Content Warning: The following article contains spoilers.In the world of animation, there have been few instances of rapid success like the rise of DreamWorks. Formed in 1994 bySteven Spielberg, Jeffrey KatzenbergandDavid Geffen, the studio helped to cement the rise of CGI animated films with the release ofShrek, which became the first winner of the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. TheShrekfranchise has also become the second highest-grossing animated franchise behindDespicable Me.
One of the reasons for DreamWorks' success is their ability to mix drama and comedy so effectively in their stories. This can be seen in their villains, which range from funny idiots to scheming masterminds.The best DreamWorks villains prove to be effective foils to the heroes and even rival the best antagonists produced by Disney in their Renaissance. All DreamWorks villains bring something unique to the table, whether that’s wit, charm, or gut-busting comedy. The best among them manage to be just as fascinating (or even outshine) the films' protagonists.
20Drago Bludvist
‘How to Train Your Dragon 2’ (2014)
When dragons began threatening Viking tribes, a warlord named Drago Bludvist captured an alpha dragon called a Bewilderbeast and trained it to obey him. He then used the Bewilderbeast to enslave other dragons to use them to augment his army. When the other Viking chiefs refused to obey him, he killed all but Stoick the Vast in dragonfire, and now comes into conflict with Stoick’s son, Hiccup, when he creates a society where Vikings and dragons live in harmony.
Drago is one of DreamWorks' most simplistic villains, but he works for what he is.Djimon Hounsou’s performance pullsa lot of the weight: his guttural roars and harsh deliverysell Drago as a demonic monster more than a man,especially with how he can command the dragons through fear and power. He also works thematically, presenting Hiccup with a villain he can’t talk down or empathize with.
How to Train Your Dragon 2
19General Mandible
‘Antz’ (1998)
As the very first DreamWorks villain for their first full-length animated feature film,Antz, it’s understandable thatGeneral Mandible is rough around the edges. A fierce defender of the Queen’s army, the frightening antagonist clings to values that align with a dictatorship, and makes it his mission to take control of his colony.
There’s not much beyond that arc, and he isn’t a complex villain at all, but General Mandible is undeniably terrifying, if only because the prototype presented through him is true to life.Antzitself is aperfectly average DreamWorks moviethat’s really only worth watching for its nostalgic value.
18The Colonel
‘Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron’ (2002)
As America makes plans to move out west, The Colonel and his contingent of US Cavalryment are tasked with building a fort to keep watch on the native Lakota tribe. The Colonel also tasks his men with capturing wild horses to turn them in as mounts. When one mustang stallion proves to be especially resilient, the Colonel makes it his mission to prove that any horse can break.
The Colonel has some of the least screentime of any DreamWorks villain, but every moment is memorable and fitsSpirit: Stallion of the CImarron’s unique storytelling.Thematically, he represents the idea of Manifest Destinyas he and his men attempt to subdue the Wild West, but even though he believes in man’s superiority over the natural world, he also knows when to show respect to nature.James Cromwell’s voicework helps elevate the Colonel further, as he always feels powerful and in control without having to raise his voice.
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
17The Toad
‘Flushed Away’ (2006)
When his human owner, Prince Charles, adopted a pet rat, the Toad was supplanted and eventually flushed down the toilet. This planted a deep hatred for all rodents in his heart, and he built a criminal empire in the shadows of the sewer city of Ratropolis. As he makes final plans to wipe out the city by opening the nearby floodgates during the World Cup Final, his master cable is stolen by the thief Rita and the displaced surface rat, Roddy, so the Toad throws all his resources into reclaiming it.
Sir Ian McKellen is a phenomenal actorwho has starred in numerous critically praised films, and his performance as the Toad won him an Annie Award for Voice Acting in a Feature Production. It’s a chance for McKellen to go all out and play a character who tries to act dignified and sophisticated, butit’s a poor-fitting mask for a crazed maniac.
Flushed Away
16Captain Chantel Shannon DuBois
‘Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted’ (2012)
An animal control agent based in France, Captain DuBois prides herself on her skill to track and capture any animal. The only thing missing from her repertoire inMadagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wantedis a lion. When she learns that Alex the Lion and his friends were spotted on their way back to New York City, she starts a one-woman crusade to complete her collection.
