In children’s films and TV shows, it’s very easy to tell who the villains are. The villains are the one with the deep voices or the snarls. The wide eyebrows that curve inwards when the characters smile. The villains are also the ones who wear black and other dark colors. The formula for a villain was established long ago and hasn’t changed much over the years, being used by various filmmakers and television networks. There are some children’s cartoons who have tried successfully to subvert the genre, such as Ruby Gloom or Billy and Mandy, but creators just seem so comfortable with this formula by now, it doesn’t seem like it’ll ever get abandoned.

It does make one wonder: if it’s so easy to show someone as a villain, what would the “good characters” look like if they went evil? When watching a children’s cartoon, particularly one for very young children, you can tell who the “bad guys” are the moment they come on screen. Okay, so it’s mostly the ominous music that plays as they descend the staircase or stand in the doorway, but their bad intentions are written on their faces the moment we see them. So how would our favorite heroes have been drawn, if the creators wanted us to see them as the villains?

These fan artworks show just how easy it is to turn a good guy into a villain. Some of these are based on episodes of the shows, others inspired by known villains. Go forth, if you dare!

25 Soaking It All Up

via darklordryu.deviantart.com

SpongeBob SquarePants is probably one of the most optimistic cartoon characters in the history of children’s cartoons. Pretty much everything is amazing to him and very few things upset him. It’s why memorably grim episodes, such as SpongeBob You’re Fired, or Stuck in the Wringer upset his fans so much. It’s horrible to see someone who usually sees the good in everyone and the bright side of everything be pushed to breaking point, losing their delightful attitude. You just feel bad for him.

So, what if SpongeBob got bored of being so happy? What if he decided it was too exhausting and it was time to help Plankton get the formula at last?

The colour swap here is amazing. The color yellow normally has connotations of sunshine and happiness, whereas this shade of green relates to rotting or sickly things. Those untamed eyebrows are also very trademark villain. I love the image of happy SpongeBob trapped in the mirror behind him. Even after he breaks, there is still a fraction of his old self left, desperate to good through. This artwork is inspired by the SpongeBob episode The Abrasive Side, where Gary orders an “abrasive sponge” to help SpongeBob say no.

Artwork by NewEraOutlaw.

24 The Other Princesses

via fanpop.com

Disney Princesses all aim to be positive role models for children. So many of them are strong-willed, determined and independent. It’s really wonderful how Disney has reimagined these classic fairy tales in a way that everyone can enjoy over the years, but also the way they have shaped and portrayed these characters.

But with every Disney Princess comes a Disney villain. Of course, the films wouldn’t be very interesting if there weren’t villains. The films would have no conflict and the girls would just straight up get what they wanted, living happily ever after. Or, perhaps worse, characters like Ariel or Tiana wouldn’t be given the opportunities to be put on their paths to happiness and would have ended up leading the same lives they had done at the beginning of the films. Not tragic, but worth commending the villains for.

This artwork reimagines the princesses as their memorable cartoon villains, the ones that sang their villain anthems and interfered with their stories. I still don’t think these women could have been mistaken for villains in this form. Their smiles are too sweet, and their eyes are too sparkly. Even so, this is a great reimagining and places the princesses into the shoes of their enemies. Literally.

Artwork by Blablablu95.

23 Darth Simpson

via hd-2.deviantart.com

The Simpsons always sparks a debate whenever it is on a list regarding children’s cartoons. It’s not really a cartoon made “for kids.” Some of the episodes can get pretty graphic and have no problem discussing more adult matters. Even so, the show is very popular with children. It’s one of those family shows that everyone gathers around to watch. The Simpsons has been on our televisions for almost thirty years at this point and means a lot to people of all ages. The show was also rated number one in Channel Four's 100 Greatest Kids Shows, back in 2008.

Homer as a character is pretty evil to begin with. Okay, most of it comes from ignorance and stupidity, rather than actual malice and he often regrets his actions. Even so, we know that he isn't good to his children, belittles his wife, wastes his family’s money, and is bad to his own father. But, as awful as he is, we know he’d be a terrible Darth Vader! He’s too lazy and he wouldn’t take anything seriously. The Stormtroopers aren’t going to listen to some weird guy with his belly sticking out of his armor, are they? Neither is he going to strike fear in the hearts of his enemies.

Artwork by HD-2.

