Darkest Disney Villain Deaths In The Animated Films (2024)

Walt Disney Animation created numerous animated movies, many of which have remained relevant despite being decades old. The studio has taken many risks, pushing the boundaries in storytelling and animated visuals.

Some of their films have been very dark, with the grimmest scenes depicting a villain's death. Many of these deaths have left audiences wondering if the films are appropriate for children. Some deaths have been so dark that audiences and even the characters within the film can't help but feel sorry for the villains.

Updated on July 14, 2024, by Michael Colwander: The Disney Animated canon is full of shocking deaths. While modern films have mostly avoided this, some Disney villain deaths are still dark. More brutal Disney villain deaths have been added as well as updates to reflect current stylistic standards.

15 Shan Yu Exploded In A Fireworks Blast

Mulan (1998)

To call Shan Yu's death in Mulan dark would be ironic considering the colorful nature of his demise. Shan Yu was the vicious leader of the Hun Army, which pursued genocide and conquest.

On a rooftop, Shan Yu fought Mulan, who managed to steal his blade. Mulan uses the blade to pin Shan Yu in place while he faces an incoming rocket. This rocket propelled Shan Yu into a munitions tower that subsequently exploded into a bright, colorful, and firey blast with fireworks often seen as a symbol of celebration and joy. Behind the scenes, the decision to kill Shan Yu in this matter was to avoid yet another Disney villain falling into the depths below.

Mulan

G

Action

Adventure

Musical

Comedy

To save her father from death in the army, a young maiden secretly goes in his place and becomes one of China's greatest heroines in the process.

Director

Tony Bancroft , Barry Cook

Release Date

June 19, 1998

Studio

Disney

Cast

Ming-Na Wen , Lea Salonga , Eddie Murphy , BD Wong , Donny Osmond

Runtime

1 hour 27 minutes

14 King Candy Desperately Tried To Prevent His Inevitable Death

Wreck-It Ralph (2012)

King Candy is often referred to as one of the best twist villains in a Disney film. While many viewers quickly ascertained King Candy's villainy, it was his reveal as Turbo that proved shocking. Turbo was a video game character who went rogue and left his game long before the start of Wreck-It Ralph, and couldn't be found until he was exposed by Vanellope.

Turbo found a home in Sugar Rush and, to find a place in the game, hacked Vanellope out by making her a glitch. When Turbo merged with one of the Cy-Bugs that began infecting Sugar Rush, Ralph used his strength and weight to erupt a volcano. Cy-Bugs are drawn to light like a moth to a flame, resulting in Cy-Bugs gravitating toward the magma geyser. Turbo desperately attempts to fight his new Cy-Bug instincts unsuccessfully, killing himself in the process.

Wreck-It Ralph

PG

Animation

Adventure

Comedy

A video game villain wants to be a hero and sets out to fulfill his dream, but his quest brings havoc to the whole arcade where he lives.

Director

Rich Moore

Release Date

November 2, 2012

Cast

John C. Reilly , Sarah Silverman , Jack McBrayer , Jane Lynch , Alan Tudyk , Mindy Kaling

Runtime

1 hour 41 minutes

13 Scroop Drifted Off Into Outer Space

Treasure Planet (2002)

One of the biggest fears many astronauts have is to be disconnected and find themselves drifting in space with no means of recovery. It's terrifying to imagine spending the remainder of their lives waiting to die, whether that comes from a loss of oxygen, starvation, debris, or being sucked into a gravitational pull, such as a black hole.

Scroop met this fate in Treasure Planet and, in a twist of fate, resembles his murder of Mr. Arrow toward the beginning of the film. Scroop was hanging onto a rope before the rope snapped, plunging him into the sea of nothingness.

