Princess Aurora (goddaughter) Lilith "Lily" Page (daughter; in Once Upon a Time only) Mal (daughter; in Descendants only)
Maleficent is the antagonist of Walt Disney's 1959 film Sleeping Beauty. She is characterized as the "Mistress of All Evil" who, after not being invited to a christening, curses the infant Princess Aurora to "prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel and die" before the sun sets on her sixteenth birthday. She was voiced by Eleanor Audley.
The character was animated by Marc Davis. The wicked sorceress was aptly named "Maleficent" (an adjective which means "doing evil or harm"[2]). In determining Maleficent's design, standard depictions of witches and hags were dismissed as Mattinson's opted for an elegant, sinister, green-skinned beauty centered around the appearance of flames, ultimately crowning the villain with a black two pointed headdress, often called an "atora." According to Mattinson, Maleficent "was designed like a giant vampire bat to create a feeling of menace."[3]
She was voiced by Eleanor Audley, who had previously performed Lady Tremaine, Cinderella's evil stepmother, in Cinderella. Audley also provided some live-action recording for both of these characters, to inspire the animators. In addition, dancer Jane Fowler performed some live-action reference for Maleficent.[4] Animators Ollie Johnston and Frank Thomas, in their book The Disney Villain, describe animating Audley's voice as "a difficult assignment but a thrilling one, working to that voice track with so much innuendo mixed in with the fierce power."[5]
Maleficent has a dragon form, which was animated by Eric Cleworth, who said that the dragon was modeled on a rattlesnake, with "powerful muscles moving a bulky body over the rocky terrain."[3] Sound effects man Jim Macdonald searched for the sound of a dragon's fiery breath by asking the U.S. Army to send him some training films on flame throwing. These films provided just the right sound for him.[4]
Appearances
Sleeping Beauty
Maleficent arrives at King Stefan and Queen Leah's castle during the christening of Stefan's daughter, Aurora. She is outwardly curtious but stresses about not receiving an invitation, to which the good fairy Merryweather replies that she was "not wanted". Shocked (or more likely, pretending to be shocked), she prepares to leave this "awkward situation", hoping that the king and queen will apologize for not inviting her. When the queen asks her if she was not offended, Maleficent denies it and offers to bestow a "gift" on Aurora to prove she "bears no ill will". Maleficent confirms that Aurora will grow in grace and beauty and will be "beloved by all who know her" as well, but as a punishment to the king and queen, she also places a curse on Aurora so that before the sun sets on her sixteenth birthday, she will "prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel and die!" Laughing, she leaves. Merryweather, who still has a gift she can use, weakens the curse so that Aurora will fall into a deep sleep instead, with only a kiss from her true love needed to awaken her. She cannot undo the curse because Maleficent's magic is too powerful.
Later, at a castle in the Forbidden Mountains, a frustrated Maleficent interrogates her dim-witted monster minions why they have been unable to find Aurora (who has been hidden by the three good fairies), and learns that her minions have focused on searching for a baby the entire time, even though years have passed. Maleficent blasts lightning at them in her fury, and then tells her pet raven Diablo to find Aurora. The bird manages to succeed due to a magical quarrel between two of the three good fairies, which exposed their location.
On the evening of Aurora's sixteenth birthday,after the three fairies had momentarily left the depressed princess alone, Maleficent visits Aurora as a hypnotic will-o-wisp, luring the princess to a room and transforming herself into a spinning wheel. Aurora pricks her finger on the spindle, fulfilling the curse.
Maleficent's dragon form at the film's climax.
Later on, Maleficent and her servants capture Prince Phillip, Aurora's true love, and imprison him. Maleficent then rests well, thinking she has triumphed.
Maleficent later wakes up and discovers that the fairies had freed Philip from her dungeon, and is equally furious to see Diablo's fate (he had been turned to stone by Merryweather). She climbs to the top of one of her castle's towers and proceeds to hurl lightning bolts at Phillip to hinder him; the bolts are unsuccessful due to the good fairies' counter-spells. She eventually summons a forest of thorns (which Phillip is able to overcome), before personally dealing with him by transporting herself in front of King Stefan's castle, blocking his entry. She proclaims "Now shall you deal with me, O Prince, and all the powers of Hell!" and transforms into a huge dark dragon. She overwhelms Philip and is eventually able to blast his magical shield away, but the three fairies cast an enhancing enchantment on Phillip's Sword of Truth as he throws the weapon into Maleficent's heart, fatally wounding her. As she falls forward, she attempts to devour him, but misses and falls off the crumbling cliff as the Sword of Truth destroys her body. All that is left of her is a black and purple blob, with the sword still embedded in it as it blackens.
