Cruella De Vil

**Cruella De Vil** is the main antagonist of *101 Dalmatians*. She is an eccentric, fashion-obsessed heiress who wishes to use the skins of 99 Dalmatian puppies to create a spotted fur coat. Regarded as a "witch" and "devil woman", Cruella's infatuation with furs drives her to murderous insanity. She commits immoral acts to satisfy her mania, such as kidnapping and slaughter. In her mad pursuits, Cruella is typically aided by her henchmen, Jasper and Horace.

Cruella first appeared in the novel, *The Hundred and One Dalmatians* (1956) by Dodie Smith. Perhaps the most famous incarnation of the character was developed for Disney's 1961 animated adaptation *One Hundred and One Dalmatians* by story man Bill Peet and animator Marc Davis. The Disney villainess proved successful and has led to numerous appearances in other media, most notably the *Disney Villains* franchise, of which Cruella is a primary member. A live-action origin story, titled *Cruella*, was released in 2021. The film revealed how the character embraced her wicked side to become the villainous Cruella de Vil.

## Background

Cruella is an old school friend of Anita Radcliffe, and a glamor-obsessed heiress who claims that she cannot live without furs. She hires Horace and Jasper Badun, two incompetent crooks, to steal Pongo and Perdita's 15 Dalmatian puppies, and buys eighty-four more through legitimate means.

Unlike previous Disney villainesses such as the Evil Queen, Lady Tremaine, the Queen of Hearts, and Maleficent, Cruella is not a schemer nor does she have any powers. Instead, she acts purely on impulse and is thus prone to reckless behavior, particularly tearing through the snowy landscape in her car. Unlike future versions of the character, this version of Cruella was seemingly invincible in the eyes of the Dalmatians, who, though they could just about be able to keep Jasper and Horace Badun at bay, were unable to face "that devil woman". Their only hope was therefore to flee; Cruella's defeat in the film is brought about not through the deeds of the animals but her own stubborn relentlessness (which, by the end of the film, has seemingly degenerated into a mad fury), and the incompetence of her henchmen.

### Personality

Cruella is known to be mean and rude, frequently barging into other people's homes unannounced and openly disrespecting others. She adores attention, but looks down on others, showing no sympathy or concern for anyone's well-being.

She is also greedy and selfish, and adores high fashion and art. Her interest in fashion revolves around furs from animals, particularly fur coats, as she is always seen wearing one. As a result, Cruella often seeks animals to help her with making coats. Upon learning that Perdita has had puppies, Cruella attempted to buy them from Roger, showing no concern for the puppies themselves, having already purchased 84 puppies legally. The reason for her obsession is because the spots will make her fur coats more popular, meaning she'll get more money. Her interest in spots runs so deep she turned to Lars after seeing his painting of spots, as a way to substitute her obsession.

Cruella is known to be short-tempered. She gets annoyed with Jasper and Horace's foolishness, and throws a tantrum when things don't go her way. Her anger seems to be a problem, as it makes her reckless and impulsive, as she drove her car recklessly after the Dalmatians but ended up crashing her car into a ravine. She may also be bipolar, as she is prone to psychotic fits, her reckless driving being a prime example. This happened again when she tried to capture the puppies in London, only to end up in an institution. However, she did seem to be a slightly reasonable woman, as she attempted twice to convince Anita to sell Cruella her puppies, only choosing to steal them when it became clear it was the only way for her to get the puppies.

### Physical appearance

Cruella is an extremely thin woman that appears to almost look skeletal in appearance around the curves, with pale skin and red lips. She has green eyes and eyelids. She has hair that reaches to her shoulders; two halves of her hair are of different colors, with the right side being black and the left side being white.

Cruella's usual attire is a simple black dress, red high heel shoes and black stockings, red opera gloves, large turquoise earrings and ring on her right hand, a cream fur coat with red interior and a matching purse with three foxtails.

## Appearances

### *One Hundred and One Dalmatians*

In her appearance, Cruella is mentioned by Roger to be Anita's old schoolmate. He begins to sing his own version of Cruella "Cruella De Vil" Cruella storms in and asks if the puppies came believing they are the key to make a spotted fur coat. Anita says in three weeks they will. Cruella leaves without even joining Anita for tea. She then comes back in three weeks. Both Radcliffes say no when she asks them to sell the puppies. Roger even told Cruella off. Furious, Cruella leaves. She asks Horace and Jasper for help in stealing the puppies. Then she next appears in the movie when she angrily watches her henchmen watching "*What's My Crime*". She demands them to start skinning the puppies for a fur coat. She slaps Horace and Jasper when they ask if they can finish the show first, and leaves them in her house to skin the puppies, threatening to call the police if they aren't done by morning. She finds Horace and Jasper looking for the puppies who escaped the house and they discover their footprints in the snow.

They follow them to Dinsford and Cruella sees black puppies and soon she realizes that they are the puppies in soot when snow falls on them and uncovers their fur. She calls her henchmen to catch them, but they are attacked by the dogs and fall down on the road. Cruella follows the van the puppies ride in, but damages her car in a tree. Enraged, she goes insane in her attempts to catch the puppies and rams the truck they're in to try and knock it off the road, but Horace and Jasper try to do the same thing, but Horace pulls out the wheel and they crash into Cruella's car. Both cars crash down a hill but Cruella and her henchmen are unharmed, but the puppies escape. Cruella cries and yells at Horace and Jasper, who finally tell her to shut up, and they are later arrested.

