Villainous () is a Mexican animated television and web series produced by Animated Imagination Studios (previously for Cartoon Network and HBO Max, until 2025, when it was mentioned that its spin-off, Villanous: Ties of Thieves, will be released by Animated Imagination Studios on their YouTube channel). It was created by Alan Ituriel, a veteran of the animation industry in Mexico. It is based on a 2012 web series of the same name which Ituriel had previously created and was initially picked up by Cartoon Network Latin America as a miniseries of ten one-minute episodes for the Cartoon Network Anything app (further episodes, along with a series of specials, were released later). The series is co-produced by Cartoon Network (through its Latin America Original Production unit) and A.I. Animation Studios. This article notes that Ituriel founded A.I. Animation Studios. The series has since expanded onto a media franchise consistent of books and tie-ins.
On October 11, 2021, Ituriel's Animated Imagination Studios revealed that the series would be released on HBO Max Latin America and Cartoon Network Mexico, and premiered on both platforms on October 29, 2021. A Twitter user also shared an HBO Max video showing that the series would be premiering on October 31, 2021, and by Atomo Network. The series premiered on Max in the United States on May 23, 2023.
On May 15, 2025, it was announced that an exclusive web series spin-off entitled Villainous: Ties of Thieves () was in production, set to be released in late 2025, but was delayed. On April 26, 2026, it was announced that the second part of the first season would premiere in 2027, with 20 episodes.
Plot Villainous follows Black Hat Org., run by the evil mastermind Black Hat (whose name is a synonym for villain, a reference to black-hatted evil cowboys from western films), and his team of three less-villainous aides. Black Hat Org's mission is to assist other villains to solve their heroic problems. They sell evil inventions created by Dr. Flug and offer various services, such as advice on how to defeat the hero or take care of the hero themselves. However, things usually end up going wrong as the brilliant innovations and plans tend to have small and often comical flaws.
Characters Main Black Hat (voiced by Alan Ituriel) is an ancient and malevolent mastermind of unknown origin or species who runs Black Hat Org. He has seemingly limitless power, and can shapeshift, teleport, manipulate space and reality, conjure objects at will, and open portals to other dimensions with his claws. He also owns a snake named Lil 'Jack, carries a walking stick he created from his own shadow, and can make people go out of their minds if he sings. Ituriel also said in August 2017 that people literally lose their minds when Black Hat sings, while in a Q&A, Black Hat said he hates both dogs and cats, that he owns a snake, Dr. Kenning "Flug" Flugslys (voiced by Yian Ruiz (English, TV series), Todd Sayre (English, pilot/shorts) and José Antonio Macías (Spanish)) is a nervous, nerdy, but somewhat kind and respectful scientist who wears multiple paper bags over his head and works for Black Hat. Despite his kind nature, Flug can be violent, malicious, and cruel when need be. One of his aliases is "La Bolsa de Torta" (The Sandwich Bag). Demencia (voiced by Cindy Eliz Pérez (English, TV series), Melaney Sems (English, pilot/shorts) and Melissa Gedeón (Spanish)) is Black Hat's crazed fan and assistant who wears a tracking device. Her outfit is inspired by reptiles and she has a love for destruction, chaos, and mischief. If she crouches down, because of her hair's massive length and color, her hair covers her body and she resembles a lizard. She can crawl on walls, has enhanced senses, has seemingly superhuman levels of strength despite her thin build, and has shown several times to be cannibalistic. 5.0.5. (voiced by Mark "Markiplier" Fischbach) is an immortal bear-like experiment created by the Organization. Intended to be an evil creature, he instead became very loving and enjoys hugging his friends. He has a single flower sprouting from his head that wilts and grows based on his emotions, and closes when he is asleep. 5.0.5 sees Dr. Flug as a father more than a creator and sees Demencia as his troublesome sister. Black Hat, however, sees him as a personal punching bag to relieve stress.
Supporting Cam Bot is a sentient camera who films all of Black Hat Org.'s ads. Penumbra / Dr. Penelope Numan Braxton (voiced by Jinon Deeb (English, redubbed pilot), Amanda Rose (English, original pilot) and Rebeca Manríquez (Spanish)) is a villainess who has a disorder that causes her to burn in daylight. Half of Arteno's population were infected with this condition by a toxic cloud and were dubbed Numbras. Arteno City now treats the Numbras as second-class citizens and has segregated them to the north side of the city.
P.E.A.C.E. Ringworm (voiced by Stephen Schoer Silva (Spanish) and Sean Davis (English)), a hero with ringworm who can generate ring bolts. Bicep (voiced by Roly Gutierrez (English) and Daniel del Robe (Spanish)), a boxer-themed superhero who resembles Sylvester Stallone's Rocky Balboa character from the Rocky film series, whom has superhuman strength. G-Lo / Gloria Grentina (voiced by Yenni Ann (English) and Alicia Velez (Spanish)), a gelatinous heroine with extendable limbs. She was Bicep's sidekick but after Bicep got beat up by Black Hot's henchman Dr. Flex, she became a sidekick for hire. Bulldozer (voiced by Diego Valenzuela (Spanish) and David Steel (English)), a buff construction worker-themed superhero with a wrecking ball for a hand whom he names "Berry" and also talks for her. He claims to be afraid of nothing except for bears (including 505).
