Let's be honest. Nobody actually goes to see a DreamWorks heist movie just to watch a group of law-abiding citizens follow traffic laws and pay their taxes on time. We’re there for the chaos. When DreamWorks released The Bad Guys in 2022, they weren't just giving us another talking animal flick; they were tapping into a trope that has dominated storytelling since the beginning of time. The Bad Guys villains—specifically the Crimson Paw and Professor Marmalade—work because they flip the script on what we expect from a traditional antagonist.
They’re complicated.
Usually, in a kids' movie, the bad guy is just bad because the plot needs them to be. They want to take over the world or steal a diamond because, well, that's what villains do. But in this universe, the lines get blurry. You have Mr. Wolf and his crew trying to "go good," while the actual villain is hiding behind a facade of extreme philanthropy. It’s a bait-and-switch that works because it mirrors real life. People aren't always who they say they are.
The Marmalade Twist and Why It Sticks
Professor Marmalade is a fascinating case study in modern animation. On the surface, he's a tiny, adorable guinea pig who wins "Good Samaritan" awards. He's the ultimate "good guy." But the moment he reveals his true colors, the movie shifts from a lighthearted caper into a commentary on ego and manipulation.
He doesn’t just want money. He wants to be seen as the best person while doing the worst things.
That’s a specific kind of villainy we see a lot in prestige TV—think Gus Fring from Breaking Bad—but rarely in a PG-rated movie about a shark in a disguise. Marmalade uses the heroes' desire for redemption against them. He weaponizes their hope. Honestly, that’s way darker than just trying to blow up a building. It’s psychological. He wants to prove that "bad guys" can never change, mostly so he can keep his monopoly on being the "good" one.
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Breaking Down the Crimson Paw
Then you have Diane Foxington, aka The Crimson Paw. Is she one of The Bad Guys villains? Technically, she was. She's the retired master thief who realized that the life of crime has a ceiling. Her inclusion in the story is vital because she acts as the mirror for Mr. Wolf.
She proves that the "villain" label is often just a social construct.
If you spend your whole life being told you're a predator, you're going to act like one. It's the classic sociological theory of Labeling Theory. Diane broke out of it. Marmalade leaned into it. The interplay between these two characters creates a narrative depth that most people totally miss on the first watch. It’s not just about a meteor; it’s about identity.
Why We Root for the "Bad" Guys
We like the crew—Wolf, Snake, Shark, Piranha, and Tarantula—because they are honest about their flaws. In the world of the film, the public fears them because of their species. It’s a pretty on-the-nose metaphor for prejudice.
Wolf says it best in the opening: "Do I look like a 'Good Guy' to you?"
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The irony is that by the end of the film, the "villains" are the only ones acting with any sense of morality. They sacrifice their freedom to stop Marmalade. They choose the hard path of being "good" without the immediate reward of public praise. That’s a massive shift from the typical villain arc where the antagonist just gets defeated and thrown in jail. Here, the internal struggle is the main event.
The Animation Style of Villainy
The visuals matter too. Director Pierre Perifel used a stylized, painterly look influenced by Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and French animation. This matters for the villains because it makes their movements fluid and "cool."
Villains need to be charismatic.
If a villain is boring, the movie dies. Marmalade’s design is intentionally soft and round to hide his sharp edges. Meanwhile, the Wolf crew has sharp, jagged movements that soften as they become more heroic. It’s subtle storytelling that hits your brain before you even realize why you’re feeling a certain way about a character.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Ending
There’s a common critique that the movie lets the crew off too easy. I disagree. Honestly, the fact that they actually go to prison at the end is a huge deal for a kids' movie. Usually, there’s a magical pardon or everyone just forgets the crimes happened because the "real" bad guy was defeated.
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By having them serve time, the movie reinforces that actions have consequences, even if your heart is in the right place. It separates the "villainous" act from the "villainous" person.
The real Bad Guys villains aren't the ones in the orange jumpsuits; it's the guy who thinks he's above the law because he has a shiny trophy and a nice suit. That’s a lesson that stays with you.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Creators
If you’re looking to dive deeper into the world of character design or just want to appreciate the storytelling more, here is how you can look at the "villain" archetype differently:
- Watch for the "Shadow" Character: In any story, look for the character who represents what the hero could have become. Diane Foxington is the "Good" version of Wolf’s future, while Marmalade is the "Evil" version of Wolf’s charisma.
- Analyze the Mask: Real villains rarely announce themselves. In your own creative writing or character analysis, look for the "Virtue Signal." If a character is trying too hard to be seen as perfect (like Marmalade), they are usually the primary antagonist.
- Check the Species Tropes: The movie intentionally uses a Wolf, a Snake, and a Shark—animals we are biologically programmed to fear. Notice how the film uses your own instinctual bias to trick you into suspiciousness.
- Follow the "Why": A great villain has a motivation that makes sense to them. Marmalade believes he is superior. He doesn't think he's "bad"; he thinks he's a genius who deserves more power. When you understand a villain's internal logic, they become ten times more terrifying.
The next time you sit down to watch an animated heist, don't just look at who is breaking into the safe. Look at who is holding the key. Usually, the most dangerous person in the room is the one who convinced everyone else they don't have a mean bone in their body.