Why Do Most Cartoon Villains Today Have Such Simplistic Names?

Remember Starlight Glimmer from MLP (pre-Cutie Remark)?

Does this have something to do with the topic or Sijo comment of prototype characters evolving into different characters. Cause if the latter, yeah especially the fact she is pretty much a revamp version of Sunset Shimmer.

But if it's the former, yeah that's not really a simplistic name at all. Same could be said for other pony villains like Nightmare Moon, Discord (probably), Chrysalis the Changling Queen, and King Sombra. Tirek and The Smooze aren't included due to their status as originating from G1.

Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz.

Tell me that's a simplistic name.

I think we all should make a game out of this. The rules are this: we have to name a villain with a name that is neither mundane nor generic. These villains must debut after 2006 (I think that is an appropriate starting point for modern cartoons unless otherwise). And said villains can't be from a comic book based show nor be a rebooted take of an old show (for example Megatron and Tirek are off limits, but Airacnid and Chrysalis are fine).

Okay let's start!

. . . . . . . . . . . Gary Bobby Ferguson?

Wabbit has several unusual names for the new villains. Vice President Leslie P. Lilylegs, Sir Littlechin, Shameless O'Scanty, Claudette Dupri.

Do villains with simple names that are so because they fit in with the series' themes or aesthetic (like Lord Hater) count? They shouldn't.

The villains in Star Wars Clone Wars and Rebel have some interesting names like Cad Bane (aka my favorite character who convince me the show is going to be good), Agent Kallus and Grand Inquisitor (that name is technically a title, but seeing how all the other inquisitors go by a number naming it certainly makes his name more grand scale in comparison).

On one hand the name does sound simplistic as he is essentially an Adjective Man. On the other hand, it's reminiscent of the classical named villains that existed during the 60s and 70s that is campy. Hmm, I guess he counts for simple names.

edited 24th May '16 7:28:02 PM by BigK1337

The Venture Bros. alone would fill pages of that list. Monstroso, Think Tank, Fat Chance, Brick Frog, Dr. Henry Killinger ...

Which is a good thing I said after the year 2006 for current cartoon villains. Cause let's face it, the Venture Bros. are too creative when it comes to character names.

. . . Then again, Venture Bros created plenty of villains after 2006 during their run so never mind that point I made

edited 25th May '16 7:44:02 PM by BigK1337

I think the main problem with trying too hard to make a non-simplistic name is the fact that It can end being a pretty narmish name. I don't have anything against simplistic names as long as avoids as much as possible being narmish. Of course, there's cases of simplistic and narmish (the trope Tom the Dark Lord).

Of course. A name like "The Nameless One" is simplistic, yet is effective due to its vague, yet sinister undertones. On the other hand, a name like "Dragtor the Destroyer" sounds like a villain that a four-year old came up with.

Bump.

On another topic, how come non-human villains are so popular in cartoons nowadays? Is it because they have those alien qualities that humans don't?

Nowadays? Monsters have always been pretty popular villains.

edited 18th Jun '16 12:07:47 AM by KnownUnknown

Yeah, but to me it feels like the most popular cartoon villains today are either monsters, demons, Eldritch Abominations, and so on. Rarely do I see a human villain getting the spotlight.

T Hat's way too oftopic superboy, make another thread to talk about that.

edited 18th Jun '16 4:34:19 AM by AegisP

So, I finally watched Minions today. Liked it far better than I'd thought, especially since I never was too big on both Despicable Me movies, even though I didn't dislike them either.

I say this because actually, 'Scarlet Overkill' is a pretty kickass villainous name.

edited 18th Jun '16 5:32:06 PM by NapoleonDeCheese

If I could steer this towards the OP post reeeal quick...

You have no idea how close you are with that one. We're already there with The Malevolent One, and it's every bit as Narmy as a show like that could make it.

We already have an 'Evil the Cat', is that good/bad enough?

Evil the Cat is a video game character. Sure Earthworm Jim has a cartoon, but all the characters that appear on that show were in fact game characters first. That would be like saying Dr. Doom is a cartoon villain when he is actually a comic villain.

Honestly I don't see anything Narmy about the name "The Malevolent One". Since he is one of many personalities of Mike, referring him as such makes since as he is the evil persona out of all the other identities. Plus, I kind of like villains with names that points out they are obviously evil and backs that up (Mr. Sinister).

I meant more in the sense of the general concept of that name, that it was obviously meant for him to be a threatening villain, but the poor execution of his plot combined with his over exposure and the questionability of his evil choice just makes him fall flat as an effective villain. But yeah, narm prolly wasn't the right term for that sort of title or for his plot, I just couldn't think of a more appropriate trope.

Ridiculous and/or lame would've also worked...regular descriptors are just fine.

Fair enough. :V

Oh, well in that case I agree.

Seriously, give us a serious villain that enjoys being evil and not only drop the whole Mal is the original Mike plot twist that came up with the wallet but also have Mal defeated by a reset button? As I said before (in a different conversation, not here), Gumball did this storyline better on his show and in less than 11 minutes with Zac.

That last episode ruined Mal as a villain and not live up to the title of Malevolent One as he was defeated easily by a button.

Well, there is The Beast. Though that's a moniker with a long history, so maybe it doesn't count.

There's also the guy whose name is literally just 'evil' in Japanese.

edited 19th Jun '16 3:50:29 PM by KnownUnknown

Of course there's the fact that "The Evil One" is one of Satan's many names.

edited 19th Jun '16 5:30:35 PM by superboy313