22 Rogue Duck

via pinterest.com

There have been some Mickey Mouse films where this Duck has absolutely scared the hell out of me. Particularly when he is starving in Mickey and the Beanstalk. His anger can go from one to ten in a matter of seconds and he shows no ability of being able to control himself. Okay yes, he’s just a silly cartoon duck wearing a silly hat most of the time and taking part in silly antics. He isn’t a villain, just one of Mickey’s gang. But he has the potential to be very creepy.

Maybe it’s because he’s the only main member of Mickey’s crew who doesn’t speak. Except for Pluto, but he’s a pet. Why can’t he speak properly in a world where a mouse and dog can? And other ducks can? What’s he plotting? What’s he hiding?

This artwork shows our classic duck friend reimagined as Freddy Krueger, the villain from The Nightmare on Elm Street film franchise. What makes this especially freaky is that Donald doesn’t look at all out of place. The artist hasn’t had to force him into the situation, his expression is very reminiscent of classic Donald Duck. He just looks right here. Told you he was evil!

21 The Only One

via boredpanda.com

A.A. Milne’s classic stories of Winnie The Pooh and all his friends have been shared with countless children over the years. The books have been adapted for film and tv countless times, by various people. Everyone knows these characters and loves them. The creatures of the One Hundred Acre Wood never seem to grow up, despite being around for decades.

But if this is the future that some of them have ahead of them, then it’s probably best that we never see it!

Tigger has always been a fan favorite. So much so that he was placed on level footing with Pooh for Disney Channel’s computer animated show My Friends Tigger and Pooh in 2007. It understandable why kids liked him so much. He was excitable, energetic and was always looks for fun. He was a very relatable character for a younger audience. But some aspects of his story are a little depressing, like his lack of family, shown in The Tigger Movie. Perhaps if he had not found his family of friends in the One Hundred Acre Wood, then this could have been his future. Or perhaps he took a dark turn after Christopher Robin left for school!

Artwork by Dan Luvisi.

20 Hedgehogs After Dark

via ss2sonic.deviantart.com

I suppose video game characters are always up for debate whenever a “for kids” list comes to light. There are plenty of adults who enjoy Sonic games, but many of us grew up making the blue hedgehog run fast and collect rings. But the games do generally get the lowest age ratings, meaning kids are encouraged to play them, plus there have been several TV series based on the Sonic games. Besides, there isn’t anything saying that adults can’t enjoy the characters on this list too, just that they are, at least in part, aimed at children.

The distinction between good guys and bad guys in sonic isn’t as clear as it is in the other fandoms in this list. Mostly because so many of the characters just look really angry. Knuckles could very well be a villain since he always had a frowny face on. (He doesn’t seem as grumpy in Sonic Boom, though.) Mostly the “good guys” are just very brightly colored, like Amy and Tails, you’d never mistake them for villains! While Sonic can occasionally look a little too serious, there is no doubting his intentions in this fan art. If you looked at the screen and these eyes were staring back at you, you’d think it was time to play something else for a little while.

Artwork by Ss2sonic.

19 Creepy Sisters

via hearstapps.com

When I saw this I just imagined Elsa and Anna staring at me in the hallway like this, but instead of saying “Come play with us”, they’re saying “Do you want to build a snowman?”

This reimagining is very understandable, if a bit disturbing. Why not take the two most popular sisters in the Disney fandom and combine them with the most popular sisters from a horror movie? Both sets of sisters are so recognizable and so memorable, that it’s funnier than anything else to see them together. Stephen King’s The Shining is a classic horror story which most people seem to have read at some point, and the film adaptation certainly doesn’t disappoint.

Even the few people who’ve managed to avoid both the book and the films recognize the twins and get the reference.

The same seems to go for Frozen; it’s unavoidable and even the few people who haven’t seen it know the names of the main characters. Maybe before Elsa distanced herself from Anna, they could creep people out by doing this in the corridors. I don’t know why they’d have Stephen King stories in their universe, I just think it’s funny. Do you want to build a snowman…?

Artwork by Travis Falligant.

18 Beware Of Bubbles

via dasketcherz.deviantart.com

This is particularly disturbing, as Bubbles was always the sweetest and least dangerous of the PowerPuff Girls. Sure, all three of the girls were dangerous and could kick my butt, but the point was that they were also adorable. Bubbles was just the sweetest! Even though she had that ditzy blonde thing going for her, but she was by far the funniest of the three and the one you most wanted to spend time with. Plus, I really loved her color scheme.