Maleficent
Angelina Jolie as Maleficent in the 2014 live action remake film
The film presents Maleficent as a good fairy who protects the Moors, a realm of supernatural beings, from the neighboring human kingdom.
Prior to Maleficent sporting her classical attire, her earlier appearances has her still with her horns with bird-like fairy wings, a brown dress, and was always barefoot with an anklet on her left ankle. After healing a tree, Maleficent befriends a young peasant boy named Stefan upon being alerted to his presence by Flora, Fauna, and Merriwether. Maleficent later becomes friends with him.
As an adult, Maleficent is betrayed in her later life when Stefan used her weakness to iron to burn off her wings so that he could ascend the throne of the human kingdom, as per a bounty declared by the dying King Henry (who has a grudge against Maleficent). Using a staff as a walking stick and a raven (here named Diaval) as a servant, a now hate-filled Maleficent names herself ruler of the Moors and her outfit changes to a blacker one. When she learns that Stefan is now King and has had a daughter named Aurora with Queen Leila, his wife, acting on the notion that true love is nonexistent, Maleficent places her curse on the newborn Aurora to sleep forever unless she receives the kiss of true love, as revenge on Stefan. However, because the three fairies that were assigned by King Stefan to look after Aurora proved to be neglectful and incompetent, Maleficent cared for and saved the child from afar in order to ensure that her curse was completed, only to eventually develop a maternal affection for her. That love proves essential for a repentant Maleficent to undo her own curse when she kissed Aurora on the forehead. After waking from her sleep, Aurora helps restore Maleficent's wings to her when Stefan attempts to kill Maleficent, allowing her to defeat the treacherous king.
Soon after Stefan's death and Aurora's accession, Maleficent crowns Aurora as the ruler of the Moors to unite their kingdoms forever as Maleficent goes back to her previous attire.
Other appearances
Maleficent's Revenge
Maleficent was featured in the book sequel to Sleeping Beauty called "Maleficent's Revenge." Two years following the events of the film, a specific solar eclipse has an effect on fairy magic that causes Flora, Fauna, and Merriwether to feel weak. The spell on Diablo is negated enabling him to find Maleficent's remains and use her staff to revive her.
On the day of the celebration, Maleficent storms in and places a curse upon the castle turning every soul with the exception of Aurora to stone. Tortured and desperate, Aurora pleads for mercy upon Phillip and her people going as far as to asking Maleficent to turn her into stone,as well. Maleficent refuses as she's unable to place a curse on the princess due to Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather's protection spell, but she is able to grant a wish resulting in Aurora sacrificing her life in exchange for her loved ones and people.
With Aurora once again put into a sleep-like state, the kingdom citizens are freed including Phillip, who rushes to the Forbidden Mountains to save his bride. There, a battle between Dragon Maleficent and the prince takes place. It was difficult for Prince Phillip since he doesn't have the Sword of Truth with her. The evil dragon attempts to bite Phillip with her venomous fangs, but she accidentally strikes her own tail, killing herself. When Maleficent is defeated once and for all, Phillip once again wakes Aurora with a kiss of true love.
Kingdom Hearts
Maleficent appears as a major character in the Kingdom Hearts video game series, voiced by Susan Blakeslee in the English versions and Toshiko Sawada in the Japanese versions. She has appeared in every game in the series except for Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days, being one of the series' key antagonists alongside Xehanort.
In the book series by Ridley Pearson, Kingdom Keepers, Maleficent appears as one of the first Overtakers encountered as she intends to leave the confines of Disney World to take over the world. She recruits Jez with a spell due to the girl's abilities as a fairlie (almost like a fairy, but fairly human) could reveal her plans, but fails. She breaks the seal to revive Chernabog as they escape in an ice truck to Disney's Hollywood Studios. It is said that the temperature goes down when she is around; later it's revealed she does this because warm temperatures weaken her magic. Later, in the fourth book, she and Chernabog are imprisoned in a hidden prison in Animal Kingdom, and during a blackout, the Evil Queen and Cruella de Vil make DHIs and rescue them. In the fifth book, Maleficent and the rest of the Overtakers ride the Dream on its first cruise, using Tia Dalma to revive Chernabog at full power. She meets her end in the sixth book when the Keepers' leader, Finn, rips a hole in her with his DHI powers. However, at the end of the seventh book, Tia Dalma enacts a ritual to resurrect Maleficent.
