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Cartoon Villains


By Kusha Singh

 Whether it’s the creepy Joker, the angst-ridden Magneto, or the sad Dr. Doofenshmirtz; we love our villains. Usually because of the suspense they help create. There’s a reason Megamind ended up where it did. Any “Good Vs Evil” cartoon is only as fun as its scheming villain. This extends to feature films as well. A super-hero flick, for instance, is only as good the super-villain in it. Cartoon villains need to be just as good and larger than life on an epic scale. Either that or they need to stupid on an epic scale. Think about it. It’s hard to come up with a toon villain who doesn’t fit either of these templates.
Over the years, that really has been their USP. Larger than life, bonkers and either very stupid (Wile E. Coyote) or very witty (Princess Morbucks, Powerpuff Girls).
Buttercup: You can’t just buy superpowers!
Princess Morbucks: Oh yeah? Tell that to Batman!
And if the villains don’t mock the show, the show mocks them. I mean their names are Dr. Doofenshmirtz and Angelica Pickles for crying out loud. And what kind of a name is Bluto?
In several cases, it’s fun to watch cartoon villains fail on a grand scale. Diabolical schemes that lead to hilarious failures - Embodied best by Team Rocket of Pokemon fame: Well them and Wile E. Coyote from The Roadrunner Show.
Jessie of Team Rocket: This couldn’t have worked better if we’d planned it.
James of Team Rocket: If we’d planned it, it wouldn’t have worked at all!
And how can we forget how much villains influence our everyday lives? All of us have repeated lines by villains to mock our siblings. But we don’t take after cartoon villains in matters of mockery and fashion (remember Cruella de Vil?) alone. My favourite cartoon villain inspired songs are Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap by AC/DC and on the hall of fame, the much more recent Club Villain by YourFavouriteMartian.
Some leave you with insights.
Dr. Doofenshmirtz: You know, fire is the leading cause of fire.
Others inspire you.
James: We have a proud tradition of failure to uphold.
They show you how to wish and dream.
Jessie: Just once, I’d like to make a dramatic exit that DOESN’T involve a life-threatening explosion.
Others yet, teach us leadership qualities,
Dick Dastardly: Muttley, do something!
And make you believe in the place where a great man once said “impossible meets possible”; The Possimpible.
Dr. Doofenshmirtz: Behold, the Melt-inator 6-5000! It has a melting capacity... of 7! That’s on a scale from 1 to 5, so that’s a big number.
It’s not easy being a villain. Being a cartoon villain is ever harder. Being super evil while making kids laugh is nigh on impossible. And yet these characters managed that episode after episode and we salute them.

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Kusha Singh
The author of this article is the smartest, funniest, hottest person in the world... Eh? Whats that?... no the author didn't just write that about herself. Oh well, I'm just a confused little klutz who's also a writer, part time actor, a movie freak, marathon swimmer and hopefully on the way to becoming a vc designer.



 

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