✓ | ||
This villain was proposed but was rejected by the community for not being heinous enough or lacks what is necessary to be a Pure Evil villain. Therefore, this villain shall be added to our "Never Again List", where proposed villains rejected by the community shall be placed to prevent future proposals of the same evil-doer. They can be proposed again (with the permission of an administrator) if new elements appear in their series that can change their status as non-PE villains. Any act of adding this villain to the Pure Evil category without a proposal or creating a proposal for this villain without the permission of an administrator will result in a ban. |
“ | You don't need to be afraid. I know it's dark, but you'll get used to it. | „ |
~ Botticelli Remorso making his first appearance. |
“ | Ah, if isn't our brave little knight. I wonder... Should I finish you off myself, or turn you into cat food? | „ |
~ Botticelli's attempt to kill Despereaux. |
Botticelli Remorso is the main antagonist of the 2003 fantasy novel The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo and its 2008 computer-animated film adaptation of the same name by Universal Pictures.
He is a cruel and manipulative sewer rat who serves as the tyrannical leader of the rat world. He is also the archenemy of both Despereaux and Princess Pea.
He was voiced by Ciarán Hinds, who also played Steppenwolf in Justice League, Mephisto in Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, Jonathan Reiss in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life, Henry Burke in Race to Witch Mountain, Mance Rayder in Game of Thrones and Bill Maplewood in Life During Wartime.
Biography[]
When Roscuro falls into the sewers after being abandoned by his friend Pietro and accidentally causing the Queen Rosemary to have a fatal heart attack, Botticelli comes across Roscuro and takes him to his world. As a result of Queen Rosemary's death, King Philip passes a law that would ban soup and outlaw rats, causing the kingdom of Dor to fall into a massive depression. At his world, Botticelli arranges a feast for his people, but notices Roscuro not joining the other rats. Botticelli insistently asks Roscuro why he's not eating and clouds his hopes by telling him that nothing in the outside world is there for him. Roscuro leaves and Botticelli's right-hand servant, Smudge points out that Roscuro will not be like the other rats, but Botticelli states that Roscuro is still a rat, regardless of his origin.
When Despereaux is later banished to the dungeon for his courageous behavior and talking to Princess Pea, he comes across a prison guard named Gregory, who is sleeping and being mugged by the rats. After Gregory awakens, Despereaux explains to him about Princess Pea wanting the kingdom to go back the way that it was, but Gregory doesn't believe him and throws Despereaux aside. Despereaux is captured by the rats and is placed in a coliseum, where Botticelli unleashes a ferocious cat to kill him. The cat proceeds to attack Despereaux and Botticelli prepares to have him finished off, but Roscuro intercepts him and offers to eat him instead. Botticelli calls off the brawl and Roscuro rescues Despereaux as he takes him to his hideout.
After Roscuro unsuccessfully tried to apologize to Princess Pea and she frantically shooed him away, Roscuro uses Pea's servant Miggery Sow as his pawn to kidnap the princess and send her to the rats in retaliation before locking her up in a dungeon cell after double-crossing her. Pea finds Despereaux and informs him to take the necklace to Philip to warn him about the danger, but he ends up losing it on the way. Despereaux tries to warn Philip about Pea's imprisonment, to no avail. He later tries to inform his people about Pea, but they mistake him for being a ghost. Meanwhile, Chef Andre decides to bring back soup and happiness to Dor, whilst also bringing back a fruit genie named Boldo. Despereaux finds the two and informs them about Pea in danger, but Andre doesn't believe him and refuses to listen. However, Boldo takes Despereaux to the coliseum, but not before getting attacked by the rats and disintegrating.
As Botticelli prepares to have Pea devoured, he announces that there will be rats in the outside world. Botticelli has Roscuro signal the other rats to feast on the princess, but when he sees the apologetic sincerity in her eyes, he suddenly has a change of heart and refuses to do the deed. Enraged, Botticelli signals the feast instead and the rats head over to eat the princess. However, Despereaux arrives and unleashes the cat, causing the rats to retreat in terror. Botticelli orders the other rats to attack Despereaux, but he easily manages to defeat them all. However, Botticelli captures Despereaux and attempts to feed him to the cat. Before he could finish off Despereaux, Botticelli is suddenly distracted when he is blinded by the sunlight reflected off Pea's necklace. Roscuro reflects the light at Botticelli and blinds him even more, causing him to fall into the arena. Botticelli finds himself confronted by the cat and is chased into the knight helmet. Princess Pea locks the two in by kicking the helmet shut and Botticelli is eaten by the cat, while the other rats flee into the darkness of the dungeon.
Personality[]
Botticelli is domineering, oppressive, pompous, and tyrannical. He is a greedy and manipulative sewer rat who plans to conquer the kingdom, so that he and the rats could have a commanding influence on the outside world and roam the city for life. He is shown to be a sadistic and deceptive trickster, as he loves to trick others and watch them suffer. He is also somewhat cowardly and only goes after those who can't fight against him, such as Despereaux.
Gallery[]
Quotes[]
“ | Now, that's not very grateful of you, after I have taken you under my wing... There is nothing up there, Roscuro. Nothing at all. | „ |
~ Botticelli to Roscuro. |
“ | A rat is a rat. It doesn't really matter where you're come from. | „ |
~ Botticelli to one of his guards. |
“ | What... is... that? | „ |
~ Botticelli seeing the light. |
“ | Please... nice kitty? Ah, no, no, no! | „ |
~ Botticelli’s final words before getting eaten by the cat in the movie. |
Trivia[]
- In the book, Botticelli Remorso is not killed off; rather, he lives in the darkness of the dungeons with the rest of the rats after Despereaux de-tails Roscuro, meaning that Boticelli does not get the proper comeuppance for his deeds compared to his fate in the movie. Thus, he is a Karma Houdini in the book, but not in the movie.
- His fate in the video game is similar to his fate in the book, as he wasn't killed by the cat.
- Botticelli's surname comes from the word "Remorse". However, it's very ironic for this character; Botticelli Remorso can feel anything but remorse for his actions.
- He is never referred to by name in the film adaptation.