Treasure Planet

Adventure

Family

Fantasy

Science Fiction

Director

Ron Clements , John Musker

Release Date

November 27, 2002

Cast

Joseph Gordon-Levitt , Emma Thompson , Martin Short , Corey Burton

Main Genre

Animation

12 Jafar Had A Painfully Excruciating Death

Aladdin 2: The Return of Jafar (1994)

The original Aladdin had one of the most inventive villain defeats. By goading Jafar into wishing to become an all-powerful genie, Aladdin reminds Jafar that with a genie comes a lamp. Jafar was sucked into the lamp while Genie flicked that lamp deep into the desert to hopefully never be found again.

Jafar did return and wasn't going to fall for the same trick twice, yet his lamp still managed to be key to his downfall. During his final clash with Aladdin, Jasmine, Genie, and Abu, his once loyal servant Iago betrayed him. Iago stole the lamp before being shot down. With what strength he had, Iago kicked the lamp into molten magma. The ensuing, drawn-out, scene sees Jafar in excruciating pain before finally imploding.

11 Judge Claude Frollo Had One Of The Most Symbolic Disney Deaths

The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)

Judge Jean Claude Frollo is one of Disney's most hypocritical villains. His intolerance for sinners masks his own disdain for the Romanis and his lust for the Romani Esmeralda. His sad*stic nature runs contradictory to his proclaimed religious beliefs. He acknowledges this internal conflict of interest through his haunting "Hellfire" song.

Frollo's death comes in traditional falling fashion. However, Frollo's death is symbolic. He initially hangs onto a gargoyle, which some believe wards off evil. The gargoyle breaks and Frollo falls into the hell-like fires of molten copper below. As he falls, he sees the gargoyle coming to life in a frighteningly demonic way. His last moments are in fear of the very hellfire he sought to avoid and hoped to plunge the Romani and Quasimodo into.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Musical

Drama

A bell-ringer must assert his independence from a vicious government minister in order to help his friend, a dancer.

Director

Gary Trousdale , Kirk Wise

Release Date

June 21, 1996

Cast

Tom Hulce , Demi Moore

Writers

Tab Murphy , Irene Mecchi , Jonathan Roberts , Noni White , Bob Tzudiker

Runtime

91 minutes

10 Bill Sykes Ran Into An Oncoming Train

Oliver & Company (1988)

Bill Sykes was one of the smartest Disney villains, but also the worst. He wanted to get his hands on young Jenny Foxworth to hold her ransom for a large amount of cash. He chased her and the rest of the main cast through the streets, and the animals did all they could to save her.

They got her out of the way of an oncoming train while Sykes was distracted by Oliver and Dodger. He threw the two animals off of him, saving their lives. Only then did he realize he was driving straight toward an oncoming train. His death was both swift and brutal.

Oliver & Company

G

Adventure

Comedy

A lost and alone kitten joins a gang of dogs engaged in petty larceny in New York City

Director

George Scribner

Release Date

November 18, 1988

Cast

Joey Lawrence , Billy Joel , Natalie Gregory

Runtime

1 hour 14 minutes

Main Genre

Animation

9 Oogie Boogie Unraveled And Fell Apart

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

During Jack Skellington's battle against Oogie Boogie in one of Disney's darkest animated movies, he grabbed a stray piece of string from the villain's outfit. Unraveling it caused the cloth to tear off of his body, revealing the mass of bugs that had been hidden underneath.

With no cloth to hold them together, the bugs that made up his body started to leak out, falling into molten liquid and dying. It is an extremely grotesque scene, as Oogie slowly starts to lose his individuality, his voice splitting among all the bugs. Santa felt no pity, squashing one of the many bugs from his tormentor.

The Nightmare Before Christmas

PG

Animation

Family

Fantasy

Jack Skellington, king of Halloween Town, discovers Christmas Town, but his attempts to bring Christmas to his home causes confusion.

