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Villain facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Villainc
This picture shows a typical villain. Many people imagine someone like this when they hear the word "villain".

A villain is a character in a story who is usually bad. They are often the main opponent of the hero or heroine. You can find villains in many places, like books, movies, comic books, and video games. Villains are also sometimes called antagonists.

Most of the time, people watching or reading a story want the hero to win and the villain to lose. But sometimes, a villain can be so interesting or cool that people like them even more than the hero! A good example is the Joker from the Batman stories.

Sometimes, a story might even surprise you. In some movies, like Ocean's Eleven, the characters who seem like "villains" (like robbers) are actually the main characters you cheer for, and the "good" people might seem less important.

Where the Word "Villain" Comes From

The word "villain" has an interesting history. It comes from a Latin word that meant a farm worker or peasant who lived on a large estate. Over time, the meaning changed to describe someone who is evil or wicked.

Villains in Different Stories

Villains play a very important role in stories. They create conflict and challenges for the hero. Without a villain, there might not be an exciting adventure or a problem for the hero to solve!

  • In Books and Movies: Villains can be anything from a wicked witch to a sneaky spy. They often have a plan that goes against what the hero wants to achieve.
  • In Comic Books: Villains in comic books are often called supervillains. They usually have special powers or abilities, like being super strong or having magic. They use these powers to try and take over the world or cause trouble for superheroes.

Examples of Famous Villains

Throughout history, many villains have become very famous. They are remembered because they are so evil, clever, or sometimes even a little bit funny.

  • The Wicked Witch of the West from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a classic example of a literary villain. She tries to stop Dorothy from getting home.
  • Louhi is a wicked queen from the Finnish epic poem Kalevala. She is a powerful sorceress who causes many problems for the heroes of the story.

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Villano para niños

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