Dream Along With Mickey
In the Dream Along With Mickey stage show at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom, Maleficent is one of the villains who appear onstage to threaten Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy. Maleficent states that since people no longer believe in dreams, it is the perfect time for her to return to power and make the Magic Kingdom "The Place Where Nightmares Come True". But Mickey leads the crowd in a chant of "Dreams Come True!" and scares away Maleficent's minions, Captain Hook and Smee, as well as defeating Maleficent herself.
Maleficent is part of the "Diva Villains" line-up, a sub-franchise of the main Disney Villains franchise. Maleficent is the last "diva" to appear in the event at Disneyland, just as the Evil Queen and Cruella de Vil are complaining on Madam Mim's behavior. Next, Maleficent sings "That Old Black Magic" alone and later "We're Divas" along with the whole cast of the show.[6]
A version of Maleficent plays a role in the storylines for the 2011 American fantasy drama series Once Upon a Time, played by Kristin Bauer van Straten as a witch who is able to take the form of a fire-breathing dragon. Maleficent is first introduced as the "only friend" of the Evil Queen from Snow White. She is also somewhat responsible in her use of magic: she kept Rumplestiltskin's Dark Curse hidden to ensure it would never be used, and, upon learning she had been robbed by Robin Hood, allowed him to keep the gold on the condition that Will Scarlet return a dangerous mirror (actually a portal to Wonderland) he had stolen. She does have a bit of a temper, having gone after two generations of two Sleeping Beauties: Queen Briar Rose and her daughter Princess Aurora.
Rumplestiltskin once assembled her, Cruella de Vil, and Ursula as the "Queens of Darkness" to obtain the Dark Curse from within Bald Mountain. All three of them had combined their talents to obtain it while having to avoid the Chernabog.
Maleficent has a daughter named Lilith whose egg was separated from her due to Isaac (who was the author at the time) manipulating Snow White, Prince Charming, and the Apprentice transferring the dormant darkness of an unborn Emma into the egg where it was accidentally transported to Earth alongside Ursula and Cruella de Vil.[7]
When transported to Storybrooke, Maleficent was trapped in her dragon form where she was later killed by Emma to obtain an item that was placed in her stomach.
Upon being resurrected by Rumplestiltskin upon her ashes being exposed to Mary Margaret Blanchard and David Nolan's blood, Maleficent worked with Rumplestiltskin, Cruella de Vil, and Ursula to ensure that villains and not heroes would be the ones with happy endings. Following Ursula reconciling with her father King Poseidon and Cruella de Vil being killed by Emma Swan in self-defense, Maleficent is reunited with Lilith and no longer has plans to get revenge on Mary Margaret and David. Following Lilith's first transformation, Maleficent convinces Lilith to stay in Storybrooke and learn some new tricks. According to Lilith during her discussion with Emma, Maleficent doesn't know who fathered her since the mating took place while Maleficent was in dragon form.[8]
Disney's Descendants franchise
Kristin Chenoweth signed on to play Maleficent in Disney’s original Disney Channel movie Descendants, which follows the teenage children of Disney’s iconic heroes and villains.[9] 20 years prior the movie, all the Disney villains (including the ones who died after bring them back to life) that resided on the United States of Auradon were isolated in the Isle of the Lost (a place sealed with a magical barrier in order to prevent all the villains to escape or make magic) after King Beast and Queen Belle united the kingdoms following their honeymoon. 20 years later, the son of Queen Belle and King Beast named Ben makes a proclamation to give a chance to the kids of the Isle of the Lost to join society again, starting with four kids, including Maleficient own daughter Mal (portrayed by Dove Cameron).
