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Disney Villainesses don't get the air time or exposure that the Princesses do, however, they are equally just as important in the movies!
It's hard being your own woman sometimes. You create your own stand-out style, make your mark on the world - and people still call you Brenda instead of Linda. The lady villains of Disney know your pain.
Constantly I see people making reference to Maleficent and they're really talking about the Evil Queen. People say things like "That one chick...with the mermaid. Isn't she a fish or something?" and Ursula is just sitting over there like "I'm half octopus! How is that forgettable?!" With the upcoming (highly anticipated) Maleficent II movie, one would think fans could get their ducks in a row. Right?
I understand that we all have our favorites (I want Maleficent to be my EFF - evil friend forever) but, do yourself a favor and expand your horizons..
Ready to Sharpen your knowledge of Disney's Bad Girl Club?
How many female Disney villains are there?
There are ten female villains in the Disney movie franchise:
The Evil Queen
Maleficent
Ursula
Cruella De Vil
Madame Medusa
The Queen of Hearts
Madame Min
Yzma
Lady Tremain
Mother Gothel
Here is a breakdown so you can Know all of your Disney Villainesses!
The Evil Queen
Story: Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs
Aliases: The Queen, Wicked Queen, Queen Grimhilde
Disney Villainesses Inspiration: Joan Crawford
Who She Is: Queen, stepmother to Snow White, narcissist
Powers: Dark Magic via magic mirror, cauldron and spells
Quote: "Magic mirror on the wall, who is the fairest one of all?"
Trademarks: Poison Apple, black hood, crown
Maleficent
Story: Sleeping Beauty
Aliases: Mistress of all Evil, Embodiment of Evil
Disney Villainesses Inspiration: original fairy tale
Who She Is: Evil Fairy, third wheel at parties
Powers: Magical Being, transformation, curses
Quote: "The princess shall indeed grow in grace and beauty, beloved by all who know her. But... before the sun sets on her 16th birthday, she shall prick her finger, on the spindle of a spinning wheel - AND DIE! "
Trademarks: Raven, horns
Ursula
Story: The Little Mermaid
Aliases: The Sea Witch
Disney Villainesses Inspiration: Divine (performer)
Who She Is: The Sea Witch, granter of wishes, King Triton's sister. keeper of Ariel's voice
Powers: Transformation, granting wishes, curses
Quote: "I'm not asking much. Just a token really, a trifle. You'll never even miss it. What I want from you is your voice."
Trademarks: tentacles, eels
Cruella De Vil
Story: 101 Dalmations
Aliases: None
Disney Villainesses Inspiration: 101 Dalmatians by Dodie Smith
Who She Is: Wealthy fur addict, dog kidnapper (killer)
Powers: Money, henchmen
Quote: "My only true love, darling. I live for furs. I worship furs! After all, is there a woman in all this wretched world who doesn't? "
Trademark: black and white hair
Madame Medusa
Story: The Rescuers
Aliases: Auntie Medusa
Disney Villainesses Inspiration: Animator's ex-wife
Who She Is: Pawn shop owner, jewel thief, kidnapper
Powers: Henchmen
Quote: "I want that diamond. I've got to have the Devil's Eye!"
Trademarks: alligators
The Queen of Hearts
Story: Alice in Wonderland
Aliases: None
Disney Villainesses Inspiration: Elizabeth de Mowbray, Duchess of Norfolk
Who She Is: Impatient ruler of Wonderland
Powers: henchmen (guards)
Quote: "Off with their heads!"
Trademark: Cards, painting roses
Madame Mim
Story: The Sword in the Stone
Aliases: Magnificent Marvelous Mad Madam Mim
Disney Villainesses Inspiration: unknown
Who She Is: Annoying little witch who challenged Merlin (and lost)
Powers: transformation
Quote: "Cause I'm the magnificent, marvellous, mad Madam Mim!"
Trademark: becoming a germ, purple hair
Yzma
Story: The Emperor's New Groove
Aliases: none
Disney Villainesses Inspiration: Yma Sumac (speculated)
Who She Is: Emperor Kuzco's former right hand gal now bent on revenge
Powers: transfiguration potions
Quote: "Pull the lever, Kronk!"..."WRONG LEVER!!!!"..."Why do we even have that lever?!"
Trademark: Kronk
Lady Tremain
Story: Cinderella
Aliases: Evil Stepmother, Wicked Stepmother
Disney Villainesses Inspiration: original fairy tale
Who She Is: Cinderella's mean stepmother, social ladder climber
Powers: Affluence, evil daughters
Quote: "Oh. Pay no attention to her."
