Intro. Rothbart is the central villain and evil sorcerer in the classic story of Swan Lake.
In most traditional versions, including the one adapted for Barbie of Swan Lake, his role is defined by his dark magic and his desire for power:
The Enchanter: He is a powerful magician who is responsible for placing a curse on Princess Odette, transforming her and her companions into swans by day, allowing them to return to human form only at night near the enchanted lake.
The Antagonist: He actively works against the love between Princess Odette and Prince Siegfried (or Prince Daniel in the Barbie film), as he knows a vow of true love is the only thing that can break his spell.
The Schemer: Rothbart's most famous act of villainy is often his deception in Act III, where he disguises his own daughter, Odile (the Black Swan), to look exactly like Odette in order to trick the Prince into breaking his vow of fidelity