Other characters Airlock / Amanda Hamilton Weaver (voiced by Jinon Deeb (English, unmasked), Doug Turkel (English, masked) and Rebeca Patiño (Spanish)), a superheroine with a robotic arm who resembles Samus Aran from the Metroid game series. Black Hot / Sexy Black Hat (voiced by Mark Fischbach (English), Alan Ituriel (Spanish)), a "clone" of Black Hat created by the Evil ray in "The Perception of Evil", He was created by Demencia. In "BH's Bizzare Bad-Venture" he runs away and created his own organization with stronger opposites of the employees: Dr. Flex (voiced by Roly Gutierrez (English) and José Antonio Macías (Spanish)), Violencia (voiced by Connie Fernandez (English), and Melissa Gedeón (Spanish)) and 6.0.6. (a cactus). Bonnivet (voiced by series animator Carolina Páez (Spanish, Villainous) and Patricia Azán (English & Spanish, Ties of Thieves)), a character that first appears in "The Lost Cases of Elmore", is a Supreme Leader of some type. Curie is the pet rat of Penumbra which was once used for experiments in a laboratory in Atreno City until Penumbra rescued it. Dark Phantom / Ezequiel Aterborn VI (voiced by Daniel Hoyo on Orientation #10, Pascual Meza in S1E6 (Spanish) and Sahid Pabon (English)), first appears in "The Lost Cases of Rhyboflavin" and is a professional villain, who is secretive. He is accompanied by his henchman Ghoul (voiced by Jason Kesser (English) and Alejandro Orozco (Spanish)). Earl, also called Dopey Black Hat, is a "clone" of Black Hat created by Monstrous Black Hat in "The Perception of Evil". El Valiente / Pedro Moreno (voiced by Jose Aparicio (English) and Guillermo Coria (Spanish)), a famous Mexican luchador whose mind was controlled by the cursed wrestling mask Mascara Macabra (voiced by Jose Aparicio (English) and Humberto Vélez (Spanish)), whom he won from a match against him. The mask gives him superhuman strength yet drives him to obsession over being victorious. His wife, former P.E.A.C.E. operative Adelita Guerrero (voiced by Margarita Coego (English) and Magdalena Leonel (Spanish)) approached the Black Hat Organization to rescue him from the mask. Emilia (voiced by Lourdes Arruti (Spanish) and Jackie Rodriguez (English)), an orphaned ghost girl who lives in a haunted house along with other children spirits. Hatbot-lers robots created in the image of Black Hat. Hatbot-Sentinels also known as Hatbots, are Black Hat-looking robots that belong to a Black Hat Organization robot line specifically designed to cause havoc during Christmas time celebrations. Goldheart / Herbert Leth (voiced by Oliver Roberts (English, original pilot) and Edson Matus (Spanish)) is a superhero who was Dr. Flug's rival and former nemesis during his years in high school, Flug still has a grudge against him and finds out by Miss Heed that he's going to stop villainy once and for all. Illuminarrow / Elizabeth Easton (voiced by Nola Klop (English, Ties of Thieves) and Regina Tiscareno (Spanish. Ties of Thieves)), a villain with an Eye of Providence motif who was created by Ami Guillén and Aleck Parker as a joke. Ami did not accept Illuminarrow as her daughter and abandoned her, hence her evilness. Lady Naga is a female villainess who briefly appears in "Q&A Black Hat Organization replies" during a slideshow while Flug lists off examples of respectable female villains. The Men Without Hats is an unknown organization that plans to overthrow Black Hat, there presence are shown as secret messages at the end of the title sequence. Metauro / Dimas Reldón Soler (voiced by Diego Valenzuela), a "professional villain" that was threatened and used to advertise Black Hat Organization's evil plans for villains. Miss Heed / Cecilia Amanda Kelly (voiced by Katherine Clavelo (English) and Cristina Hernández (Spanish)), a very well-known superheroine, influencer, and designer who has her own merchandise that includes perfumes, action figures, and dolls. It is revealed that she was a friend of Flug's during high school, who aims for the affections of Goldheart. She has the ability to evaporate liquids, and she uses it to blow air kisses modified with the formula of her perfume and put her foes in an obedient love-trance. Though she may be a hero she has an obsession for attention due to her controlling heroes, villains and civilians as mindless followers and planned to make a stronger perfume to mind control the entire globe to become the most beloved hero in the world just so Goldheart could love her again. Monstrous Black Hat, a "clone" of Black Hat created by the Evil ray in "The Perception of Evil". He was created by 5.0.5. The Pirate, an unnamed character who first appeared in the webisode "Hooked". He is a ship captain, and the victim of an unnamed magical boy's taunting. Sunblast / Saúl Solis (voiced by Roly Gutiérrez (English, redubbed pilot), Herschel "IV" Hatcher (English, original pilot) and Manuel Pérez (Spanish), a powerful superhero of Arteno City and Penumbra's arch-enemy, he acts more like a school bully instead of a hero as he cares more for his popularity from Arteno's citizens and hates nerds. He was then defeated by Dr. Flug and his colleagues and shrink him down which Penumbra takes custody of him where they later become friends. V.I.R.U.S. (voiced by Sean Davis (English) and Raúl Anaya (Spanish)), an artificial intelligence that inhabits a space station who plans to expose vital information on the internet (which was actually the leaked final episode of Flug's favorite show "Code: Turkey"), the government hired superheroine Airlock to erase him from the internet which leads him to ask Black Hat's associates for help. Vanity Bolt, a character that first appears in "The Lost Cases of Rhyboflavin". Dark Phantom is his enemy.
Production and release