Vladek is Art's father and a Holocaust survivor whose story is at the center of *Maus*. Portrayed in two forms, his younger self is resourceful and clever, whereas his older self is ill, domineering, and struggling with habits formed during the war.

Anja is Art's mother and Vladek's wife, whose presence is significant in *Maus*, though she is deceased before the book's events. Her diaries, which were destroyed by Vladek, are a source of tension between Art and his father.

Françoise is Art's wife and plays a supportive role in *Maus*. She assists with Vladek’s demands and acts as a mediator between Art and Vladek.

In *Maus*, the Nazis are depicted as antagonists with brutal and cruel behavior. They are represented using animal imagery and are responsible for the atrocities experienced by Vladek and other Jews during the Holocaust.