But with that in mind, it would also be terrifying to find this sweet girl in your doorway holding that ax. More so than the other two, Bubbles is so sweet that her going evil would be by far the creepiest. PowerPuff Girls was one of those superhero shows that was made to be more funny than terrifying. All the villain’s plans were mostly incompetent, and their schemes rarely put anyone into extreme danger. It wasn’t a show about suspense, it was just a fast-paced, snappy, funny, and colorful show. So, if you encountered this Bubbles, late at night, with no one else around, you’d be terrified. I suppose partially because she is a cartoon character.

Artwork by DAsKeTcHeRZ.

17 Spooked By Bugs

via aso-designer.deviantart.com

There are few cartoons that shaped animation in the same way Looney Tunes did. It’s true that not all of their movies are gems, but even on their worst day, the cartoons were still of much higher quality than some animations today. Although by the final seasons the show certainly wasn’t as good as it had been- that’s very much the nature of television. The longer a show goes on for the more the format changes, the more it evolves and the less it resembles the first few seasons. Besides, after being on the air for almost forty years, you’ve got to forgive the show for a few slip-ups. For the most part, the films were funny, original and gave us a whole gang of animated friends who are still relevant today. The most memorable being one Mr. Bugs Bunny.

While a lot of Bugs' actions have been questionable, he is normally the good guy, just trying to escape those who are after him. The premise is a little grim if you think about it and I commend the writers for making it so funny. But I can’t help but wonder if it was all those years of being hunted that lead Bugs to a breakdown. This is who he is now!

Artwork by Aso-Designer.

16 Dr. Shrek

via threeprongs.deviantart.com

Speaking of fandoms that were milked for all they were worth…

What I often find interesting is that the Shrek films, even the first one, have very little resemblance to William Steig’s children’s book, except for perhaps the design of the main character. We’ve all been disappointed by a film that didn’t properly execute a book or series of books we adore, but the differences here were so vast, one wonders why they even bothered to connect it to a book. Surely the adventures of “Steve the Ogre” who looked a little different would have sold as many theatre tickets. I also recently learned that there will be a fifth film in the franchise… Wasn’t the last one called Forever After? Is this going to be called Shrek: The Appendices?

But these two film franchises do share a lot of traits. They are both filled with plenty of gross-out humor and toilet jokes, almost to the point that you think they were written by a playground full of kids. But the biggest link here is that both characters were played by Mike Myers, whose acting range is very commendable, regardless of how he uses it. Perhaps this is the fifth film…

Artwork by ThreeProngs.

15 The Animal Inside

via abduzeedo.com

I honestly didn’t realize until it was canceled that I was apparently the only person in the world who enjoyed The Muppets 2016 TV series. I thought it was funny and original- we all loved these characters when we were kids, it was nice that they reimagined these characters for their current audience. And I honestly found it very witty. But I accept that I’m alone on that one.

Regardless of what situation he’s in, Animal has always been the franchise's disturbing enigma.

Being the drummer in the band, with a lot of rage issues and limited speech, one wonders what the creators were implying.

Did he have a past of addiction? A history of mental health? One only knows what’s going on in that disturbed mind of his. He isn’t a villain originally, even though he does have some questionable moments. He’s just a misunderstood soul with a dark past we didn’t realize when we were kids. It’s Animal’s colorfulness and energy that made his acceptable to have on a kids' show; if he had eyes like that I can almost promise he wouldn’t have been allowed. (Although no one seemed to be too disturbed by Henson’s “Nobody,” so I could be wrong.) I understand that The Muppets are actually puppets, but they did appear as animated characters on occasion.

Artwork by Soul71.

14 Time To Explore

via tohad.deviantart.com

I very much missed the demographic for Dora the Explorer, only watching it when my little brother developed an interest in it. I like some aspects of the show, it’s cool that she teaches kids Spanish, celebrates diversity and culture, encourages kids to get outside and teaches them about nature. But her show is in some ways very disturbing. Maybe because my little brother didn’t respond to the television when she asked him a question- so there was just an eerie silence before she responded that she “liked that part too.” (Plus, as a quick message to kids; animals don’t speak Spanish.)

