The two grand masters of animation, Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston, who worked on virtually every animated Disney feature from SNOW WHITE through THE FOX AND THE HOUND, are back. Despite an averred aversion for publishers, the Laurel and Hardy of animation have, largely at the request of the present crop of Disney artists, put together another insightful tome. The Disney Villains (Hyperion), which they vow will be their last.
The two men have animated many of the bad guys who made the Disney animated films classics of the medium. Ollie Johnston explains what makes a memorable villain: he or she "must be interested in getting rid of somebody, hurting somebody, killing them or getting something from them. Some have magic to do that; others don't need magic. Magic, however, helps make it more interesting at times.
"You have to know what they're trying to do and who they're trying to do it to," he adds. "We found the victim is just as important as the villain because, without the victim, the villain has nothing do do. For instance, Medusa wanted the big diamond and was willing to put the little girl down the hole to get it. Many people think that all the Disney villains are women, but there are only eight of them. All the rest are men. Women villains just seem to appeal to the public more."
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