Top 10 Disney Animal Sidekicks

I've recently done a list of the Top 10 Disney Heroes, which inspired me to do another Top 10 list. So, here is my Top 10 Disney Animal Sidekicks! A word of warning that this is not a top Disney animal list, but an animal sidekick list. Because of that distinction I won't be judging all-animal movies such as Finding Nemo, The Lion King, Dumbo, Bambi, Lady and the Tramp etc.. Also, Genie doesn't count as an animal. That said, please enjoy and tell me what you think!

10) Rajah

Movie: Aladdin
Personality: We don't get to spend much time with Rajah in the movie, but we can infer a bit about her personality. She's protective and caring, and she loves Jasmine a heck of a lot. I chose to place Rajah on this list rather than another character because she shows such maturity when she allows Jasmine to escape the palace even though she knows it might mean she never sees her again. Their little goodbye moment is touching!
Funny: ...not really. It's a bit funny that Rajah likes to bite the panties off Jasmine's suitors, but she's nowhere near as funny as other animal sidekicks.
Helpfulness: Rajah protects Jasmine from unwanted suitors and gives her a lift up the tree when she wants to escape--I'd call that pretty helpful.
Superlatives: Most Underappreciated


9) Meeko

Movie: Pocahontas
Personality: Meeko is curious. He steals John Smith's compas and is all about leaping before looking (literally). Like a child, he doesn't always think things through. He can also be a bit selfish (i.e. not sharing cherries with the pug and such) but he's a good little friend for Pocahontas anyway.
Funny: He's not the funniest, but he has his moments. In particular his whole gambit with the pug (whose name I think is Percy? Maybe?) although I never really cared for that. Even as a child I was like, Why is Meeko torturing that dog? Barney told me that sharing is good! Share the cherries!!
Helpfulness: I'll admit to not having seen Pocahontas in a while, but I don't remember Meeko being helpful. He was more there for comic relief, letting Pocahontas and John Smith do all the work in the movie by themselves.
Superlatives: Most Refreshing Innocence


8) Pegasus

Movie: Hercules
Personality: Pegasus is devoted to Hercules, and just wants to look out for him. He doesn't like Meg at first (jealousy or horsey-premonition of her deception?) but he eventually comes around when Hercules is in trouble, showing how much friendship means to him.
Funny: A bit, but not the funniest. He doesn't have any stand out funny moments. I do like how he flies higher to scare Meg, but that's a bit mean-spirited as well.
Helpfulness: Yes! Pegasus is always ready to fly Herc into battle, even at risk to his own life, showing no fear!
Superlatives: Cutest as a Baby


7) Jaq and Gus

Movie: Cinderella
Personalities: Jaq and Gus are two fun-loving little mice who only want to help Cinderella, thwart the evil women of the house, and get past Lucifer. Jaq is the more intelligent of the two, whereas Gus is more of the half-mentally-disabled friend. Kind of like George and Lennie from of Mice and Men!
Funny: They are funny, but in a juvenile sort of way. They have run ins with the cat, and do lots of physical comedy. I prefer verbal comedy more, but they're all right.
Helpfulness: I'd say they're helpful! They help to make and organize Cinderella's dress for the ball, and then when she's trapped in her room they fetch the key so she can escape and *ahem* meet the love of her life.
Superlatives: Size Doesn't Matter


6) Sebastian

Movie: The Little Mermaid
Personality: Sabastian is our oldest and most wise Disney Animal Sidekick. He is some kind of member of King Tritan's court, although it's unclear what he does (it looks like conducting, but he gets demoted to babysitter, basically). Sabastian has a tough shell, pun intended, but a soft heart. He originally is furious with Ariel and gets her in trouble with her father because he thinks it's for her own good. However, later on he lets her find her own way and encourages her and her father to let her do what makes her happy.
Funny: Yup! Sabastian's humor is more for adults than children (other than the cat-and-mouse scenes between him and the chef, which I never enjoyed) which makes sense since he is an adult character. But his song Under the Sea is hilarious!
Helpfulness: I would say yes. He doesn't overtly save Ariel's life or anything, but he does help her and give her advice. He sings to set the mood so she and Eric will kiss, and would have succeeded if not for those awful eels!
Superlatives: Best Singer, Most Wise

5) Khan

Movie: Mulan

Personality: Khan doesn't have much of a personality. She is always there for Mulan, and is certainly a heroic character, but her heroics are so easily overlooked because she is such a background kind of character. We can tell that she is intelligent, resilient, loyal, and brave though. Not exactly stand out features in a Disney movie, but she's pretty awesome all the same.

