Cruella De Vill

### Source

The Hundred and One Dalmatians (book by Dodie Smith), 101 Dalmatians (1961 animated film), Cruella (2021 movie)

### Archetypes

4th Wall Blurring, Alternative Fashion, Animal Theming, Angst, Girlboss, Bait, Burton, Capitalist, Controversial, Dominating, Chaoslord, Criminal, British, Distinctive Voice, Duality, Well-Dressed, Quotable Catchphrase(s), Retro, Twisted Freaking Cycle Path, Intelligence, Perpetual Smiler, Power of Love, Technically Antagonist, White Hair

### Years Active

1956-

**Cruella De Vil** is the main antagonist in the novel *The Hundred and One Dalmatians*, the animated films *101 Dalmatians* and *101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure*, the live action movies *101 Dalmatians* and *102 Dalmatians*, and the spin-off *Cruella*. In most of them, Cruella De Vill is a cruel and unrepentant fashionista who will do anything to obtain the Dalmatian fur needed for her new coat, hoping to turn a handsome profit though in *Cruella*, she's portrayed far more sympathetically due to it being a "journey to villain" type of movie.

## Archetypes

### 4th Wall Blurring

Cruella delivers parts of her inner monologuing to the audience throughout the film.

### Angst

Hoo doggie, is this where people had their criticisms. Cruella was born to Baron and Baroness Hellman but was an unwanted pregnancy for the latter. Wanting to get rid of baby Estella while her husband was still away on a business trip, the Baroness orders her valet/confidante to kill the baby. He's unable to bring himself to do it so the baby is given to a maid named Catherine Miller who raises Estella/Cruella. Oh yeah, Cruella's dad dies because the Baroness lied that she had a miscarriage. Anyways: because Cruella was born with black and white hair and a #rebelgirl, she's considered an outcast by her peers thus strengthening her relationship with her adopted mother. When Cruella is withdrawn from school by her mom before she can be expelled, Cruella's mom, for some reason, decides asking her former boss, who has proven more than enough times to be a terrible person, for some money to start a new life is a good idea. This angers the Baroness who then proceeds to use a dog whistle to get her dalmatians to push Cruella's mom off a cliff. (That's right, folks! Dalmatians killed Cruella's mom.)

### Bait/Girlboss

Disney really wanted to remind audience's that Cruella is a #feminist icon who is only seen as a villain because she's a woman that lives in a society that refuses to hear her roar and not because she wanted to steal and skin someone else's dogs for her fur collection. Cruella finds out the truth about the death of her mother when she sees the Baroness wearing her adopted mother's necklace just when they were becoming professionally closer.

### Burton

Many viewers point out that 2021 live action Cruella's makeup resembles that of Catwoman's from Tim Burton's *Batman Returns*. Could also apply to her mainly black and white with red color pallet.

### Capitalist

Despite the movie framing Cruella wanting to usurp (or forcibly take given they're related/she's her heir) the Baroness as a good thing as a sort of #smashing the patriarchy, Cruella is still contributing to capitalism by becoming a wealthy heiress and fashion designer.

In every other incarnation, Cruella De Vil is a cruel fashionista who wants to make as much profit from her clothing market, with fur being the most preferred type of clothing.

### Chaoslord/Dominating

Mostly seen during her first time embracing her Cruella side and montage of one upping the Baroness by showing up in more extravagant outfits. What can we say? The #girl loves causing #trouble.

### Controversial

Instead of a fandom, Cruella and the movie is divisive amongst those who enjoy films due to some finding a sympathetic prequel that tries to make a wealthy woman obsessed with skinning puppies a feminist icon questionable.

### Criminal

She along with Jasper, Horace, and their two dogs pickpocket people, break into homes, and steal from hotels to make a living. They live in a secret hide out and everything. She also eventually steals the Baroness's dalmatians (yes, the same ones that killed her mom) and her wealth/mansion with #girlpower. In most versions, she tries to kidnap Roger and Anita's puppies so that she can skin them and use their fur to make a new coat.

### Distinctive Voice/British

Has a very cat-like but campy British accent.

### Duality

When she unleashes her Cruella side in the 2021 film, she somewhat starts treating her former self as a different person who kept her from embracing her inner #slay. Also refers to how she was turned into a yassified heroine version of an animal abuser.

### GILF/Pale Twink

In most versions of the story, Cruella De Vil is an an older woman probably in her 50-60s; the one in *Cruella* is far younger, being in her early twenties.

### Intelligence/Twisted Freaking Cycle Path

Just like with her girlbosshood, Cruella likes to remind the audience that she was "born brilliant, born bad, and a little bit mad."

### Long Coat

Is often seen wearing a giant white fur coat that covers up most of her body.

### Parental Figure

In the animated series 101 Dalmatian Street, she has a great nephew, Hunter, who are the villains the season 1 finale.

### Perpetual Smiler

More like smirker given how her DreamWorks Face smile is plastered all over advertising and merchandise.

### Power of Love

She's doing all of this to avenge her mom who was killed by dalmatians. This only applies to her Cruella incarnation, because all her other ones have no such sympathetic traits.

### Quotable Catchphrase(s)

One that is used in edits and a popular TikTok audio is "They say there are 5 stages of grief - denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Well, I'd like to add one more... Revenge."

### Retro/Well-Dressed/Alternative Fashion

Her sense of style is based of British 70s punk fashion because that's when and where the film takes place and Cruella is all about living on the #wildside of life or something. Most incarnations of the character are seen wearing a huge white fur coat.

### Technically Antagonist/Villain

She is! If her wanting to skin Dalmatians for their fur doesn't give it away then surely her surname will.

### Theme Song

There's Roger's song about Cruella De Vil from the animated film or the jazzy cover from 101 Dalmations. There's also the Selena Gomez version or the bossa nova version from the Disney Soundtracks Collection. Then there's her theme song from the 2021 movie called "Call Me Cruella". For the most part, Cruella De Vil is a song designed to mock the villain by describing her as an inhuman monster and overall horrible person. "Call Me Cruella" is actually Cruella De Vil's theme song, representing the 2021 version's embracement of her new found villainy.