While there are a lot ofDisneycharacters who easily stand out on their own, there are some iconic Disney duos that show how much fun a pair can be.Disney has always loved exploring friendshipin their animated movies and they have done so successfully since the beginning of their run. However, even in their long history, some Disney duos rise above the rest and showcase those truly special pairings that have delivered laughs, heartbreak, and charm to audiences over the years.
Including all the Pixar movies alongside the animated Disney roster, there are a lot of notable pairs to choose from. There are some friends who clearly go back a long way, like Mike and Sully inMonsters Inc.Some start out with a lot of tension only to find common ground, like Moana and Maui. Of course, some Disney duos are just fun to watch sharing the screen, like Timon and Pumbaa inThe Lion King. These magical pairings have set their place together in Disney’s history.
20Pain And Panic
Hercules (1997)
While there are many villainous henchmen in Disney movies, Pain and Panic represent some of the most memorable while also being a devilishly good pair. Smooth-talking Hades inHerculesmakes for one ofthe best Disney villains, but he is made more memorable by having a couple of inept minions to constantly rage against and be disappointed in for failing to carry out their simple tasks.
Unlike some of the other comedic Disney henchmen, Pain and Panic are shown to be genuinely evil creatures, willing to kill baby Hercules on Hades' orders. However, they provide a great bumbling contrast for those darker moments in the movie.They are two pathetic beings who are bonded through misery as they are constantly in a state of dread, suggesting that serving the God of Death is not a fun job.
Hercules
Cast
Hercules follows the journey of the titular character, the son of Zeus, as he embarks on a quest to prove himself a true hero after being turned mortal by Hades. Directed by John Musker and Ron Clements, the film is a blend of mythology and animation.
19Basil And Dawson
The Great Mouse Detective (1986)
Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson are among the most iconic duos in pop culture history, so perhaps it should be no surprise that Disney’s animated take ontheSherlock Holmesbooksprovides a fun counterpart to these characters.The Great Mouse Detectivefinds a kind-hearted and noble mouse, Dawson, helping a young mouse find her father and seeks out famed mouse detective Basil for help.
The Disney movie plays into the typical winning dynamic between Holmes and Watson with Basil playing the cocky yet brilliant detective whose impersonal approach to heroics is grounded by the more sympathetic Dawson. It is a shame thatThe Great Mouse Detectivedid not perform better, asthe movie’s ending suggests this is only the beginning of a long friendship these two share together.
The Great Mouse Detective
The Great Mouse Detective is an animated adventure film directed by Ron Clements and Burny Mattinson. Released in 1986, the film follows the ingenious mouse detective Basil of Baker Street, who is on a mission to thwart the schemes of the villainous Ratigan. Set in Victorian London, the story includes iconic supporting characters such as Basil’s companion Dr. Dawson and the kidnapped toy maker Hiram Flaversham’s daughter Olivia.
Alice In Wonderland (1951)
A great duo can often be made up of two people who make sense together but would be completely lost in their world without their partner. Such is the case withAlice in Wonderland’s eccentric duo, the Mad Hatter and the March Hare. As Alice ventures through this surreal world and encounters one strange character after another, she comes across the most madcap tea party ever thrown, hosted by these two.
What is wonderful about the Mad Hatter and March Hare is that they live in a world that makes no sense to anyone except each other.They bounce off each other with non-sequitur and unhinged ideas as if it were normal conversations between two old friends. It is a hilarious partnership in madness and a joy to watch them, even if it is perplexing.
Alice in Wonderland
Based on the stories of Lewis Caroll, Alice in Wonderland follows the adventures of a young girl after she finds herself in a magical world. She finds Wonderland colorful and enchanting, but it’s dangerous, too: Alice quickly falls afoul of the Red Queen, who has a preoccupation with beheadings. With the help of her new friends, the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat, and the White Rabbit, Alice must use her head to find her way home.
17Remy And Alfredo
Ratatouille (2007)
The premise behindRatatouilleis a strange one that begs the question of how they came up with this idea in the first place. However, at its center was the story of a duo who worked together to defy expectations and become something no one else thought they could be. The movie follows rat Remy, who has a passion for cooking and decides to guide aspiring yet hopeless cook Alfredo in the kitchen.
From the early scene in which Alfredo releases Remy but asks him to stay and help him, these two form a trust bond with the knowledge that they are sticking their necks out for each other. However, though those in their respective worlds had little faith in them,Remy and Alfredo formed a great team that learned how to give something very special to the world.
Ratatouille
Ratatouille follows Remy, a culinary-inclined rat living in Paris, who dreams of becoming a chef. Despite societal obstacles, he finds an opportunity to prove his talents when he ends up beneath a prestigious restaurant, allowing his sophisticated palate to assist in creating extraordinary dishes.
16Todd And Copper
Fox And The Hound (1981)
Fox and the Houndis one of the best Disney movies about friendship and also a deeply moving story in that sense. The movie begins with a young energetic fox named Todd who meets a loyal hound named Copper, quickly forming a bond between them, oblivious to the nature of their supposed dynamic as animals. The movie follows their childhood lives as playmates, leading to their adulthood when they can no longer ignore that they are meant to be pitted against each other.
Todd and Copper make for such a heartwarming duo because, as not only do they defy the fact that they are meant to be enemies, but they do so in complete innocence. It is not that they set out to prove the world wrong, they simply find it more natural to be friends rather than enemies.
The Fox and the Hound
Dodo is an orphaned fox who was adopted by a lady after her mother was killed by a hunter. She grows up alongside Toby, a hound puppy, and the two become great friends. The problem is their different natures: one is a hunter and the other is supposed to be the prey.