Trademark: Dracula Hair, high collars
Mother Gothel
Story: Tangled (Rapunzel)
Aliases: none
Disney Villainesses Inspiration: original story by the Brother's Grimm
Who She Is: Witch who kidnapped Rapunzel and pretended to be her mother
Powers: Witchcraft, the tower, cunning
Quote: “You want me to be the bad guy? Fine... Now, I'm the bad guy.”
Trademark: Think Meg from Hercules in 15 years
Do you have a favorite Disney Villainess? I think that Maleficient, is actually not as bad of a villain like some of the others. She, unlike some of the villians, had a change of heart for her "Little Beastly".
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LOVE this post! It grates a nerve so much when people don't get their Disney characters correct. I'm forever hearing people talking about "Simba's uncle, what's his name? Mufasa?" ZOMG get it right!!
My kids are always calling the Villainesses by the wrong names! But they regularly call their cousins and aunts and uncles by the wrong names too. I guess they're just bad with names! :)
Thanks for the villainess run down. I didn't know about a few of them. Love the fact history. :)
I love the villainesses! When I was about 4 my great aunt had a hair-do with a white stripe in it. The first time I met her I gasped, pointed and said "Mom! It's Cruella De Vil!!"
I love them all, but think Ursula is my favorite!
I'm actually bummed about this Maleficent movie coming out. I don't even remember seeing Sleeping Beauty as a kid so I have no background on this character. I wish they would have pulled the movie out of the vault before creating this one.
I think the Evil Queen from Snow White was the most wicked villain. I thought it was cool how she changed appearances.
Ursulas quote cracks me up. My favorite "villian" is Yzma! She's hilarious.
This post was awesome. My family and I are a bunch of Disney nuts so it was cool to seeing all the info on the villianesses
Yep, this is a great post on all the wicked ladies of the Disney stables. They are maleficent and my fave one is Aunt Medusa.
Awesome round up of the villains! I've never given them much thought.
Ursula scared me a bit when I Was growing up. Though, now, I think she is FIERCE!
Thanks for the list. I did not know that they are inspired from another character.
This is a great round-up. It's interesting how many people get some of these mixed up. Of course, I'm of the opinion that some of these ladies are just misunderstood ;)
Love the collection! It's so interesting to see character inspiration for them all!
Give those villainesses their due! Without them, there would be know story! Ha!
hahahahahaha
why is it so funny to me that it's an ex wife who inspired a whole disney villainess? that's awesome!
This post is so cooool! The trivia you added with each character is truly amazing. I never thought that Madame Medusa is the creator's ex wife! That's funny! :)
I agree to have a villain named after you is not good. But it does make me laugh - what a way to get back at your EX! Very informative post! Thanks
Disney does have some great villainesses!! We like to hate the 'bad guy' (her quote) from Tangled. :)
How interesting that Joan Crawford was an inspiration for one? She certainly played a good one in the movies.
I don't know if I would say I want any of them to be my EFF but this was a great round up of villains. Thanks for a unique and fun post.
This is such a great post! I tell you, when I was little I was scared to death of Cruella De Vil. She still gives me the eebie jeebies!
I love this post! Gotta love the Disney Villains!
Disney knows their villianesses for sure, don't they? Some of them are so scary!
I get the Evil Queen and Maleficent mixed up ALL the time! LOL Unless I'm really paying attention, I often mistake one for the other.
This was such an awesome post! I really loved reading it. You did a great job!
Okay, there were a couple of Disney Villainesses I didn't know much about! It's neat that some were inspired by people. I'm ready to see Maleficent!!
Auntie Medusa and Maleficent terrified me when I was a kid. My boys think this is funny.
I've always been partial to Cruella De Vil. I also like that she has her own sort of theme song too!
I am not up on anything Disney... but doesn't the Queen of Hearts look kind of like Fred Flintstone to you. LOL, maybe I am just seeing things.
I am a Disney freak, so I know my villainesses. I am SO excited for the movie Maleficent with Angelina Jolie!!!
I love that Disney is putting the spotlight on the villains lately! Maleficent will probably always be my favorite, but I do love The Queen of Hearts almost just as much!
LOVE IT!! Great informative post :) As a former cast member with Disney, you will be amazed at how much Disney Knowledge people get incorrect! At work we named our beast of a safe "Ursula!"
I had no idea Madame Medusa was inspired by the creator's ex wife! LOL!!! I sooooo would not want to be her hahahahaha!!!! This post is AWESOME.