Most heroes are heroic bastions of virtue — especially animated ones. Yet, not all animated protagonists are the pinnacles of selflessness and kindness. Many of these characters are downright mean and have little regard for the people around them. These characters challenge the definition of what it means to be a hero.

RELATED: 10 Animated Movie Heroes With No Flaws

For whatever reason, these animated heroes are disagreeable to most people they meet and actively seek to make others feel bad. This could be due to inflated egos or inherent cynicism. While some unpleasant heroes change their ways by the end of their stories, many remain angry and cynical throughout their films.

10 Felonius Gru

Despicable Me

Gru And Minions In Despicable Me 2

Felonius Gru has wanted to be a supervillain for as long as he could remember. He even had an army of minions by his side when he was in elementary school. Thankfully, this dream, plus constant rejection by his mother and his peers, made Gru a despicable villain.

Gru only cares about himself, especially when it comes to improving his villainous image. Yet, when he adopts three little girls for a heist, he unexpectedly begins to have paternal feelings for them. At the end of Despicable Me, the four make an unlikely family, and Gru learns that there is more to life than villainy.

9 Emperor Kuzco

The Emperor's New Groove

Kuzco pointing at something in Emperor's New Groove.

Emperor Kuzco is used to getting what he wants at the beginning of The Emperor's New Groove. He makes selfish decisions with no care for people's feelings, and he does not feel any need to keep his allies happy. This backfires on him when his disgruntled advisor transforms him into a llama after he fired her.

RELATED: 10 Beloved Disney Movies Everyone Forgets Bombed

Once he is a llama, Kuzco is humbled by his vulnerability and learns to appreciate the other people in his life. He also gains his first real friend in the farmer, Pacha. While Kuzco does realize the error of his ways and changes his attitude, there is no denying the callousness by which he originally ruled his empire.

8 Princess Atta

A Bug's Life

Atta worried in A Bug’s Life

Princess Atta is training to be the new queen of the colony in A Bug's Life. The pressure of such an important job stresses her out and makes her hypersensitive to even minor inconveniences. Unfortunately, the worker ant, Flick, is the cause for many of these setbacks, which makes Atta lash out at him particularly.

More than once, Atta belittles Flick and casts aside any ideas he has for improvements. She even tries to sell Flick out to Hopper and is the final decision-maker in tricking Flick to leave the colony. Atta does apologize to Flick eventually, but she is unnecessarily cruel to him — even if he does make a lot of mistakes.

7 Mr. Incredible

The Incredibles

Mr. Incredible was once the biggest hero in The Incredibles. He was known for his bravery as well as his capture of numerous evildoers. Unfortunately, his hero work would often get in the way of his personal life, including being late for his own wedding. Years later, once he has a family, Bob is not only disillusioned about his insurance job but also has a sour attitude toward his family.

Bob blatantly lies to Helen about his job, and he ignores his children, only stepping in when Helen calls him out. Bob is not much better in the sequel film either, as he continues his cycle of jealousy toward Helen's hero work while mishandling his children at home.

6 RJ Racoon

Over The Hedge

RJ the raccoon in Dreamworks over the Hedge movie

RJ the raccoon finds himself in hot water when he steals food from a bear. Needing to set things right quickly, RJ discovers a ragtag group of animals willing to break into the humans' homes to steal food. He tells them that they can share in the spoils, but the grifter really needs their help to replenish the food he stole from the bear.

RELATED: 10 DreamWorks Films That Would Make Great Anime

Eventually, they all partake in a huge heist, but when the animals are caught in the act, RJ takes the food and runs, leaving the other animals to be captured by a villainous exterminator. He does come back for them eventually, but not before leaving them behind to fulfill his promise to the bear from whom he stole. RJ tricks and schemes all the animals for most of Over The Hedge's runtime.

5 Coraline Jones

Coraline

Coraline

Coraline Jones begins Coraline already in a huff about moving across the country from Michigan to Oregon. However, her mood is further soured by her parent's lack of attention toward her. Though any child would be upset about moving away from their friends and not being allowed to play, Coraline takes things a step too far when she meets her neighbor's grandson, Wyborne.

Upon hearing his unusual name, Coraline cuts Wybie down by calling him "Why were you born." Though this is the most egregious offense, Coraline is rude and prickly toward Wybie throughout the movie, even though he only tries to warn and help Coraline along the way.

4 Woody

Toy Story

Woody with his back against the wall, nervous

Woody is used to being the head honcho around Andy's room — so when his position is threatened by the new Space Ranger, Buzz Lightyear, Woody sees green. He tries everything in his power to make Buzz look bad, but the harder he tries, the cooler Buzz appears.

Things come to a head when Woody accidentally knocks Buzz out of a window. Through an abundance of happenstances, the pair of toys are taken in by their dastardly neighbor, Sid, and Buzz is nearly blown up. The toys have a happy ending at the conclusion of Toy Story, but Woody continues to be selfish and jealous for the rest of the series.

3 Shrek

Shrek

Shrek In The Opening Of The Movie Shrek

Shrek is an ogre living his best-worst life in a lonely swamp until it is suddenly overrun by fairytale creatures. Shrek vows to get their land back for them appearing to be a hero when he only wants his quiet home back. Because of this, Shrek sets off on an adventure with a talking donkey to appeal to the malevolent Lord Farquaad in the movie Shrek.

RELATED: 10 Great Movie Characters Ruined By A Controversial Quote

Throughout his journey, Shrek is rude to Donkey, as well as the newly rescued Princess Fiona. Even when Shrek begins to develop feelings for her, he is quick to judge and always assumes the worst of her. Everything works out in the end, but Shrek stays his grumpy, unpleasant self.

2 Kenai

Brother Bear

Brother Bear Kenai

Kenai wants nothing more than to be a man. However, he lacks the responsibility necessary to be a provider and protector for his tribe in Brother Bear. Therefore, when his mistake leads to the death of his oldest brother, the spirits decide to teach Kenai a lesson by transforming him into a bear.

Despite his brother's death and all the turmoil he has gone through, Kenai stays irresponsible and gruff toward those around him. He is rude to the bears who try to teach him how to fish, and worst of all, he is unkind to the cub, Koda, traveling with him. In the end, the movie tells audiences that Kenai learned the error of his ways, but fans remain unconvinced.

1 Lightning McQueen

Cars

Lightning McQueen posing for cameras, Cars

Lightning McQueen is the fastest rookie racer in Disney/Pixar's Cars. His successes in the sport quickly go to his head, however, leading to an inflated ego and an obnoxious sense of entitlement. As such, when he finds himself stranded in a rundown town, Lightning does everything in his power to insult every resident to their core.

Although Lightning does learn to appreciate the town of Radiator Springs and even helps drive an injured The King over the finish line, Lightning maintains his cocky attitude and self-important swagger. He continues to be rude to his friend Mater and does not even treat his girlfriend Sally with much respect. Lightning McQueen is not an animated hero to be emulated.

NEXT: 10 Animated Heroes Who Would Make Great Villains