Iconic Quote
“I live for fur. I worship fur.”
— Cruella de Vil, One Hundred and One Dalmatians
What Makes Them Great
Cruella is Disney villainy at its purest — no sympathy, no complexity, just fabulous evil. She wants to skin puppies for fashion, and she is absolutely committed to the bit. The two-toned hair and the cackle are animation's most iconic villain design.
The Villain
Cruella de Vil is Disney's most purely evil villain — a fashion-obsessed socialite who wants to kill puppies for a fur coat. The character's genius is her simplicity: there is no tragic backstory, no misunderstood motivation. She wants a Dalmatian-skin coat and she will do anything to get one. Betty Lou Gerson's vocal performance — cackling, imperious, dripping with contempt — made Cruella an instant icon. Her skeletal frame, two-toned hair, and cigarette holder are among the most recognizable villain designs in animation.
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