Descendants: Isle of the Lost
In the book Isle of the Lost, it is state that Maleficient became the official ruler of the Isle of the Lost. Aince the Evil Queen also wanted to rule the Isle, they became rivals. In some point before the events of the book, Maleficient had a "moment of weakness" with a unknown human male (who is never mentioned anymore after that incident) and became pregnant with a girl. Maleficient named her baby girl, after her but nicknamed her "Mal" since she didn't believe her daughter can be truly evil since she was half human. Six years later, after finding out that the Evil Queen didn't invite Mal to her daughter's birthday party, Evie, she banished both for the main city for and eternity; however, after ten years, Evie and her mother return to the city, but Maleficient isn't aware of that at first of she doesn't really care. When Carlos, the son of Cruella De Vil breakes the magical barrier for a second, Maleficient's pet Diablo gets free of his stone curse and senses that The Eye of the Dragon (Maleficient's staff) awakes too. He travels to the city in the Isle of the Lost and find Maleficient, who orders her daughter Mal to recove the Eye of the Dragon (which is locaded in Maleficient's Castle). Mal departs to find the Eye with Carlos, Evie and Jay (the son of Jafar), but since Maleficient doesn't really trust in Mal, she secretly orders Diablo to follow Mal and retrieves the Eye. Although her suspicious became true when Diablo comes back with the Eye and Mal with the empty hands, she became a little shock when she realized Mal was able to find the Eye of the Dragon in her old throne hall, but quickly becames disappointed when Mal admits that she touched the Eye instead of tricking some one else to touched first, since Maleficient cursed the Eye to make anyone else fall in a 1000 years sleep (which was Mal's original plan, to make Evie take the Eye first).
When Maleficient find out about Prince Ben's proclamation to take her daughter along with Evie, Carlos and Jay to take them to Auradon and to join society again, Maleficient "joins" forces with the Evil Queen, Jafar and Cruella De Vil and orders Mal and her friends to steal the Fairy Godmother's wand in order to used to bend good and evil at her will. Much for her disbelieve, Mal doesn't want to go with the plan. Maleficient forces Mal into a magical "staring contest" in order to establish her power over Mal's, who loses and finally accept to go on with the plan with the other three. Maleficient gives Mal own magical spell book in order to make the task more easy and tells her daughter to doesn't screw things up.
When Mal and her friends show up in a museum to steal the magic wand, they found wax figures of their parents. Mal asks her mother to tell what to do and Maleficient statue cames to life and encourage Mal to keep her evil ways, promising that they will rule together as mother and daughter and eventually she will take her place.
A few weeks later she and the other three villains got a videochat call with the kids; Maleficient makes prangs about the Fairy Godmother about the magic she perfomed in Cinderella (which the Fairy Godmother doesn't take the jocks very well) and asks Mal (hidding her real intentions as motherly love) when she will have the wand; she gets a little anoyed when Mal informs her mother that they need to wait until Ben's coronation, but when Cruella interrupts her to scream to her son so she cannot longer interrogate Mal about the plan.
Days later, at Prince's Ben coronation, she feels proud when she sees Mal looking like a princess and by Ben's side, but prays to her daughter to "don't blow it". In the coronation,, the Fairy Godmother daughter Jane steals her mother's wand in order to give herself a magical makeover like Cinderella's, but by mistake destroys the magical barrier of the Isle of the Lost. After recovering her old magic, Maleficient shows up in the coronation and order Mal (who took the magic wand out of Jane) to give her the wand, unknowing that her daughter and her friends vow to be good moments earlier. Mal gives the magic wand to the Fairy Godmother, but Maleficient cast a frozen spell on everybody (except herself, her daughter and her friends) and take the wand out of the Fairy Godmother. Mal and her mother have and argument about Mal's choices and, even for Maleficent astonishment, successfully cast a spell to take the wand out of Maleficent's hand. Maleficent becames furious and transforms herself into her dragon form. She and Mal have another staring contests, but Mal cast a spell three times (#The strength of evil is good as none, when stands before four hearts as one!") and fight back. Maleficient's dragon form can't stand all the goodness and love and transforms into a little lizard, which is the same size as the love in her heart. Later propaganda states that Maleficient was put in a "tiny cell", but the Auradon's resident doesn't know where she's been kept.[10]
Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes
Maleficent is a playable character in Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes, sporting her modified appearance from the live-action Angelina Jolie film.[11] As with the other playable characters in the game, a tie-in figure for Maleficent was also released.
Reception
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The original version of Maleficent has been called as "one of the most sinister Disney Villains".[12]Guillermo del Toro has stated that along with Vermithrax in Dragonslayer, Maleficent is his favorite cinematic dragon.[13] Voice actress Eleanor Audley and supervising animator Marc Davis were also praised for their work on the character.
