Who’s your favorite Disney character of all time? Animated, of course. And none of that new-fangled Pixar stuff – hand-drawn only, either features or shorts.
Here’s my top three:
Jose Carioca – Cool and sophisticated even when dancing the samba. He’s the only unabashedly URBAN character that Disney ever created (who’s not a villain). He projects this wonderful air of detached amusement at the madness that swirls around him. Plus he smokes like a chimney. If I were president of Disney I’d launch the rebirth of the animation division with a Jose Carioca feature film.
Tinkerbell – Man, what a little BITCH! But we love her anyway. This little cutie spends half of Peter Pan trying to figure out how to whack Wendy and we’re still rooting for her at the end. Best moment – when she stands on the mirror on Wendy’s dresser and realizes exactly how big her butt is. The look of dismay on her face is priceless.
Kronk – Nobody has ever done stupid so well. His mind is like a clear blue sky utterly unclouded by thought. The best part of The Emperor’s New Groove is Kronk’s Herculean effort to rise above his natural sweetness and become EVIL. Watching him fail is hilarious. And he speaks fluent squirrel.
I gotta go with Stitch. Cute and fluffy, but can be a bada** when he needs to. Alternates between sympathetic and obnoxious. Has an anti-authority streak, but loyal to friends. And he has a burbly voice!
First, a caveat. I automatically disqualify all Pixar creations from this listing because (IMHO) they are Pixar creations and not Disney. EisnerCorp may own the rights to Buzz, Sully and Jack-Jack, but they get NO creative credit for them whatsoever. At least not in my book.
That being said,
Kronk rocks. He just cha-cha-ed off with that whole movie, don’tcha think? My hands down favorite. And it’s just so ironic because I thought I’d hate New Groove, seeing as how I’d rather have all the hair (and there’s plenly of it) ripped off my body with duct tape than sit through more than two minutes of David Spade in any medium. The character of Pacha’s wife also needed more screen time. She was great.
Prince John’s “mommy” angst is just so much funnier when you know about Queen Eleanor. Peter Ustinov’s finest hour (and a half). Loved this one as a kid, love it even more as an adult.
Casting Robin Williams as the Genie was a brilliant move. Of course once you’ve got him, he’s like Chuck Yeager – the only problem is holding him back.
While I thought it was mostly a mediocre offering, Hercules was saved by James Woods as Hades. Now that is a standout performance.
And, last but by no means least, there is my favorite Disney character of all time, who transcends the others by his astounding longevity in the face of all Darwinian forces. I refer, of course to Goofy. His brilliance as a comic performer needs no further clarification from me.
#1 is Scrooge McDuck, especially when you factor in the comics. I know the OP said, “animated, of course” but I assumed that was made out of woeful ignorance or to prevent Scrooge from taking over the rankings. I cannot contenance any poll that excludes the genius of Carl Barks.
#2 is Ursula the Sea Witch. My very favorite Disney villain.
#3. Gaston. He’s such an unapologetic alpha male ass. He has the best theme song of all the Disney villains. “No one hits like Gaston! No one spits like Gaston!”
Honorable mentions: the wizard from the Sorceror’s Apprentice; Jimminy Cricket; Gyro Gearloose’s helper; Princess (hottie) Jasmine.
Scar, from “The Lion King.” He’s just so delightfully evil! (“I’m surrounded by idiots!”)
Stitch.
The Genie and Aladdin from “Aladdin.”
Kim Possible.
Funny thing is, I don’t really like any of the “Disney” Disney characters (Mickey, Donald Duck, Goofy, etc.) I notice they don’t seem to be too popular in other folks’ lists, either (closest I see at this point is Scrooge McDuck.) Wonder why?
Seriously - You asked for “Greatest” in the thread title.
Mickey Mouse because he has become a coporate symbol recognized around the world and has become an adjective listed in many dictionaries signifying “trivial.” How many characters become another part of speech? (OK, OK McGyver did). Probably no other fictional character has become so recognized (if we eliminate religious figures) around the world.
Davy Crockett Before Disney, Crockett was a relatively minor historical footnote (OK, with the exception of in Texas where he was a touch better known than that). After Disney picked him up he was a phenomonem (sorry about the spelling). For heaven’s sake he was a clothing style. Since the Disney treatment there have been at least three major films featuring him. The name Davy Crockett is probably more recognizable than the name Dick Chaney.
Yeah, I considered that, but before the Disney treatment he received in the 50s, I would be willing to bet that few non-historians knew much, if anything, about him.
Think about it, how much do you know about any other of your long dead U.S. Senators. I know you are well read Bosda…, and even if you are familiar with some of your former senators, how familiar is the average Tennesseean with them? Crockett would probably in that group of little known former senators without that Disney treatment.