Funny: Not particularly. Other than her heroic moments, Khan is kind of a background character, not really being very expressive.

Helpfulness: Extremely so! Not only does Khan help Mulan escape her home and get her to the army, she also covers her after bathing in the pond. Her true shining moment though is when she freaking saves Mulan, Mushu, Cricket, and Shang from an avalanche! An avalanche! 

Superlatives: Most Helpful

4) Abu

Movie: Aladdin
Personality: Abu is Aladdin's monkey sidekick, and he is Aladdin's best friend in every way. This means that he's a little possessive of Aladdin, and thus is jealous whenever Jasmine comes into the picture. Abu isn't the first to share or to offer to do something nice for someone else, but he does eventually help, even if it is with a bit of bad grace. He's a thief, so you can expect that he puts a bit too much importance on money and materiel objects. Abu is impulsive, but quick-witted and crafty.
Funny: I should say so! One of my favorite Abu-parts of the movie is when he impersonates Jasmine, trying to look all sexy with curves--gets me every time!
Helpfulness: Definitely! Abu helps Aladdin steal food and run away from the guards, he helps get Jasmine away from the melon-vendor by pretending to be the sultan, and he helps break Aladdin out of jail! Or at least undoes his handcuffs. However, Abu also sets Aladdin back when he can't contain his greed in the Cave of Wonders. For the most part though, Abu is a kick-butt helpful sidekick!
Superlatives: Craftiest


3) Mushu

Movie: Mulan
Personality: Mushu is ambitious and he starts out the movie lying, but he eventually turns around, fesses up, and turns out to be a good guardian for Mulan. He also has a great sense of humor!
Funny: Very! Mushu has a great, sarcastic sense of humor. "Dishonor on you! Dishonor on your cow!" lol
Helpfulness: He complicates matters (the whole Ping fiasco) when Mulan first arrives at camp, but he is helpful overall because he looks out for Mulan and helps her defeat the huns at the end.
Superlatives: Funniest

2) Flounder

Movie: The Little Mermaid

Personality: Flounder is a chicken. Wait--he's a fish, but he acts like a chicken. He's scared of everything. He's also loyal to Ariel, and thus is willing to ignore his fears and follow her anywhere. In this way, Flounder has a special kind of courage, he is the Neville Longbottom of fish.

Funny: Flounder isn't as funny as a lot of our Disney Animal Sidekicks, but his facial expressions when he's scared (see above picture) can be pretty chuckle inducing.

Helpfulness: Flounder doesn't save the day or rescue Ariel or anything like that, but he sticks by her and helps get her to the boat to stop Eric's wedding, so he is sorta helpful.

Superlatives: Most Like Neville Longbottom

1) Maximus

Movie: Tangled
Personality: Maximus is all that. He's fierce and determined, loyal and courageous, with a strong sense of what is right and talent out the wazoo. I have to give my props to Disney, because I don't know how they were able to show so much personality and life in a horse, but they did it. Maximus can sword fight, has a bloodhound's sense of smell, and can read wanted posters. He's just...so good...soo good. But he's not all badass, he's got a soft side for Rapunzel and eventually for Flynn as well.
Funny: His facial expressions are hilarious! I also love his rivalry with Flynn, cracks me up every time.
Helpfulness: Yes! I have no idea how since he doesn't talk, but somehow Maximus manages to rally a team together and bust Flynn Rider out of jail, saving him from the hangman's noose.
Superlatives: Most Talented, Most Expressive, Best Animated, Most Changed At End of Movie


There you have it! By the way, if you want a surefire way to ruin your childhood, Google images of Disney characters. Oh. My. God. The things people draw!


I am listening to Waka Waka by Shakira.