Why Do Cartoon Villains Speak in Foreign Accents?

The Atlantic ^ | January 4, 2018 | Isabel Fattal

[C19fan]

When the sociolinguist Calvin Gidney saw The Lion King in theaters two decades ago, he was struck by the differences between Mufasa and Scar. The characters don’t have much in common: Mufasa is heroic and steadfast, while Scar is cynical and power-hungry. But what Gidney noticed most was how they each spoke: Mufasa has an American accent, while Scar, the lion of the dark side, roars in British English. In a climactic scene in which Scar accuses Simba of being the “murderer!” responsible for Mufasa’s death, the final “r” in his declaration floats up into a sky bursting with lightning, and it’s hard to imagine it sounding quite as monstrous in another tone.

[C19fan]

/src on/Asking the important questions./src off/ Just like all the Imperial Officers in Star Wars, until the most recent one, had British accents. Of course the opposite happens in that British accents are used to emphasize high class or book smarts.

[DIRTYSECRET]

Ilya Kuriyakin would disagree.

[The_Republic_Of_Maine]

They are muslims, mexicans and other assorted illegals.

[gov_bean_ counter]

First world problem.

[dinodino]

Because they’re foreign?

[albie]

When I was a kid in the 60’s, cartoon characters had NY or English accents. With the exception of PePe LePew, who is of course French.

[CharlesWayneCT]

This made me think of Hans Gruber from Die Hard.

And then all the villians from the other Die Hard movies, except the last one (or the 5th one, is there a 6th one yet?)

[I want the USA back]

So that fake phony fraud “sociolinguists” could write articles implying that the normal average American is racist.

[Delta 21]

It takes a little time for the universal translator to get all the right diction and syntax. By the end of the show you dont even notice it.

[Dr. Sivana]

In the case of Boris Badenov (Rocky and Bullwinkle) and Zigfried (Get Smart), it is because they are funny.

[stanne]

Because cartoon villains are aimed at the audience of children who cannot deal with the concept of the enemy within and shouldn’t have to.

But go ahead, Atlantic, do an American villain for kids. Hillary is your model. She and that no good husband of hers. Natasha and Boris.

Or make oprah your Simon bar sinister who wants to rule the world.

The New Yorker had the cover of our most infamous villain enemies within

Anyone care to post that here?

[gundog]

And Speedy Gonzales.

[BitWielder1]

Some people need a real problem.
Next, someone will complain that villains are not as handsome/pretty as the heroes/heroines.

[libh8er]

In the 90s most terrorists in movies were Muslims - peacemaker, executive decision..

[publius911]

Why Do Cartoon Villains Speak in Foreign Accents?

Why not?
Moving right along...

[stanne]

We love zigfried.

He says to 99, “don’t push it, Cookie”

[BenLurkin]

Bigly

[sam_whiskey]

This guy didn’t have a foreign accent: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IiYdUE3f4hQ

I’m sure there are countless others.

[Red Badger]

Why do Romans speak with British accents?......................

[Red Badger]

Why do Romans speak with British accents?......................