### *101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure*

Cruella is the main antagonist once again of the film.

In the film she has been released from jail, but has a restraining order and is on probation. Her life in ruins, she tries to calm herself down working with Lars, a German artist. Try as he might however, he cannot please Cruella with his designs, so she decides to help by looking for the Dalmatian puppies again, and find out their address by seeing Patch on the newspaper. She bails Horace and Jasper out of jail to find the puppies, and she hides them in a stolen truck to get to the puppies. The Baduns are able to subdue the Nanny and steal the puppies for Cruella, who aspires to use their fur for a painting. When Lars disagrees, Cruella ties him up and gags him, and turns to her original plan of turning the puppies into a fur coat.

Patch's hero, Thunderbolt, tries to rescue the puppies, but his jealous sidekick Lil' Lightning tricks him into openly attacking Cruella and the Baduns. Cruella captures him and Patch. Lightning reveals Thunderbolt as a fraud, crushing Patch's spirit. The puppies escape but Thunderbolt is too ashamed to follow. The Baduns inform Cruella that the puppies escaped, but Patch tricks them while Thunderbolt frees Lars. The dalmatian puppies escape in a double-decker bus and Cruella chases after them with her henchmen, but Cruella is distracted by Thunderbolt faking a heart attack. Cruella decides to put him out of his misery by killing him, but she accidentally knocks the Baduns unconscious. Patch puts the bus in reverse and Cruella, Lil' Lightning and the Baduns are almost run over and fall into a river. The Baduns are imprisoned while an insane Cruella is dragged into a mental institute, not to be seen again.

## After getting locked up

Ultimately, she was visited by Diesel 10, where she was offered a chance to get the coat that she longed for as well as revenge on those who thwarted her, as long as she pledged her loyalty to him. Which, she did.

## Trivia

* Despite being the villain, Cruella's the most iconic character from the film (alongside the titular Dalmatians).
* In Dodie Smith's original book, Cruella De Vil was married to a furrier, but kept her maiden name. In the Disney films, Cruella's portrayed as single.
* "Cruella De Vil" is a play on the words "cruel" and "devil".
* Cruella was originally chosen to be the villainess for *The Rescuers* too, but then it was decided to create a new villainess, Madame Medusa, instead. However, both Cruella and Medusa have strikingly similar personalities and traits.
	+ In the original book by Dodie Smith, Cruella loved fur *and diamonds*. It was not used for the 1961 animated film, but it's however a new point in common.
* In both live-action films, when Cruella is foiled, she is seen wearing a red-and-black fur coat.
* Cruella has a brother, Cecil, and a niece named Ivy. However, Cecil is not Ivy's father, meaning that Cruella and Cecil must have another sibling (most likely a brother) who is Ivy's parent.
* Cruella is the first female villain to oppose a male protagonist in Pongo.
* Cruella is referred to in the theme song of *101 Dalmatian Street*, appearing a silhouette with its shape.
* Cruella's design and animation served as inspiration for the character Yesss in *Ralph Breaks the Internet*.
* Cruella De Vil becomes Thomas and Twilight Sparkle's enemy in *Thomas and Twilight Sparkle's Adventures of 101 Dalmatians (1961).*
* Cruella De Vil guest star to get revenge on Thomas, Twilight Sparkle and their friends for foiling her plan to make a spotted fur coat out of Dalmatian puppies.
* Cruella De Vil is also Dilys Price's rival.
* Cruella has had the most live-action iterations of any Disney Villain.

## Gallery

Cruella arrives in the original 101 Dalmatians.Cruella swears vengeance on the Radcliffes.The crazed and determined Cruella chasing after the puppies in her car.Concept art of Cruella in The Rescuers.Cruella in the animated series.Cruella in 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure.Cruella in Mickey's House of Villains.Cruella De Vil in 102 Dalmatians.Cruella De Vil (Live Action)Cruella with AnitaCruella with NannyCruella laughingCruella with her henchmen, Jasper and HoraceCruella chasing the puppies (Nightmare fuel)Cruella De Vil, Jasper and Horace's defeat (1st film)"Congratulations, you've just won Gold, Silver and Bronze in the Morons Olympics!""We need 102."Cruella De Vil with Jasper and HoraceCruella De Vil's defeat (2nd film)Cruella locked up in an asylumCruella De Vil in Descendants.Cruella in blue oozeCruella De Vil with Ursula, Captain Hook and HadesCruella getting a ticketCruella with Hook and HadesCruella with Ursula in the House of Mouse.Cruella in Electric HolidayA reference to Cruella in the theme song of 101 Dalmatian Street.Cruella's One Villain dollar billCruella with Jafar, Iago, Captain Hook and UrsulaCruella in "101 Dalmatian Street" Season Climax.Cruella's defeat (101 Dalmatians Street)Cruella in her live action origin film