Judge Claude Frollo governs Paris with an oppressive hand, driven by an unwavering fixation on killing off the Romani population in The Hunchback of Notre Dame. One of his tragic victims was a mother who passed away protecting her child; and only two decades later, he embarks on a zealous mission to hunt down a woman named Esmeralda, triggering a catastrophic conflagration in Paris.

Claude Frollo perceives himself as a fated hero, chosen by God to cleanse the world of its transgressions, a twisted belief that serves as justification for his numerous criminal acts. His relentless pursuit of Esmeralda is driven not only by his distorted sense of justice but also by a fervid desire, and should he fail to possess her, he is willing to witness her destruction. Adding to his malevolence, Frollo subjects Quasimodo to emotional and psychological abuse, ingraining in his mind the notion that he is a grotesque monster who must remain isolated from society.

Movie: The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Release: 1996

The Coachman, a regular visitor to the Red Lobster tavern, actively seeks out mischievous young boys. He convinces them to venture to Pleasure Island, a destination where they can freely indulge in reckless acts such as drinking, smoking, and brawling. However, the more they surrender to their desires, the more they undergo a disturbing transformation into donkeys.

While The Coachman's role as a secondary Disney animated villain in Pinocchio is relatively brief, it presents a chilling depiction. The boys who are transformed into donkeys are subsequently sent away to circuses and salt mines, while the rest are imprisoned without knowing how long their confinement will last. What makes this all the more unsettling is that The Coachman totally thinks he is justified in his actions, believing that the boys had their share of enjoyment and must now face the consequences.

Movie: Pinocchio

Release: 1940

Maleficent, also known as the Mistress of all Evil, is one of the best Disney animated villains. Upon discovering her exclusion from Princess Aurora's christening, Maleficent inflicts a curse upon the infant, decreeing her demise on her sixteenth birthday.

However, Merryweather, one of the benevolent fairies, intervenes and alters the curse, transforming it into an enchanted slumber instead. Maleficent remains undeterred by this modification, as her curse still succeeds in causing great sorrow and tribulation in the eventual unfolding of Sleeping Beauty's story.

And in her quest to ensure perpetual slumber for Aurora and her kingdom, she also seizes the princess's true love, Prince Philip. But Maleficent has no intention of prisoning the prince forever; instead, she plans to release him when he has aged into an old man - which is even more cruel since Aurora is unaffected by the passage of time and remains young forever.

Movie: Sleeping Beauty

Release: 1959

In Disney's The Lion King, Scar holds the position of Mufasa's younger brother and is next in line to inherit the Pride Lands. However, everything changes when his nephew, Simba, is born. This development sparks a sinister scheme within Scar's mind as he conspires with a group of hyenas, striking a deal to eliminate his own family in exchange for granting them access to the Pride Lands.

Scar is the epitome of an undeserving and corrupt ruler. His desire for power stems solely from the desire for status and prestige, rather than a genuine interest in shouldering the responsibilities of leadership. As a result, the once flourishing Pride Lands fall into desolation and become an arid wasteland under his rule.

Worse, Scar displays a cunning ability for manipulation, successfully convincing a young Simba that he bears the guilt for his father's tragic demise - a poignant and heart-wrenching moment in Disney history - which leaves a lasting emotional scar on the young lion, impacting him throughout his life. As such, Scar is the cruellest and one of the best Disney animated villains.

Movie: The Lion King

Release: 1994

After Cinderella's mother passed away, her father remarried a wealthy woman named Lady Tremaine. Unfortunately, Cinderella's father also passed away not long after the marriage. Instead of providing solace to the young girl, Lady Tremaine forced Cinderella to become a servant to her and her own daughters, Drizella and Anastasia.

Lady Tremaine, despite being a lesser-known Disney villain, possesses a very gruesome sense of cruelty towards Cinderella. She keeps Cinderella occupied with endless household tasks and chores, leaving no room for a social life.

Through cunning and manipulation, Lady Tremaine ensures any moments of joy Cinderella has are fleeting and short-lived. The cruelest act of all occurs when she manipulates her own daughters into ruining Cinderella's dress for the royal ball, a pivotal moment in the story.

Movie: Cinderella

Release: 1950

In the city of Zootopia, Dawn Bellwether lived as a meek and diminutive sheep. Throughout her life, she endured a constant stream of insults and belittlement, particularly from predatory animals. Eventually, she reached a breaking point and resolved to bring the predators down a notch. Through the use of a toxic flower known as a night howler, Bellwether synthesized a drug capable of inducing a feral state in predators, aiming to sow chaos and disorder.

While Dawn Bellwether may lack the distinctiveness of other female Disney villains in terms of personality, her plan is undeniably sinister. She shows no remorse for the prejudice she spreads nor does she genuinely care about elevating prey species over predators. It becomes apparent that her actions serve as a mere façade for her own selfish ambitions.

Movie: Zootopia

Release: 2016