Whether they are two-legged, four-legged, or, in some cases, multi-legged, Disney characters fall into four main categories: heroes, heroines, sidekicks and villains.
The oldest and most well-known Disney hero, Mickey Mouse, has fans worldwide, thanks to his appearances in feature films, animated shorts, television shows and Disney resorts and parks. Other anthropomorphic heroes include Bambi, Thomas O’Malley (The Aristocats), Robin Hood, and Simba (The Lion King).
Orphaned children or ones with distracted, unavailable parents are frequently portrayed as heroes in Disney films. Abandoned as an infant, Mowgli is found by Bagheera the panther and raised in a wolf pack in The Jungle Book. Peter Pan is eternally young, leads a team of Lost Boys, and possesses the ability to fly without wings. Aladdin is a young thief living on his own on the streets of Agrabah.
Aladdin holds the lamp containing the Genie.
Photo Credit: JD Hancock via Compfight cc
The first Disney heroine, Snow White, kicked off a trend of young women of royal lineage—or women aspiring to marry into royalty—as lead characters. These early heroines include Cinderella and Aurora (Sleeping Beauty), and exhibit traits such as innocence, obedience and grace. Alice (Alice in Wonderland) is more curious and adventurous, letting her imagination and stubbornness get her into trouble as she explores Wonderland in search of the White Rabbit.
Disney heroines are seldom damsels in distress, however, as many female lead characters display great intelligence, courage and a sense of justice, such as avid reader Belle (Beauty and the Beast) and Esmeralda (The Hunchback of Notre Dame). Disguised as a young man, Fa Mulan (Mulan) serves as a soldier to fulfill her family’s obligation to China and protect her father from harm.
Casey Robin on what female heroines from Disney classic films have to offer modern day audiences.
Casey Robin - female heroines in Disney Classics
Artistic rendering of Maleficent, the evil fairy in Sleeping Beauty.
Photo Credit: LZ Creations via Compfight cc
Disney villains are often beloved by fans despite their nature. Often depicted as colorful, flamboyant characters with magical or supernatural powers, Disney villains are typically destroyed in the end. While Disney often skews toward extremes with its villains, there are some characters who are more antagonists rather than true villains, as they thwart the hero/heroine but are later redeemed through an act of selflessness. Villains who redeemed themselves include the Ringmaster (Dumbo) and Amos Slade (The Fox and the Hound).
Female villains include the Evil Queen (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs), Maleficent (Sleeping Beauty), Cruella de Vil (The 101 Dalmatians) and Ursula the Sea Witch (The Little Mermaid). Male villains include Stromboli (Pinocchio), Captain Hook (Peter Pan), Scar (The Lion King) and Hans (Frozen).
Sidekicks in Disney animated films provide comic relief in addition to helping—or hindering—the hero/heroine in achieving their goal. Animals with the ability to talk often play the role of sidekick to a human (or human-like) character, such as Jiminy Cricket in Pinocchio and Flounder the fish in The Little Mermaid.
Disney villains also have sidekicks, and like their counterparts, serve the purpose of helping or hindering the villain. Examples include Diablo the raven in Sleeping Beauty, Mr. Smee in Peter Pan, and Iago the parrot in Aladdin.
In many instances, there will be multiple sidekicks for both the hero/heroine and villain. They work as a team to support their champion, whether it’s for good or evil. The dwarfs in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs provide shelter for Snow White from the Evil Queen, while electric eels Flotsam and Jetsam conspire with Ursula the Sea Witch to keep Ariel and Prince Eric from falling in love in The Little Mermaid.
Although they may be considered supporting cast members, sidekicks are incredibly popular among Disney fans. Tinker Bell, the tiny green fairy companion of Peter Pan, also played the role of “hostess” for Disney’s first foray into television entertainment, flying into view and flicking pixie dust onto an image of Sleeping Beauty’s castle at Disneyland.
Bernard and Miss Bianca from The Rescuers.
Several Disney films have two lead characters, often a male/female pairing. These films tend to follow a “boy-meets-girl” story line, in which the characters meet, must work together for a common cause, and fall in love. Bernard and Miss Bianca, two mice from the Rescue Aid Society, are tasked with saving the kidnapped girl Penny in The Rescuers.
Often there are differences in background between the characters, which they must overcome in order to be together. Examples include Lady, a purebred cocker spaniel, and Tramp, a stray mutt, in Lady and the Tramp; and Aladdin, a young thief living in the alleys of Agrabah, and Jasmine, the daughter of a sultan, in Aladdin.
No matter what category Disney characters fall under, they are nothing without their story, and their stories come from a variety of sources.