Dora doesn’t inhibit any traditional villain traits, but what I love about this is that her appearance doesn’t change that much. This is just who she is below that big smile and peppy voice. Maybe she hides it well- with no slanting eyebrows or sly grin, but she’s always been evil! It’s always the ones you least expect who turn out to be the most evil. Dora is the twist ending. We all thought the bad guy was Swiper, but it was really standing right in front of us. This artwork brings to life all my fears!

Artwork by Tohad.

13 Metal Jasmine

via geekxgirls.com

This one is actually just really creative. This is a crossover with Jasmine, the Disney Princess from their film based on the story of Aladdin and Marvel villain Apocalypse. I love fan arts that bring an entirely new concept to the table and bring together two different artistic styles. This does that superbly.

I don’t know how relevant this is to Marvel, but this brings to mind a fan theory about Aladdin, that the film is actually set in the distant future. Since the Genie, expertly portrayed by Robin Williams, makes several popular culture references in a film that appeared to be set in the past, coupled with the character being trapped inside the lamp for at least ten thousand years, some fans believe that the film is actually set in a post-apocalyptic future. These are certainly good grounds for this theory and it makes you wonder what happened to get the world to its current state. I’m not suggesting that this Jasmine had anything to do with it. I’m suggesting that she found the technology or the means to take over the world, and she took it! No Genie magic or hypnosis is going to stop her, this is Jasmine-land now!

Artwork by Bryan Lobdell.

12 Vampire Puff

I stand by what I said before about Bubbles being the sweetest Powerpuff Girl, and I stand by an ax-wielding Bubbles appearing at your door being absolutely terrifying. But I imagine this Blossom would certainly scare the people of Townsville more! Not only because The Powerpuff Girls have been there for them throughout so much and defended their city from “Him,” Mojo Jojo, and Princess Morbucks, but because throughout all of that Blossom was supposed to be the leader!

There is this common plot twist that sometimes an unappreciated member of a group turns out to be a villain, but rarely does the leader disburse and switch to the dark side. Something about it is a little more chilling.

Then again, vampires are canonical in The Powerpuff Girls, aren’t they?

Perhaps Blossom got bitten by a vampire and slowly lost her self-control Being Human style. Now she stalks the streets of Townsville, seeking the blood of the people she once protected. Her previous teammates are too lost without her and don’t know what they can do to stop her!

The weird thing is, throughout all of that, she still looks absolutely adorable! I love her bow becoming horns or bat ears.

Artwork by Rumilax.

11 Oh, Those Minions

via pungang.deviantart.com

Just so you know, Minions are evil anyway! No, they don’t match the villain formula I laid out earlier; they’re colorful, excitable with big happy smiles on their faces. But they are out to destroy us all. This is just a minion that is showing his true colours. You think that they were made to go evil and purple in season two, but that wasn’t necessary. They were already ready to take over humanity; they just needed the go-ahead from their “big boss.”

Minions didn’t freak me out so much in the first Despicable Me. I thought, as we all presumably did, that they were just some weird experiments Gru had made up in a lab to serve him. They served no big purpose in the world. They were annoying, sure, but they didn’t seem dangerous.

But after the got their own movie, we learned that they have apparently existed since the beginning of time. They are a race of immortal yellow creatures, with goggles for some reason, who live only to assist that biggest and evilest person currently alive. They are going to destroy us. (It’s also laughable since they have existed since the beginning of time yet have names like “Kevin”, “Stuart” and “Bob.”)

Artwork by Pungang.

10 Wrong Side Of The Street

via danluvisisart.deviantart.com

This cute, fluffy couple are unique entries on this list for me, as while characters like Dora or Minions freaked me out before I saw their villainous interpretations, Bert and Ernie were the only characters in Sesame Street that didn’t scare the hell out of me. As innocent as Big Bird, Elmo, Cookie Monster and Nobody really were, their weird eyes and voices were just unsettling to me. But for some reason, whether it was the subtle LGBT undertones of their relationship or their eyes being relatively normal compared to the other puppets, Bert and Ernie never scared me. Then again, I never thought I’d see them like this!

Sesame Street has been on television for so long at this point, you sort of expect the puppets to look like this.

Tired, overworked pushed to breaking point! You can’t be there for the kids the entire time. The details in this are the stuff of nightmares. If you look into Ernie’s eyes for too long I promise you, you are not going to sleep tonight. I think it’s the sense of hopelessness that freaks me out the most.

