Aloysius Animo (Classic)

Dr. Animo, later known as the D'Void, is one of Ben's enemies, a mad scientist obsessed with genetic experiments on animals. He was first introduced in Washington B.C., and became one of the most recurring villains in the original series, though he had only one appearance in Alien Force.

Animo is notable among Ben's enemies for being the first human villain to oppose Ben, as well as one of the few ones in this category to be a regular villain.

Original series
Doctor Animo was once a promising researcher in veterinary science. His career was cut short when it was discovered that he was performing twisted genetic experiments on animals. He had hoped that his research would win him the Verties Award, which is an award in veterinary science. Because of the nature of his research, he lost the award to another doctor, named Kelly. This drove him mad, and he dropped off the map for five years until he could perfect his research. Because he locked himself indoors for five years, his skin and formerly brown hair turned pale from overwork and lack of exposure to the sun.

A few times before his first appearance in the show, Animo watched a TV report showing Ben as Diamondhead saving a camp from a giant robot (a scene from the first episode of the show, And Then There Were 10). This inspired him, and led him to look for a way to create his own minion monsters.

Animo eventually appeared in Washington B.C., where he create a device called the Trans-modulator which gave him the ability to mutate animals into twisted giant versions of themselves. He then was able to upgrade it so it could reanimate dead cells, literally bringing dead animals (including a Mammoth and a Tyrannosaurus) back to life (though the Tyrannosaurus had exposed portions of bone and flesh meaning that his reanimated monsters are actually zombies). Using his new army of animals, he intends to kill Kelly and get the award he had lost, but Ben eventually destroyed his Trans-modulator, reversing its effects. Animo was then arrested.

He appeared again in the episode Dr. Animo and the Mutant Ray, where he created a much larger version of the Trans-modulator using the broken-off faceplate of the Omnitrix and a large telescope in a abandoned astrology lab. This version mutated living creatures with alien DNA, creating odd mixtures of alien and terrestrial creatures, such as a "Heatbat". Before he could complete his plans to use a satellite to shoot the ray all over the world, Ben stopped him with Gwen's help. Since his mutants were never shown being cured, it is possible that they are still around. For some reason, his trademark giant frog is also present, though he may have simply re-mutated it sometime after his original defeat. How and when he escaped is unknown though he could have used a similar tactic he used in Divided We Stand.

In Divided We Stand, he escaped what seems to be Alcatraz Island on a mutant seagull (he had trained the seagull to smuggle in parts he could use to build a Trans-modulator then mutated it) and captured one of Ben's Ditto's to access the DNA stored in his Omnitrix. Using this DNA, he created an army of self-replicating Lepidopterran mutants, but they were destroyed and he was captured again. Afterward, Grandpa Max deleted all of his computer files, preventing him from using any more Omnitrix DNA in his experiments if he escaped again.

During Ben 10 vs. the Negative 10 (Part 2), Animo was part of the Negative 10, a team assembled by Driscoll to defeat the Tennysons. Here he uses a mutant bat and prairie dog to fight the Tennysons.

He also makes a brief appearance at the end of Goodbye and Good Riddance, wearing an ape-like exo-suit, and leading a group of animal mutants towards Ben's school.

Animo briefly appeared at the beginning of Secret of The Omnitrix, where he captured Max and Gwen and created a dangerous bomb. Though he escape, Ben destroyed the bomb, unintentionally causing the Omnitrix's Self-Destruct Mode to be activated.

Alien Force
Five years later, during the time of Ben 10: Alien Force, Dr. Animo is found in the Null Void (he purposely went in to find new animal species but couldn't get out) where he assumed control over the Null Void Guardians and took on the alias "D'Void". His appearance changes in this series; his body is more muscular and his skin is no longer green. Considering his surprise when he learned that Brainstorm (before he learned it was really Ben), knew his name, it can be assumed that he never went by it while there. He plans to open a wormhole to the real world to use the Guardians to take over the Earth, and he forces the citizens there to gather a mineral that not only powered his drill but gives him immense strength and near invulnerability(to the point where a direct attack on him was completely ineffective). In Voided, his plans are foiled by the joint efforts of Helen, Manny, Ben, Max (codenamed "The Wrench"), and a group of other Plumbers' kids (including a Havoc Beast and a Vulpimancer).

Ultimate Alien
Animo later come back in Ben 10: Ultimate Alien, having somehow escaped from the Null Void and going by his true name again.

At the beginning of Escape From Aggregor, he used a device to take control of the Yeti in the Himalayas, and create a "De-Evolution Bomb" to turn everyone on Earth into yetis (which Ben, Gwen, Kevin, and even the Yeti thought was a stupid idea). Using Brainstorm, Ben was able to turn his mind-controlled yeti against him, while Kevin and Gwen disabled the bomb. He's then most likely sent back either to the Null Void or a normal jail. He has also returned to his original appearance (for the most part) and voice.

