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Disney villains captivate audiences by embodying our darkest impulses with flair and complexity. Their relatable flaws, bold emotions, and memorable wit make them endlessly entertaining. With queer coding, cultural symbolism, and iconic designs, these characters stand out as bold rebels and unforgettable personalities. From catchy villain songs to dramatic showdowns, these captivating antagonists steal the spotlight in truly memorable ways.
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00:00Pull the lever, crunk.
00:02Wrong lever!
00:04Welcome to Miss Mojo, and today we're going to explore why villains from Disney films are so beloved.
00:10Not so loud, sire. Remember, only you and I know, and your secret is my secret.
00:16Some spoilers to come.
00:19Villains represent our dark side.
00:21Villains not only represent the reality of bad people in the world, but also our own darkest feelings and impulses.
00:27Most classic Disney villain motivations are quite simple, sometimes even petty.
00:33Vanity, ambition, jealousy, even vengeance.
00:36Who does that ungrateful little worm think he is?
00:40Does he, a little to the left, have any idea of who he's dealing with?
00:47How could he do this to me? Why, I practically raised him.
00:51Yeah, you think he would have turned out better.
00:53Yeah, go figure.
00:54Significantly, they don't just feel their impulses, they act on them to the fullest extent of their powers.
01:01And it must be said, with style and panache, even if they become quite literal beasts as a result.
01:08No, no, no, no, no, no dragons, remember?
01:11Did I say no purple dragons? Did I?
01:14Almost everyone has their vain side, has suffered jealousy and envy, or simply had grand ambitions.
01:21These traits are so relatable that we see many fans justifying villainous motivations as understandable and valid in their own way.
01:28Well, except maybe Cruella.
01:30Villains are more fun, complex, and relatable.
01:39Yes, Disney villains are relatable, but also, Disney villains are so much fun to watch.
01:45Sometimes a Disney villain is the most memorable or dynamic part of the film.
02:00Long live the king.
02:09Except, why?
02:11What exactly makes Disney villains so fun?
02:14Well, personality-wise, they can be hilarious.
02:17Quirky mannerisms, deadpan humor, and of course, delightfully snarky ripostes.
02:22Who doesn't like a sardonic put-down?
02:24Just think of it as, you're being let go, that your life's going in a different direction, that your body's part of a permanent outplacement.
02:34Hey, that's kind of like what he said to you when you got fired.
02:37I know, it's called a cruel irony, like my dependence on you.
02:42Disney villains' speech also tend to be more refined and elegant than the protagonists'.
02:47These villains also tend to have funny or goofy sidekicks, serving as foils to their boss' sophistication.
02:52If I gotta choke down on one more of those moldy, disgusting crackers, bam!
03:01Whack!
03:01Calm yourself here.
03:03And you're not the rammer on the head!
03:05Whack! Whack!
03:05I will be sultan, not that adult-meated twitch!
03:09And then, I stomp the crackers down his throat!
03:13Above all, Disney villains are unrestrained in showing extreme emotions, whether they be of anger, disdain, or even joy.
03:23Coupled with the inherent charisma of animation makes these displays extremely entertaining to watch.
03:29Bonus points when they're reinterpreted as misunderstood antiheroes.
03:32Come on, Hades, don't be such a stiff! Join the celebration!
03:36Hey, love to, babe. But unlike you gods lounging about up here, I regrettably have a full-time gig that you, by the way, so charitably bestowed on me, Zeus.
03:48So, can't. Love to, but can't.
03:51Villains represent marginalized people.
03:53A big part of Disney villains' relatability and popularity comes from queer audiences, who have seen themselves in these often flamboyant characters.
04:02Thank you. Thank you.
04:04But it hasn't all been champagne and caviar.
04:08I've had my share of adversity.
04:11Queer coding characters, especially villains, has a long tradition.
04:15In the 20th century, the Hays Code severely restricted such portrayals on screen.
04:19Since writers could not write explicitly LGBTQIA plus characters, they would often give them traits commonly interpreted as queer.
04:28Ursula, for instance, was inspired in part by drag queen Divine.
04:32To me, beauty is looks that you can never forget.
04:35And I've walked down the street with Divine and seen car accidents happen.
04:40Don't you know you look good?
04:42Many other villains fall into the camp territory.
04:45Scar, Jafar, even Gaston and LeFou.
04:48Beyond sexuality, there is even a racial component.
04:52It's no coincidence that Jafar has a more Middle Eastern design than Aladdin.
04:57Where did you say you were from?
05:01Oh, much farther than you've traveled, I'm sure.
05:05Try me.
05:06There's also Maleficent and Ursula's fantastical skin colors compared to the heroes.
05:12Disney villains are rarely explicitly queer or POC, so this coding is not ideal.
05:17Still, in the media landscape lacking in these kinds of representation, it's one marginalized folks can recognize and relate to.
05:36Villains Reject and Deviate from Traditional Society
05:38For that matter, Disney villains are often portrayed as deviants from traditional society, rejecting its rules.