Release Date

October 13, 1993

Cast

Danny Elfman , Chris Sarandon , Paul Reubens , Catherine O'Hara , William Hickey , Ken Page

Writers

Tim Burton

Runtime

76 minutes

Producer

Tim Burton

Production Company

Touchstone Pictures

8 Doctor Facilier Couldn't Repay His Debt

The Princess and the Frog (2009)

Doctor Facilier lost Prince Naveen in The Princess and the Frog, so he decided to ask his friends on the other side to track him down. He needed Naveen's blood to continue disguising Lawrence. He promised them all the souls in New Orleans.

Without Naveen and his talisman, Doctor Facilier would never be able to make this happen. This is why the spirits turned against Facilier after Tiana destroyed the talisman. They grabbed his shadow and dragged him into their world. The only thing left of Facilier was a tombstone engraved with his name and screaming face.

The Princess and the Frog

G

Adventure

Fantasy

Comedy

A waitress, desperate to fulfill her dreams as a restaurant owner, is set on a journey to turn a frog prince back into a human being, but she has to face the same problem after she kisses him.

Director

John Musker , Ron Clements

Release Date

December 11, 2009

Studio

Walt Disney Studios

Cast

Anika Noni Rose , Keith David , Oprah Winfrey , Bruno Campos , Michael-Leon Wooley , Jennifer Cody , Terrence Howard

Writers

Greg Erb , Jason Oremland , John Musker , Ron Clements

Runtime

97 minutes

Main Genre

Animation

Production Company

Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Animation Studios

7 The Hyenas Turned On Scar And Killed Him

The Lion King (1994)

After fighting a losing battle against Simba, Scar attempts to throw the hyenas under the bus in an unforgettable quote from The Lion King. He used the hyenas to rise to power, so they weren't pleased when they overheard him telling Simba that they were the enemy.

The hyenas confronted Scar, and a mixture of horror and realization appeared on his face. Through the shadows, the audience saw that the hyenas jumped on him, and presumably ate him in response to his betrayal. Scar was able to talk himself out of tight situations, but the hyenas were impossible to reason with after he turned on them.

The Lion King (1994)

G

Studio

Buena Vista Pictures

6 Ursula The Sea-Witch Was Impaled By A Ship

The Little Mermaid (1989)

In the climactic final battle of The Little Mermaid, Ursula the Sea-Witch attempted to kill Prince Eric, but Ariel stopped her. The jealous animated Disney villain inadvertently killed Flotsam and Jetsam. This enraged her, and she grew large enough to tower over them. She wanted to finish them off, but not before showing off her powers.

Ursula started a thunderstorm and created a whirlpool that trapped Ariel. The whirlpool also brought some sunken ships above the water, and Eric steered one so that its jagged bowsprit impaled the sea witch. Ursula didn't see it coming and sank below the sea, taking the ship with her.

The Little Mermaid

PG

Fantasy

Adventure

A mermaid princess makes a Faustian bargain in an attempt to become human and win a prince's love.

Director

John Musker , Ron Clements

Release Date

November 17, 1989

Studio

Disney

Cast

Jodi Benson , christopher daniel barnes , Pat Carroll

Main Genre

Fantasy

5 Mother Gothel's Age Caught Up To Her

Tangled (2010)

Eugene cuts Rapunzel's hair in Tangled to free her from her promise to her evil mother in one of the best Disney princess movies ever. In seconds, the magical golden glow left her hair. Mother Gothel shrieked in horror, desperately scooping the strands into her arms. Her hand started to wither, and she stumbled to the mirror to see how horrific her reflection had become.

Mother Gothel immediately covered her face, which benefitted the audience since she continued to age rapidly and horrifically. She tripped and fell from the tower, but aged so much that there was nothing left of her before she even touched the ground.

Tangled

Musical

Adventure

Fantasy

Comedy

The magically long-haired Rapunzel has spent her entire life in a tower, but now that a runaway thief has stumbled upon her, she is about to discover the world for the first time, and who she really is.

