Top Ten Disney Sidekicks

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Top Ten Disney Sidekicks

Sidekicks are those characters which are supporting, but still very much essential. They can be comedic, but also helpful and crucial for the protagonist’s journey. In the Disney films, they are an almost quintessential part of their films and in some examples are even the best characters of their respective movies. As is going to be evidenced by my list, I personally prefer the older characters, but still I love the newer ones almost as much.

10. Scuttle

Scuttle is absolutely hilarious! He’s probably the funniest character on this list and, although not as much present in his movie as the others on this list are, he’s still a crucial comedic part of ‘The Little Mermaid’. I love how he always wants to help Ariel, but he’s so stupid and clumsy that he never does anything good for her. The highlights include his terrible singing skills and of course the way he brushes his hair gets me up every time. He’s great, but the best sidekick of this film is going to come up much later down this list.

9. Gurgi

Yes, I know that Gurgi as well as the entire ‘Black Cauldron’ are pretty much among the most hated of the Disney movies, but they still have their loyal cult following and I’m among one of them for sure. This is one of the most purely dark movies in their canon and Gurgi is thus all the more important for cleansing the palate a bit. He’s a classic Disney sidekick with an adorable design, a great personality and fun humor. He’s by far the best developed character in the movie with the best and most realized personal journey.

8. Jose Carioca

This is another highly underrated character on this list and by any stretch of the definition he belongs here, even if the package films aren’t as well known or as well regarded. Panchito is fine, but Jose is the highlight of both ‘Saludos Amigos’ and ‘The Three Caballeros’. He steals the show in the ending of the former whereas he’s eclectic in the entirety of the latter. His interactions with Donald are consistently amusing whereas his lines of dialogue and signature pipe smoking make him a very memorable, risqué creation.

7. Tigger

Yet another character who somehow doesn’t ring your regular Disney sidekick when you think of the term, but Tigger is very much one. He tries to help Pooh and others and he is one of the essential members of the Hundred Acre Wood gang. But apart from his endearing personality, voice and design, he remains by far the funniest and most fun and energetic Winnie the Pooh character. His song is so much fun and his personality clashes so well with Owl’s as well as Eeyore’s.

6. Flora, Fauna and Merryweather

This is another set of highly underrated set of characters (you can clearly see the pattern here) and easily the heart and soul of ‘Sleeping Beauty’. They steal the show from both the prince and the princess and only Maleficent the villain is more memorable. They are better as a group than individually, but what a powerhouse team this is. They so clearly care for Aurora that that love was beautiful to witness. But they’re also very fun in their own interactions and quite funny with the dress color running gag stealing the show in the film comedy-wise.

5. Dopey

‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ isn’t titled like that coincidentally. In fact, the dwarfs themselves are better developed and more memorable than Snow herself. All of them make an impact, but two stand out with the first one getting this fifth spot. Dopey is a goof and such an endearing creation and the first in their line of mute and cute characters. His infatuation with Snow is hilarious, his slapstick steals the show in terms of the humor and he’s easily the cutest, most endearing dwarf of the bunch.

4. Jiminy Cricket

Jiminy Cricket is an essential sidekick in every sense of that word. Although less funny than most other characters on this list, he’s actually more important than most of them when it comes to him helping Pinocchio as he’s literally his voice of reason. He has a wonderful personality and his relationship with the little wooden boy is so beautiful. I also find this movie to be very much the cricket’s tale as much as the puppet’s one as evidenced by that wonderful ending where he received the prize from the fairy.

3. Grumpy

Grumpy is awesome, there is no denying that. And he’s actually better than Dopey which says a lot. He’s pretty much the opposite from him as he talks and grumbles a lot and he’s quite irritated and, well, grumpy. But he’s never too mean-spirited and this is again the case of a terrific character journey which is so much richer in plot than the one of Snow’s. He becomes more and more caring toward the end of the film and he and Snow develop a genuine loving relationship at the end. It was wonderful to witness.

2. Baloo

Baloo is amazing! He easily would get the first spot from me if it weren’t for the next guy, but needless to say, Baloo is the best of the classic Disney characters of yesteryear. ‘The Jungle Book’ wouldn’t be nearly as great as it is without him. He is a wonderful goof, an endearing personality and a highly entertaining and funny creation with a terrific voice work from legendary Phil Harris. But he doesn’t just help Mowgli learn the joys of life and hedonism, he actually saves his life later on from Shere Khan and his relationship with Bagheera is also superb.

1. Sebastian

And the number one goes to this little crustacean guy. ‘The Little Mermaid’ is one of my favorite Disney movies of all time and Sebastian is one of the biggest reasons why I adore this damn movie so much. He is funny and he also has a great arc where he progresses toward a looser, less strict person near the end, but his relationship with Ariel herself is absolutely wonderful. He genuinely cares for her and that relationship is easily the heart of the film along with the King Triton-Ariel one. I also adore his voice and of course his singing as evidenced in the classic Kiss the Girl.

Honorable Mentions:

Charlotte – Very much an underrated creation as is her entire flick, Charlotte is such a Southern Belle stereotype, but she works as she’s quite amusing and also genuinely a great person.

Genie – Genie is overrated as he brings a lot of dated elements to the feel of ‘Aladdin’, but there’s no denying his madcap energy, a lot of personality and many great lines.

Timon and Pumbaa – The same goes for this duo which grows on me upon subsequent viewings. They do not quite fit the movie, but still they are a funny and also even charming duo.

Baymax – Baymax is actually the only great thing about ‘Big Hero 6’ which is otherwise subpar in every regard. He’s the heart and soul of the film and such an endearing creation.

Ray – Another ‘The Princess and the Frog’ character who needs to be mentioned is the firefly Ray who’s such a sweet character who got one highly tragic death scene.

Abu – Al’s pet monkey may not speak, but he still packs a great impact as this lovable, but feisty thief and a great animal companion.

Archimedes – Speaking of animal companions, Archimedes the owl is a great one to Merlin. This movie has some underrated characters and he’s a great one – very enjoyable and funny.