05:45This is obvious in the very criminal enterprises they engage with.
05:49And did Stromboli pay?
05:52Plenty!
05:53Male villains tend to have both aggressively antisocial and effeminate characteristics, as we have covered.
06:06Female villains, usually being single, powerful women, can be said to be a deviation from traditional values, in contrast with the virtuous heroine.
06:15You want me to be the bad guy? Fine. Now I'm the bad guy.
06:21Of course, many of those villains are relatively privileged.
06:24The royal brother Scar, Jafar as royal vizier, Cruella as a rich heiress.
06:29Ursula was even initially meant to be King Triton's sister, a discarded plot point reinstated in the stage musical adaptation.
06:36Even so, Scar is characterized as a disregarded younger brother, Ursula as an exile, and Jafar as a sorcerer who has to keep his powers hidden.
06:58Everyone loves rebels and underdogs. These villains certainly can be interpreted as such.
07:03This chap is obviously a charlatan. I suggest we move on to a lesser...
07:08Don't you disrespect me, little man! Don't you derogate or derive.
07:15Villains tap into cultural fears and anxieties.
07:18We have already covered somewhat the racial coding of Disney's villains, but of course, it gets worse from there.
07:24Good form, you know?
07:27Good form, Mr. Smee?
07:30Good form!
07:31Some of these blatant racial stereotypes come straight from the United States' dark history of minstrel shows.
07:37Disney even hired black actors to voice these caricatures, such as the crows in Dumbo.
07:42He's not the true boy!
07:44Well, that's right!
07:46Apart from the Siamese cats of Lady and the Tramp, most of these characters are comic relief fodder at worst.
07:53But this xenophobic strain still persists.
07:55Could it be possible that you don't know who I am?
07:59I know you all right. You're Shere Khan.
08:02Precisely.
08:04Then you should also know that everyone runs from Shere Khan.
08:08Consider Disney villains like Scar and Shere Khan, who have non-American accents.
08:12In fact, most villains speak British posh RP or Mid-Atlantic, as is the case with older Disney films.
08:20Classic Disney heroes' East Coast-flavored accents eventually gave way to standard American accents, but their villains did not follow suit.
08:29As a result, they are inevitably coded as foreigners, with their defeat being a cathartic way to ease this pernicious cultural anxiety.
08:37Villain designs are interesting and varied.
08:39We've talked about the villains' respective similarities, but their diverse designs are important, especially in animation.
08:47Good animated design is based on charisma and distinctiveness.
08:51Disney villains are among the most distinct and instantly recognizable characters of all.
08:56There's two people in there looking for you.
08:57What?
08:58A big guy and a skinny old woman.
09:00Wait, was this woman scary beyond all reason?
09:02Oh yeah.
09:03That's Eastman Conk!
09:04Many of them have purple, red, green, black color schemes that give them that villainous connotation.
09:10Others deviate from this color scheme in creative ways.
09:13Whoa, is my hair out?
09:15Many villains' designs are based on their respective reference models, which include Broadway theater actors like Hans Conrad and Mary Wicks.
09:23We've already covered Ursula being based on drag queen Divine, but did you know Mother Gothel was inspired by Cher?
09:30Although these villains have common traits, not one of them is exactly the same in design or even villainy.
09:36I'm an ugly old creep!
09:39The magnificent, marvelous, mad, mad, mad, mad, mad, mad, mad, mad, mad!
09:45Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel and ring the bell to get notified about our latest videos.
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09:59Villains Get Memorable Moments, Songs and Deaths
10:05Let's face it, Disney villains get the best songs and moments.
10:09Hell, their music is a whole genre by this point.
10:13That's it!
10:14Cruella de Vil, Cruella de Vil
10:18If she doesn't scare you, no evil thing will
10:22There are the classic numbers, like the catchy send-up Cruella de Vil.
10:26Later, Disney films let the villain sing his or her wicked heart out.
10:30Yeah!
10:33Are you ready?
10:34Are you ready?
10:36Who doesn't appreciate the wit and sophistication of scars be prepared with lyrics by Sir Tim Rice?
10:41Or Ursula's Poor Unfortunate Souls, an iconic Menken and Ashman collaboration?
10:46Or what some even call one of the best Disney villain songs of all time, Judge Claude Frollo's Hellfire.
10:53Choose me or you're higher, be mine or you will burn!
11:04Even their respective deaths are unforgettable, although necessarily bloodless.
11:09However you slice it, Disney villains have some of the best scenes in their films, to the point where people feel they steal the show.
11:15Now comes the real Toe de Fox, tricky and wicked, of course.
11:21Why do you think we love to hate, or love to love, Disney villains?
11:25Let us know in the comments down below.
11:27Take a cup and take a breath and throw a hand inside the scroll.
11:30Have some Jensen, now I've got her boys.
11:32The boss is on a roll!
11:34How are you?
11:35Take a break!
11:41The boss has been marching bandied with the beat.
11:44We'll be prospering quick.
11:54Thanks for listening.
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