Director

Nathan Greno , Byron Howard

Release Date

November 24, 2010

Cast

Mandy Moore , Zachary Levi , Donna Murphy , Frank Welker , Dee Bradley Baker

Runtime

100 minutes

Studio(s)

Walt Disney Animation Studios

4 The Evil Queen Fell To Her Death

Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (1937)

After feeding Snow White the infamous poisoned apple, the Evil Queen had to flee from the dwarves and the other forest creatures. After scaling a rocky slope, she found herself at the edge of a cliff. With no place to run, she decided to utilize a nearby boulder.

Before she could roll the boulder towards the dwarfs, a bolt of lightning struck the cliff and caused her to fall. The boulder also rolled towards her, as if to ensure the deed was done. What made this scene darker were the two vultures that gazed excitedly at the action with narrowed eyes.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Approved

Musical

Fantasy

Adventure

Animation

Exiled into the dangerous forest by her wicked stepmother, a princess is rescued by seven dwarf miners who make her part of their household.

Director

David Hand , William Cottrell , Wilfred Jackson

Release Date

December 21, 1937

Cast

Adriana Caselotti

Writers

Jacob Grimm , Wilhelm Grimm , Ted Sears

Runtime

1 hour 23 minutes

Main Genre

Animation

Production Company

Walt Disney Animation Studios

3 The Horned King Was Killed By The Cauldron

The Black Cauldron (1985)

The Black Cauldron terrified some fans in 1985 when it hit theaters. To stop the Cauldron-born, Gurgi jumped into the cauldron. After sacrificing himself, the Cauldron-born started to collapse and die. This enraged the Horned King, one of Disney's most powerful magical villains. He blamed Taran who was the only one near the cauldron.

The Horned King attempted to sacrifice Taran to the cauldron, but the cauldron was pulling everyone around it indiscriminately. It dragged the Horned King closer, and once he was gripping the cauldron, his flesh started to peel from his bones. Eventually, only his skeleton was left before the cauldron pulled that in too.

The Black Cauldron

PG

Action

Adventure

A young boy and a group of misfit friends embark on a quest to find a dark magic item of ultimate power before a diabolical tyrant can.

Director

Ted Berman , Richard Rich

Release Date

July 24, 1985

Cast

Grant Bardsley , Susan Sheridan , Freddie Jones

Runtime

1 hour 20 minutes

Main Genre

Animation

2 Zira Fell To Her Death With A Smile

The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (1998)

The Lion King sequel villain Zira found herself hanging on to the edge of a cliff above the water, holding on for dear life. Kiara extended a paw to her enemy because she believed that they could still live side by side peacefully.

Zira stubbornly refused her help, and after struggling on her own for a bit longer, she fell into the river and was swept away. In the original scene, Zira intentionally threw herself to her death, but this was scrapped because it was considered too dark. However, Zira kept her haunting smile as she fell, showing that she was pleased with the outcome.

1 Clayton Hung Himself On The Vines

Tarzan (1999)

During Clayton's final battle against Tarzan, his shotgun was destroyed in the popular Disney renaissance film. This enraged him, making him pull out a machete before Tarzan moved their fight into a mass of hanging vines. Tarzan tried to resolve the matter peacefully, given that he didn't shoot Clayton and only got him tangled in the vines.

Despite Tarzan's warnings, Clayton started to haphazardly swing his machete, hacking the vines off of him in a fit of rage. He managed to cut all the vines except the one wrapped around his neck. The last that the audience saw of him was the shadow of his hanging body as lightning flashed in the background.

Tarzan (1999)

G

Animation

Adventure

Comedy

A man raised by gorillas must decide where he really belongs when he discovers he is a human.

Director

Kevin Lima , Chris Buck

Release Date

June 18, 1999

Cast

Tony Goldwyn , Minnie Driver , Glenn Close , Alex D. Linz , Rosie O'Donnell , Brian Blessed , Nigel Hawthorne , Lance Henriksen , Wayne Knight

Writers

Tab Murphy , Bob Tzudiker , Noni White

Runtime

88 Minutes

Main Genre

Animation