5. Hades, Disney’s Hercules. James Woods’ fast-talking, anachronistic Hollywood “sweetie baby” patter probably isn’t that far off from what you’d hear for real in Tinseltown. An episode of Disney’s Hercules spin-off TV series featured Jafar’s ghost in a Strangers on a Train-style plot to vice-versa enemies, Aladdin for Hercules; Hades can’t believe his guest’s melodramatic histrionics and indulges in more than a few wisecracks at Jafar’s expense.

4. Rattigan, The Great Mouse Detective. Vincent Price did a fair amount of voice work, but his villainous rodent brings The Great Mouse Detective to life. (Save a dramatic battle within Big Ben’s clockworks, the movie’s animation is more Disney Afternoon than theatrical feature.) Oily, unctuous and totally in love with himself, Rattigan’s “The World’s Greatest Criminal Mind” is a serious candidate for the world’s greatest I Love Being a Villain song.

3. Kaa, The Jungle Book. Whoops, I just broke Bad Guy Rule number two: boa constrictor Kaa shares the film’s villainy honors with George Sanders’ urbane tiger Shere Khan. (So sue me.) The last feature Walt had a personal hand in is also one of his weakest, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a movie where Sterling Holloway’s gentle, reedy voice failed to charm me – and Walt gave us plenty of opportunities to enjoy that voice over the years. Playing the villain for a change, Holloway delivers Kaa’s lines with sibilant relish – just don’t look into his eyes. (I’ve heard it said that more than a few people would find his coiled embrace enjoyable…)

2. Captain Hook, Peter Pan. You can count on Hans Conried to add a theatrical flair to any performance. As the crocodile-pursued pirate, Conried chews the painted scenery as if he hadn’t eaten in a month. Hook is one of Disney’s best-animated villains; how could he not be, considering he was brought to life by two of the best animators ever to lift a pencil: Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston.

And our winner…

1. Cruella De Vil, One Hundred and One Dalmatians. The stylish De Vil was so wicked (“if she doesn’t scare you, no evil thing will”), someone else had to perform her villain song. (She doesn’t have much company in that regard; the only other character who comes to mind is the Grinch, immortalized in the immortal Thurl Ravenscroft’s rendition of “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” in Chuck Jones’ animated How the Grinch Stole Christmas.)