15Kuxco And Pacha
The Emperor’s New Groove (2000)
The Emperor’s New Groovecapitalizes oncreating a duo of two people who come from two very different worlds. Kuzco is the young, vain, and self-centered emperor of the kingdom who is turned into a llama by his scheming advisor. Losing his position of wealth, comfort, and power, he finds the only one who will help him is a peasant whom he previously took his land from.
While many of the great duos have a give-and-take quality, in the case of Kuzco and Pacha, it is only Kuzco who has something to learn from Pacha. The emperor is finally shown the power of kindness and selflessness in a person who has little but is always willing to give more. It makes for a beautiful friendship that changes Kuzco for the better while rewarding Pacha for the kind of man he is.
The Emperor’s New Groove
The Emperor’s New Groove is an animated comedy film released by Walt Disney Pictures. Directed by Mark Dindal, it follows the story of Emperor Kuzco, who is transformed into a llama by his power-hungry advisor Yzma. Journeying with a humble villager named Pacha, Kuzco must reclaim his throne while navigating humorous and unexpected challenges. The film features voice work by David Spade, John Goodman, Eartha Kitt, and Patrick Warburton.
14Baloo And Bagheera
The Jungle Book (1967)
Seriousness and discipline meeting a fun and carefree attitude often make for a great duo, as seen inThe Jungle Book. The story is centered on Mowgli, the young “man cub” who was raised by wolves in the wild but must return to the world of humans when his life is put in danger. However, the most interesting figures in Mowgli’s journey are the two mentors he has along the way. Bagheera is the wise and sensible panther, while Baloo is the free-spirited brown bear.
These two very different beasts are united in their mission to protect Mowgli.They disagree about what is best for the boy, but they are both quick to jump into action together when he is in danger. The movie ends with the two animals achieving their goal and bidding farewell to the man-cub, but with the charming promise that they will not go off into the wild as good friends.
The Jungle Book
The story of a boy adopted by wolves in the forest, following their adventures on the way to the human village, alongside the bear Baloo and the panther Baghera, who are being hunted by the dangerous tiger Shere Khan.
13Carl And Russell
Up (2009)
One of the biggest age gaps in a Disney movie duo proves that such things are not always important. Following the heartbreaking opening sequence ofUp, the Pixar movie settles into the adventure of Carl, who uses balloons to sail his house to a faraway land. However, he inadvertently brings along a dedicated but somewhat hapless boy scout, Russell.
Carl & Ellie’s Heartbreaking Up Opening Importance Explained By Director
Co-writer/director Pete Docter explains the importance behind Carl and Ellie’s heartbreaking Up opening montage and surprising audiences with it.
Initially, Carl and Russell just seemed to be an ideal comedic pairing for this situation. Carl is a grumpy old man who wants to be alone, while Russell is an excitable young boy who cannot stop talking. It does make for some hilarious moments with their different dynamics, but their bond goes deeper than that. They are two people who don’t have a lot of love and support in their lives, but gradually see each other as filling in that emptiness. While the age gap might suggest a paternal bond, Carl seems to see Russell as a genuine friend, which makes it all the more charming.
Up
Pixar’s Up follows widower Carl (Ed Asner) who travels to South America with young wilderness explorer Russell (Jordan Nagai) by attaching thousands of balloons to his home after the bank threatens to foreclose on it. Discovering the legendary Paradise Falls, Carl meets his childhood hero, explorer Charles Muntz. However, Muntz isn’t the kind-hearted man Carl hoped he would be, and the grieving widower finds himself pitted against his former idol.
12Robin Hood And Little John
Robin Hood (1973)
LikeThe Great Mouse Detective, Robin Hoodtakes an animated approach to a beloved tale that has been told many times before. However, out of themany Robin Hood moviesover the years, none of them has tackled the friendship between Robin and Little John as effectively as Disney’s version.The trick, it seems, is to just present the two outlaws as the best of buddies who have a great time together.
Robin and John live a dangerous life robbing from the rich and giving to the poor, always being chased by the law, and defying the most powerful rulers in the land. However, they take to it like they are two best friends having the time of their lives, making each other laugh and protecting each other’s back. It is a simple yet natural friendship between these two heroes.
Robin Hood
Robin Hood is a 1973 animated film produced by Walt Disney Productions. The story follows Robin Hood, a cunning fox, and his loyal companion, Little John, as they outsmart the corrupt Prince John and the Sheriff of Nottingham to help the oppressed citizens of Sherwood Forest. Featuring a unique cast of anthropomorphic animals, the film combines adventure, humor, and classic Disney charm. Directed by Wolfgang Reitherman, it remains a beloved entry in Disney’s animated canon.
11Lilo And Stitch
Lilo & Stitch (2002)
Family is a big theme in many Disney movies, but there are also many, likeLilo & Stitch, that deal with the concept of a chosen family. The movie is also a celebration of how two oddballs and misfit beings from very different worlds can find happiness together. Lilo is a lonely young girl in Hawaii who adopts a dog, Stich, as a companion, only to learn that Stitch is actually an alien genetic experiment that is being hunted.
Stitch is constantly a destructive force of nature, but one that Lilo is all too willing to put up with. It is a sign of how one person offering love to another that they never received elsewhere can make all the difference. Lilo teaches Stitch the idea that family means more than just those connected by blood and that it’s a place where he can belong.
Lilo & Stitch
Lilo & Stitch, released in 2002, explores the relationship between a young Hawaiian girl, Lilo, and Stitch, a mischievous alien experiment posing as her pet. As Stitch adapts to Earth’s customs, the pair navigate themes of family and friendship, while evading extraterrestrial pursuers.
