While everyone loves a hero, here’s the rarely-talked-about truth: no epic story would be the same without its villain. And that is truer than ever when it comes to animated movies. After all, can you imagine Disney’s classic Lion King without Scar? Us either.
Animated movie villains and monsters often outshine the good guys, especially for those of us who are particularly dark and twisty — so much so that sometimes, in mid-watch, you stop to wonder, “Who does that villain’s voice belong to?”
Since most of us are too lazy to actually Google it in the moment, we soon forget. But what a loss! If we hadn’t started digging, we’d have never discovered that Peter Dinklage — Game of Thrones’ Tyrion Lannister himself — brought to life the evil ape pirate Captain Gutt in Ice Age: Continental Drift. This is clearly need-to-know information, guys.
So, keep scrolling to unearth the identities behind some of the best animated movie villains ever.
Peter Dinklage in ‘Ice Age: Continental Drift’
While everyone loves a hero, here’s the rarely talked about truth: no epic story would be the same without its villain. And that is truer than ever when it comes to animated movies. After all, can you imagine Disney’s classic Lion King without Scar? Us either.
Animated movie villains and monsters often outshine the good guys, especially for those among us who are particularly dark and twisty. So much so that sometimes, in mid-watch, you stop to wonder, “Who does that villain’s voice belong to?”
Since most of us are too lazy to actually Google it in the moment, we soon forget. But what a loss! If we hadn’t started digging, we’d have never discovered that Peter Dinklage — Game of Thrones’ Tyrion Lannister himself — brought to life the evil ape pirate Captain Gutt in Ice Age: Continental Drift. This is clearly need to know information, guys.
So keep scrolling to unearth the identities behind some of the best animated movie villains ever.
Kevin Spacey in ‘A Bug’s Life’
This House of Cards star played Hopper, who wanted to crush Flik and the other “puny ants.”
Donald Sutherland in ‘Astro Boy’
Not to be confused with President Snow, Sutherland brought to life President Stone in 2009’s Astro Boy.
Will Forte in ‘Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2’
The Last Man on Earth actor played cerebral villain Chester V in this flick about giant food.
Eartha Kitt in ‘The Emperor’s New Groove’
Eartha Kitt’s trademark sex appeal didn’t exactly carry over into her creepy character, Yzma.
Christoph Waltz in ‘Epic’
Academy Award-winning actor Waltz brought to life Mandrake, the villainous blue leader of the Boggans.
Jason Statham in ‘Gnomeo & Juliet’
Not gonna lie… knowing that Jason Statham voiced Tybalt kind makes us crush on the angry gnome.
Rooney Mara in ‘Kubo and the Two Strings’
Rooney Mara enjoyed the duplicitous role of Kubo’s aunts (aka “The Sisters”) who want to cut out his eye.
Ian McShane in ‘Kung Fu Panda’
This veteran actor brought this claws out to voice a vengeance-focused snow leopard named Tai Lung.
Jemaine Clement in ‘Rio’ and ‘Moana’
Fans of HBO’s Divorce will recognize Clement’s face; fans of Rio and Moana will recognize his dastardly voice.
Rainn Wilson in ‘Monsters vs. Aliens’
Funnyman Rainn Wilson brought comedic effect to the role of evil alien Gallaxhar.
Miguel Ferrer in ‘Mulan’
Before Crossing Jordan, NCIS and Twin Peaks, Ferrer voiced ruthless conquerer Shan-Yu in Mulan.
Gary Sinise in ‘Open Season’
Who knew Lt. Day-an, er, we mean Gary Sinise played the redneck hunter in Open Season?
Gary Oldman in ‘Planet 51’
Oldman played General Grawl, a high-ranking alien military officer who thinks humans want to destroy his planet.
Ralph Fiennes in ‘Prince of Egypt’ and ‘Kubo’
Fiennes isn’t just He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named. He also brought to life villains Rameses and The Moon King.
Keith David in ‘The Princess and the Frog’
Dr. Facilier may have been evil, but he sure did have panache. Thank Keith David for that!
Jude Law in ‘Rise of the Guardians’
It might be weird to say this, but Jude Law was even beautiful playing the ominous Pitch Black.
Kevin Hart in ‘The Secret Life of Pets’
The fact that Kevin Hart voiced this pint-sized psychotic bunny makes it even funnier.
Amy Sedaris & Billy Bob Thornton in ‘Puss in Boots’
We never would have guessed Amy Sedaris and Billy Bob Thornton were behind this despicable Jack and Jill.
John Lithgow in ‘Shrek’
Even when Lithgow plays someone as loathsome as Lord Farquaad, he’s impossible not to like.
Rupert Everett in ‘Shrek 2’
If it weren’t for the evil scheming and all, Rupert Everett would practically be his Prince Charming character.
Donna Murphy in ‘Tangled’
Serial sitcom star Donna Murphy voiced the world’s worst maternal figure: Mother Gothel.
Diedrich Bader in ‘Surf’s Up’
Bader usually makes us laugh, but his surfer penguin “Tank” proved to be utterly obnoxious (by design).
Steve Zahn in ‘The Good Dinosaur’
Further proof that Zahn can play any character is his portrayal of terrible pterodactyl Thunderclap.
Jason Lee in ‘The Incredibles’
The My Name Is Earl star voiced jilted-sidekick-turned-supervillain Syndrome.
Christopher McDonald in ‘The Iron Giant’
Fun fact: McDonald’s trademark “Oh my God!” mid-sentence (as seen in Happy Gilmore) started with this role.
Will Ferrell in ‘The Lego Movie’
Ferrell ditched his typical hilarity in favor of voicing the cruel Lego tyrant Lord Business.
Jeremy Irons in ‘The Lion King’
Iconic actor Irons brought to life an equally iconic character in The Lion King‘s Scar.
Erik von Detten in ‘Toy Story’
You probably didn’t realize when you were swooning over him in Princess Diaries that von Detten played Sid.
Christine Baranski in ‘Trolls’
She may put up a Good Fight normally, but Baranski was no match for united troll-kind as villain Chef.
Bill Hader in ‘Turbo’
Hader voiced speedster Guy Gagné, whose silver tongue was just as fast as his race car.
Alan Tudyk in ‘Wreck-It Ralph’
Tudyk always plays quirky characters, and the evil Sugar Rush overlord King Candy is no exception.
Jenny Slate in ‘Zootopia’
We love Jenny Slate so much that we forgive her evil overtures as wolf-in-lamb’s clothing Dawn Bellwether.
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