My 20 Favorite Pixar Villains

Scene from The Incredibles
*NOTE: Originally Published on Readwave
If only all animated characters were this delightfully twisted.
With Friday's release of Inside Out, let's look back at what Pixar has done very well over its past 14 entries. They have great villains. Don't believe me? Read on.

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1. Sid Phillips (Toy StoryToy Story 3)

Nobody has ever attempted a double bypass brain transplant before... until now. Pixar kicked things off with one of the most disturbing antagonists. Nobody has topped him.
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2. Randall Boggs (Monsters, Inc.Monsters University)

Imagine if your coworker wanted to corrupt your every move. When conflict arises,  he will be the first to rat you out.
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3. Hopper (A Bug's Life)

Among Kevin Spacey's turns as a villain in the late 90's, his best is a grasshopper enslaving ants for food. 
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4. Emperor Zurg (Toy Story 2)

He was such an awesome foe that Disney created an animated cartoon with him as the villain. He's also the coolest looking toy in Pixar's history. 
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5. Lotso Huggin' Bear (Toy Story 3)

Few have taken abandonment issues as harshly as Lotso. He turns a play center into a prison and runs a pseudo-mob syndicate.
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6. Anton Ego (Ratatouille)

I'm a critic. I sympathize with critics. That third act monologue is enough to give him a high ranking. The rest is excellent enough.
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7. Charles Muntz (Up)

Imagine if your childhood hero ended up being a jerk who sought revenge against you. What a shady move.
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8. Henry J. Waternoose III (Monsters, Inc.)

Of every bait and switch in Pixar's filmography, this is the best. He's a lovable boss... until you realize he was the ringleader in sabotaging your career for the whole film.
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9. Scud the Dog (Toy Story)

If Sid Phillips is the master of the horrors, then it makes sense that his dog is just as violent. The final iconic chase scene alone makes him one of the most menacing and best animal characters in the studio's run.
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10. Al McWhiggin (Toy Story 2)

There's nothing wrong with a collector who wants his toys to look their best. While funnier than menacing, he is the greatest threat of the toy sequel, and the poster child of growing old and greedy.
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11. Alpha (Up)

He is a devious talking dog whose voice box was damaged to the point that he has a high pitched voice. In a film full of great talking dogs, he remains one of the most villainous.
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12. Stinky Pete (Toy Story 2)

Among the memorable characters from Woody's Round-Up, Stinky Pete is the one who wishes to remain in mint condition. He is sympathetic and cynical, until he reveals just how much he doesn't want to be manhandled by children.
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13. Syndrome (The Incredibles)

Be nice to your fans, or they might turn on you and cause trouble. Just like this guy.
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14. The Bird (A Bug's Life)

It is the cutest thing that has no trouble trying to kill you without a moment's notice. In a film full of villainous grasshoppers, it seems unfortunate that the character without a speaking role is often forgotten as being the biggest threat.
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15. Molt (A Bug's Life)

While more comedic relief than a threat, Hopper's brother can be a troubling, loyal force when necessary. He may be better known for being nebbish, but his desire to impress his psychopathic sibling goes a long way to making his desperation scarier.
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16. Chef Skinner (Ratatouille)

He's the boss who wants everyone to work their hardest. Who cannot respect that? However, his lingering threat to Remy the Rat is a driving force for the film that makes the morals all the more stronger.
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17. Thumper (A Bug's Life)

I don't even know how to describe this character's violent behavior and screeching voice. He is the loose cannon that you just don't want to mess with.
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18. Toy Monkey (Toy Story 3)

He may be more of a plot device than a character, but he still is unnerving every time he is on screen. His howls are the closest that the studio has come to having a character embody death.
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19. Mor'du (Brave)

A giant mythic bear who will hurt you and is largely immortal. While it makes for a cool portion of the film, the complexity isn't as strong as most of these villains.
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20. Darla Sherman (Finding Nemo)

The poster child for people who don't want to have children.

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