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 by Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and David Geffen, the studio helped to cement the rise of CGI animated films with the release of Shrek, which became the first winner of the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. The Shrek franchise has also become the second-highest-grossing animated franchise behind Despicable Me.
One of the reasons for DreamWorks’ success is its ability to mix drama and comedy so effectively in its 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.
25 Tzekel-Kan
‘The Road to El Dorado’ (2000)
Power in the hidden Mesoamerican city of El Dorado is split between the kindhearted Chief Tannabok (Edward James Olmo) and the fanatical high priest Tzekel-Kan (Armand Assante). When two Spanish con-artists named Miguel (Sir Kenneth Branagh) and Tulio (Kevin Kline) arrive in the city, they are mistaken for gods, and Tzekel-Kan declares that the Year of the Jaguar, which will see the city purged of the unworthy, has begun. However, he begins to have doubts when Miguel and Tulio reject his offerings of human sacrifices.
Tzekel-Kan is not as grand as other DreamWorks villains, but he works perfectly for the smaller, more comedic story of The Road to El Dorado. He starts off as a charismatic man who is, if nothing else, committed to his belief, but the more he is refused by Miguel and Tulio, the more his bloodlust comes to the surface. This makes him a decent representation of a cult leader: he appears friendly and committed on the outside, but inside, it’s all about power.
24 Drago 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 pulls a lot of the weight: his guttural roars and harsh delivery sell 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.
23 General Mandible
‘Antz’ (1998)
As the very first DreamWorks villain for their first full-length animated feature film, Antz, it’s understandable that General 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. Antz itself is a perfectly average DreamWorks movie that’s really only worth watching for its nostalgic value.
22 The Colonel
‘Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron’ (2002)
As America makes plans to move out west, the Colonel and his contingent of US Cavalrymen 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 fits Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron‘s unique storytelling. Thematically, he represents the idea of Manifest Destiny as 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 voice work helps elevate the Colonel further as he always feels powerful and in control without having to raise his voice.
21 Dave
‘The Penguins of Madagascar’ (2011)
Before Alex the Lion (Ben Stiller), Dave the Octopus (John Malkovich) was the most popular animal at Central Park Zoo until four young penguins upstaged him. Passed from zoo to zoo due to more penguin exhibits opening, Dave developed a burning hatred for all penguins and set about enacting his revenge. Disguising himself as Dr. Octavius Brine, he develops a formula to mutate penguins into ugly hybrids and turn humanity against them.
Dave is a hilarious villain thanks to a combination of perfect animation and voice acting. The animators were clearly having fun with his exaggerated movements and big facial expressions, especially when he flops around and twists into knots in his human disguise. As for voice acting, Malkovich gives it all ensuring that Dave’s lines come across with strong humor.
20 The 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 as he built a criminal empire in Ratropolis’s shadows. As he plans on wiping out this city during World Cup Final by opening floodgates nearby while Rita steals his master cable.
Sir Ian McKellen is phenomenal actor…
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