DuBois is probablyDreamWorks' funniest antagonist to date, despite not having as much depth. Not even international borders can stop her once she sets her sight on a goal, which she pursues with an unnatural drive akin to a Terminator. Adding to her comedic value is a lovely hammy and intimidating performance byFrances McDormand.
Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted
15Professor Poopypants
‘Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie’ (2017)
Nick Krollvoices the hilariously nefarious Professor Pee-Pee Diahreeahstein Poopypants Esquire inCaptain Underpants: The First Epic Movie. Professor P. is a talented scientist who despises his humiliating name, which brings him shame wherever he goes. When his supposed proud moment for claiming the Nobel Prize turns into an embarrassing one, he vows to invent technology that can shrink the part of the human brain that signals laughter.
Playing into the mad scientist trope in an exaggerated way,Kroll’s brilliant voice acting brings the gut-busting antagonist to life. He may be a tad one note throughout the film, but it’s one he plays well.Captain Underpantsitself is worth watching for anyone who enjoys wacky comedy.
Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie
14Prince Charming
‘Shrek the Third’ (2007)
As the son of Far Far Away’s resident Fairy Godmother, Prince Charming was groomed his whole life to be a dashing and beautiful hero who saves the day and wins the crown. Unfortunately for him, his destiny is taken by the ogre, Shrek, who defeats his mother and marries Princess Fiona. Embittered by this, Charming rallies an army of fairy tale villains to take over Far Far Away and get his revenge.
Befitting theShrekfranchise, Prince Charming is a spoof on fairy tale clichés: what if the dashing hero was instead a glamorized mama’s boy? While not enough to save one of theworst films in theShrekfranchise, Charming represents an interesting idea by taking a minor villain from a previous film and giving them the chance to be the main threat. CastingRupert Everettalso works in Charming’s favor, as hegives the character the right level of smug narcissismthat makes him entertaining while still hateable.
Shrek the Third
As the goddess of chaos, Eris always seeks ways to mess with mortals and spread misery and discourse. Her latest plan involves framing the famous thief, Sinbad, for the theft of the Book of Peace, so that his friend, Prince Proteus of Syracuse, would take his place to give Sinbad a chance to recover the book. If he fails, Proteus will be executed, so Eris naturally does everything she can to delay Sinbad and get him to give up the quest.
Thanks to her animation andMichelle Pfeiffer’s delivery, Eris stands out as the most entertaining part of one of DreamWorks' more forgotten films. The animators went all out with her animation, making her move like smoke, which lent perfectly to her shapeshifting and chaotic powers. Pfeiffer’s delivery has all the arrogance and playfulness you’d expect from an immortal goddess who sees mortals as a source of entertainment, whichonly adds to how much fun it is watching her.
Sinbad: Legend Of The Seven Seas
‘Kung Fu Panda 3’ (2016)
While everyone loves Master Oogway as the enlightened kung-fu master, five hundred years ago, he fought alongside a warlord named Kai. They loved one another like brothers, but when Kai attempted to steal the chi of a panda village that healed Oogway, they fought and Kai was banished to the spirit world. Eventually, he captured Oogway’s chi and escaped to destroy Oogway’s legacy.
While not as well-written as Tai Lung or Shen,Kai is an amazing villain in terms of presentation inKung Fu Panda 3. His design and jade color theme sell him as an unnatural being, and his personal music samples the song “I’m So Sorry,” fromImagine Dragons. Finally, his ability to steal chi and turn his victims into jade zombies encapsulates the movie’s themes on the differences between sharing knowledge and hoarding it.
Kung Fu Panda 3
11Mrs. Melisha Tweedy
‘Chicken Run’ (2000)
Chicken Runmay be a beloved comedy film, but Mrs. Tweedy, its main antagonist, is actually mostly terrifying. One ofthe scariest DreamWorks villains to ever grace kids' screens, Mrs. Tweedy’s backstory sets the sinister foundation for her horrible motivations. Stuck in a horrible marriage on a financially failing farm in England, Mrs. Tweedy is cold and calculating, unmoved by the chickens' horrified faces. Her goal to turn her farm into a meat factory is scarily realistic.
She may not be magical, verbose, or unforgettable, but anyone who’s reminded of Mrs. Tweedy will likely remember her pale uncaring face and villainous plot. She served as an excellent and horrific inspiration for the chickens to run and turned the familystop-motion movie into a spookyaffair at times.
