lion King (1994)
A fictional lion named Scar serves as the main villain in Disney’s The Lion King franchise. The first movie introduces Scar as the ruthless and cunning younger brother of Mufasa and ruler of the Pride Lands.
Scar, who had been first in line for Mufasa’s throne. Later, Mufasa’s son Simba unexpectedly usurped him. So, he made the decision to command an army of hyenas in his plot to assassinate Mufasa and exile Simba.
He was created in 1989 by screenwriters Jonathan Roberts, Linda Woolverton, and Irene Mecchi, with animation by Andreas Deja. The Scar is one of the main members of the Villain franchise of Disney.
Jafar – Alladin (1992)
Aladdin, Walt Disney Pictures’ 31st animated feature picture in 1992, stars a fictional figure named Jafar as its major antagonist.
He was portrayed as the Sultan’s most trustworthy and devoted counsel in his capacity as Royal Vizier of Agrabah. In reality, the tyrannical Jafar had a fierce dislike for the Sultan.
The last half of his life was devoted to acquiring control of a magic lamp holding a genie who possessed all the powers of the world. Jafar would then have cosmic power, which he would use to seize the throne and rule the entire world.
Joker – Batman (1992)
Supervillain The Joker can be seen in American comic books published by DC Comics. In 1940, the inaugural issue of the Batman comic book featured the character.
The role of Joker was supposed to be killed off after his first appearance, but due to editorial intervention, he was spared and has since gone on to become the superhero Batman’s main archrival.
Initially described as a psychopath with a twisted sense of humor, the Joker is presented as a mastermind of crime in his appearances in comic books.
Gaston – Beauty and the Beast (1991)
The main bad guy in Disney’s 1991 animated picture Beauty and the Beast is Gaston. He was a hunter who was desperately eager to marry Belle, even if it meant using force.
He was conceited and misogynistic. Especially after learning that Belle’s love was for a Beast and not for him, his infatuation hardened him into a cruel and deceitful villain.
Since Gaston is the most attractive man in town, he must marry the most attractive woman in town. Gaston isn’t actually in love with Belle; he merely wants to have her as a trophy bride, another hunting prize to be shared publicly as a sign of triumph.
Heffalumps and Woozles – Winni The Pooh (1988)
The overall main antagonists of Disney’s Winnie the Pooh series are Heffalumps and Woozles.
They are creatures that were originally featured in the Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day documentary from 1968.
They appear to Pooh in his dream as the song “Heffalumps and Woozles” is playing.
Tigger claims that Heffalumps and Woozles adore honey and always crave it to the point of stealing.
Shere Khan – Jungle Book (1967)
The main adversary of The Jungle Book, a Disney animated feature film released in 1967, is Shere Khan.
Shere Khan, a ferocious Bengal tiger, is regarded as stylish and endearing but is also deeply feared as the most dangerous hunter in the forest.
The only thing he needed to do to intimidate his victims was to just appear. Because of his aversion to weapons and fire, Khan is also well-known for his hatred toward humankind. He’s promised to kill anyone who enters the jungle as a consequence.
Captain Hook – Peter Pan (1953)
Peter Pan, a 1953 animated feature picture by Disney, has Captain Hook as its main enemy. He captains The Jolly Roger, a vessel anchored off the coast of Neverland.
He is an elegant yet ferocious pirate. In favor of seeking vengeance on Peter Pan for amputating his left hand and giving it to a crocodile.
Even though Hook is a worthy opponent for Peter, he will ultimately fall short—sometimes due to Peter Pan’s ability to fly, but more frequently due to the clumsy stupidity of Mr. Smee, Who is his first mate.
Lady Tremaine – Cinderella (1950)
The real villain of Disney’s 1950 animated feature film Cinderella is Lady Tremaine, also referred to as the “Wicked Stepmother” or the “Evil Stepmother.”
Lady Tremaine, Cinderella’s cold-hearted stepmother, doesn’t physically hurt her stepdaughter.
Instead, driven by her envy that Cinderella is much more attractive than her two clumsy children, Anastasia and Drizella, she strives to chastise and torment her psychologically.
Wile E Coyote – Road Runner Show (1949)
One of the main characters and a significant villain of the Looney Tunes series is Wile E. Coyote.
Chuck Jones designed him as an animated cartoon character for the Merrie Melodies and Looney Tunes shows.
He made his debut alongside the Road Runner in the 1949 cartoon “Fast & Furry-ous.”
He most frequently uses various traps and machinery to try and catch and consume either the Road Runner or Bugs Bunny, but these attempts almost always end in absurd, comical ways.
Queen Grimhilde – The Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs (1937)
The major villain of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, a 1937 Disney animated feature film, and the first Disney villain in the chronology of Disney animated features, is the Evil Queen.
The only person whose beauty exceeds the Queen is Snow White, and the Queen, determined to maintain her position as the fairest of all, develops an insane amount of resentment for her.
Her jealousy leads her to play wicked games and attempts to remove Snow White from her way to maintain her position as the most beautiful of all.
Elmer J. Fudd – Looney Tunes (1930)
One of the most well-known Looney Tunes characters and one of Bugs Bunny’s archenemies is the comic Disney character Elmer J. Fudd.
Along with Yosemite Sam and Marvin the Martian, he is one of the main recurrent antagonists in the series.
However, Elmer is a fool and incapable of seriously hurting Bugs, unlike the tyrant and power-hungry Marvin or the cunning and evil Sam.
Bluto – Popeye (1929)
The main nemesis of the Popeye cartoons is Bluto, a savage sailor who enjoys tormenting Popeye and seeking to woo Olive Oyl.
He might be a large, strong beast of a man or incredibly aggressive and intelligent. He is always shown as being very powerful.
But instead of beating Popeye up as he always does, Popeye finds a can of spinach, eats it, grows stronger, and knocks Bluto out.
Bottom Line
These classic villain cartoon characters are also liked by kids of all generations as well as all age groups. Millennials, Gen Z, and alphas; all appreciate these cartoon villains, as these are one of the best in animations as well as in entertainment.
Having watched this series, it would not be wrong to verify that these villains have entertained equally as heroes. And we hope that this list will encourage you to watch these classics again.