It's said by Dwayne McDuffie that Dr. Animo will come back "soon".

Possible future


In Ben 10,000, Animo is still alive, though his head is the only part of him that remains (the enhanced version of the episode revealed he tried to recreate the accident that granted Kevin his powers, but the process destroyed his body). However, the tank that his head resides in is equipped with a unique apparatus that allows him to attach himself onto animals specially reformatted with a device (in this case, a Yeti ) and control them. He was the one responsible for creating Exo-Skull and reviving Vilgax. He is defeated by both Gwen and her future self, Gwendolyn, as well as a cybernetically-enhanced Grandpa Max. The enhanced version of the episode Ben 10,000 revealed that he used his gene splicing skills to create a race of human animal hybrids dubbed the Inter-species Gang of which Exo-skull is a part of.

Protector of Earth
Animo appears in Ben 10: Protector of Earth as the main villain of the South East. He battles in a robotic gorilla suit, similar to the gorilla body he has in Ben 10,000. He kidnaps Gwen, hoping to use her as his experiment to test animal mutations. After Ben defeats Clancy, Animo's agent, he learns Animo and Gwen are at the Oil Refinery. When at the Oil Refinery, it is revealed that Animo has tied Gwen up to lure Ben into a trap for revenge. Ben fights Animo and defeats him, then he saves Gwen. He uses DNA from Wildmutt, Stinkfly and Diamondhead to create animal mutations.

Vilgax Attacks
Animo appears in Vilgax Attacks in the Null Void. Here he's still using his D'Void alias. His power source consist of numeral capsules of cormite fire. In order to harm him, you need to freeze them using Big Chill's frost breath. He also summons a Null Guardians and uses it to attack.

Powers and abilities
Dr Animo has the power to telepathically or empathically control animals. This includes ordinary animals, but also his mutant monsters and even aliens, as he was able to take control of the Null Guardians. According to the enhanced version of Secret of the Omnitrix, he learned this power from one of Ben's other enemies, Clancy, who could control bugs and other arthropods the same way.

In addition to this power, Animo is a genius and brilliant scientist, skilled in both machines and genetic experiments, who usually uses his knowledge to give him additional powers. His main inventions include the Trans-modulator and its variants (including on two occasions a device he called a De-Evolution Bomb), which allowed him to turn animals into powerful, dangerous mutants, a machine in Voided, a device which converted heat into energy for him, making him strong and durable enough to defeat Humongousaur and resist Brainstorm's electric attacks.

In addition, Animo is - partly out of necessity - a master of technical improvisation capable of constructing his devices from the simplest of materials. The prototype of his Trans-modulator was constructed from commercially available electronic components and an alternated kitchen sieve.

In Ultimate Alien, he was able to possess a head band which amped his ability to control animals when the animal in question is wearing a similar device.

In the original series, he usually relied on armies of animals mutants to fight for him.

Original Series

 * Washington B.C. (first appearance)
 * Dr. Animo and the Mutant Ray
 * Ben 10,000 (future self)
 * Divided We Stand
 * Ben 10 vs. the Negative 10 (Part 1) / Ben 10 vs. the Negative 10 (Part 2)
 * Ben 10: Secret of The Omnitrix (cameo at beginning)
 * Goodbye and Good Riddance (cameo)

Alien Force

 * Voided (first re-appearance)

Ultimate Alien

 * Escape From Aggregor (first re-appearance)

Trivia

 * During the first season of the original series, Dr. Animo plays the classic role of a mad scientist. He is also the first human villain to oppose Ben.
 * In Divided We Stand it is revealed that his first name is Aloysius.
 * In Voided, he didn't need the band as shown in Escape From Aggregor (possibly due to the enhanced abilities he possessed while in the Null Void).
 * His plan in Escape From Aggregor is similar to his plan in Secret of the Omnitrix as they both involved a De-Evolution Bomb.
 * Like Zs'Skayr and Hex, Dr. Animo only appeared once in the Alien Force series.
 * It's possible that Dr.Animo and Aggregor have a connection to the source where the head band came from as Aggregor used a mind-control band on the Bivalvan, Galapagus, P'andor, Andreas, and Ra'ad in Ultimate Aggregor that's exactly like the band Animo used on the Yeti in Escape From Aggregor
 * He is one of the 4 villains to appear in each series.
 * If you don't count the movies he is the last villain to appear in the original series.
 * It was revealed that the reason why he decided to complete his work in his Debut Episode was because he saw a news bulletin about Ben saving a campsite in the First Episode and was inspired to create monsters of his own.