I don’t care if Sesame Street is a happy place of learning, if I see these guys walking towards me I’m running! Like Animal, these guys are traditionally puppets but have appeared in some animated spin-offs.

Artwork by Luvisi.

9 Don’t Mess With Pinkie

via luxxygirl.deviantart.com

This is a prime example of how easy it is the make a cartoon character look villainous. You remember Pinkie Pie? The fun-loving, excitable pony from My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. Pinkie Pie is the resident party planner, who is excited by almost everything, loves to jump around, giggles at almost everything, and is just so full of love, happiness, and kindness. But if you look into the eyes of this pony, you know she is about to eat your soul!

While certain colors are associated with villainy, the main way animators portray their bad guys is with their eyes. After you’ve finished this list, look up your favorite cartoon villains and look into their eyes. Bring up a picture of the original Pinkie and put it next to this one.

This difference is very subtle. Okay, so blacking out someone’s eyes is a great way to make anything look sinister, but it shows how much emotion we can carry in our eyes and how much one part of the body can change someone’s perceived intentions or emotions. All I know is that I’m not going to any parties this pony is organizing! No matter how much cake there was.

Artwork by luxXYGIRL.

8 Just Around The Riverbend...

via galleryroulette.com

Once you learn the whole story of Pocahontas and what John Smith was actually like, you kind of hope this Disney Princess would go down this path. This artwork shows the noble and brave Pocahontas reimagined as the Friday the 13th bad guy Jason Voorhees. He's known for his trademark hockey mask and for teaching us all that hanging out in the forest in the middle of nowhere or going out onto a lake with strangers is a really terrible idea.

I’m not sure why the artist decided to pair these two together, but it shows a whole new side to Pocahontas that we’ve never considered before.

Given what the Virginian settlers were about to do to her and her people, but specifically her, I don’t think anyone could have blamed her for taking this action. Mind you, one does wonder where she managed to get a hockey mask in 1607.

This would certainly be a more satisfying film than the original Pocahontas. Sure, it’s fun when you’re a kid, but when you grow up and do a little history, it feels more than a little slimy. This is one of the horror films where you’ll end up rooting for the villain!

Artwork by Travis Falligant

7 Robots And Blossoms

via executioner15.deviantart.com

Just so everyone knows, Jenny for My Life as a Teenage Robot could completely destroy us all. She may have been created to save the world but is 6'5" and weighs 600lbs. We see how powerful she is on many occasions. She can smash through walls as destroy pretty much anything. Being a teenager is hard. School is stressful, relationships are complicated and your body is changing. Because of this and other reasons, they can’t always control their emotions, even if those emotions are programmed in. I’m surprised Jenny didn’t end us all after not getting enough sleep during exam week.

Seeing these two together, I think I’d actually watch this show. It’d be one of those spin-offs that everyone complains about, but actually, they quite like it. Sick of being the “good guys,” Blossom, instead of becoming a vampire, is just sick of being a “good girl” and decides to use her powers for evil. Slowly, despite their old allies trying their best to stop them, they take over the world and enslave humanity. It would be a grim conclusion, but there would be plenty of epic fight scenes and it’d be no grimmer than Invader Zim.

Artwork by Executioner15.

6 The Other Fairies

via lavanah.deviantart.com

This fan art is a reference to several episodes of Fairly OddParents, featuring “Anti-Cosmo” and “Anti-Wanda.” First introduced in the season two episode That Old Black Magic, the anti-fairies are a group of fairies who are the complete opposite to the fairies in Timmy Turner’s world. Rather than granting wishes, they like to cause chaos. Originally, every Friday the 13th they would be released from Anti-Fairy World into our world to push bad luck onto those who encountered superstitions. (Black cats, stepping on cracks, etc.) As they are the opposites of their counterparts, Anti-Cosmo is incredibly intelligent and the leader of the anti-fairies, whilst Anti-Wanda is dim-witted.

It’s rare enough for a TV series to show themselves what their own characters would look like as villains, but this artist has taken the characters and shown them in a whole new style. All villains in Fairly OddParents are laughable and often comically incompetent, the show is a silly and light-hearted, the show's art style adding to this by being childish and exaggerated. But in this format, the anti-fairies look all the more chilling. They’re a lot more mysterious and look a lot more dangerous. Better avoid those black cats!

Artwork by Lavanah.