# Greatest Disney character ever! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 20, 2005, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-disney-character-ever/336428 "2005-12-20T07:14:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-disney-character-ever/336428/41 "2005-12-21T23:44:52Z")
KIM IS BACK! KIM IS BACK! Disney has authorized a 4th Season! ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-disney-character-ever/336428/42 "2005-12-22T00:32:38Z")
As mostly a non-fan of Disney, I have to throw in another vote for King Louie. But that’s mostly offa being a Prima fan. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-disney-character-ever/336428/43 "2005-12-22T02:05:00Z")
This is Vitani. [http://baltosource.timduru.org/roilionsource/lion\_king-act-b2articles-ong-1-numg-4.html](http://baltosource.timduru.org/roilionsource/lion_king-act-b2articles-ong-1-numg-4.html) ---
**Author:** ![Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harriet_the_Spry)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-disney-character-ever/336428/44 "2005-12-22T02:51:04Z")
1. Perdita 2. Pongo 3. The 99 puppies 4. Cruella deVil ---
**Author:** ![Wolfian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@Wolfian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolfian)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-disney-character-ever/336428/45 "2005-12-22T04:31:15Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > KIM IS BACK! KIM IS BACK! > > Disney has authorized a 4th Season! First Futurama, now this. Throw in an Arrested Development and this will be the fun Christmas ever! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-disney-character-ever/336428/46 "2005-12-22T04:42:13Z")
> [@Wolfian](#): > > Who’s Kronk? The sidekick to the villain in the **Emperor’s New Groove**. Ysma is the big bad guy. She’s an aging socialite scheming to seize the emperor’s throne and Kronk is her current boytoy. He’s gorgeous, tanned, muscular and bone-crushingly stupid. He’s too stupid to be a bad guy, really. He wants to be a bad guy, because Ysma needs him to do her dirty work, but his heart’s not really in it. The part of \*\*Groove \*\* where I always loose it: “Why do we even HAVE that lever?” ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-disney-character-ever/336428/47 "2005-12-22T14:44:20Z")
> [@Pochacco](#): > > The sidekick to the villain in the **Emperor’s New Groove**. Ysma is the big bad guy. She’s an aging socialite scheming to seize the emperor’s throne and Kronk is her current boytoy. He’s gorgeous, tanned, muscular and bone-crushingly stupid. He’s too stupid to be a bad guy, really. He wants to be a bad guy, because Ysma needs him to do her dirty work, but his heart’s not really in it. > > The part of \*\*Groove \*\* where I always loose it: > > “Why do we even HAVE that lever?” Nicely put, **Pochacco**. My favorite Kronk moment: “The peasant at the diner!..He didn’t pay his check.” I know, it makes absolutely no sense out of context. ---
**Author:** ![Just1Lurk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c0e974/32.png) [@Just1Lurk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just1Lurk)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-disney-character-ever/336428/48 "2005-12-22T16:17:18Z")
This thread inspired me to watch \*\*The Emperor’s New Groove \*\* last night. Man, is this an underrated film. Myt favorite Kronk moment: His theme song. And his good and bad angels. Oh, and Ysma’s climatic transformation into the evil, scary…cute little kitten. Like I said, an underrated film. Has anyone seen **Kronk’s New Groove**? Is it any good? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-disney-character-ever/336428/49 "2005-12-22T16:40:58Z")
Tinkerbell. Rrrrowr! ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-disney-character-ever/336428/50 "2005-12-22T20:37:29Z")
> [@JThunder](#): > > Perhaps Meeko, **M**? Oh right. 😃 Also Stitch is practically Meeko. Im sorry. I like Stitch too… but… he fills the same … needs ---
**Author:** ![Loopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loopus/32/15343_2.png) [@Loopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopus)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-disney-character-ever/336428/51 "2005-12-22T21:29:35Z")
> [@Pochacco](#): > > 1. **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. I haven’t seen _The Three Caballeros_ in a long time, but this is one of my favorite comic book characters. I don’t know how much you know about it, but in Brazil this character is a major character and has his own comic book title. He’s known there as Zé (a nickname for José) Carioca and lives in a Rio de Janeiro suburb called Vila Xurupita (shoo-roo-PEE-tah). Zé Carioca is lazy (he never works and is, in fact, allergic to work) and is an accomplished swindler and deadbeat. Common plot elements involve Zé eluding his many creditors and/or scamming some money or food. He has two nephews whom he sometimes seems to be the sole caretaker of, Zico and Zeca. Of course, he loves soccer and plays for the Vila Xurupita Futebol Clube (during the 1998 World Cup, they produced a special Zé Carioca comic about the history of Brazil in the Cup). He also loves feijoada, the Brazilian national food, and jacas (don’t know the translation), a large tropical fruit grown in Brazil. Zé is one of my favorite Disney comic book characters mostly because he has such a connection to where he’s from. Most characters are from generic Anytown (Duckburg), USA, an anonymous place in which it is sweltering hot in the summer, it snows every winter, and which has no real defining characteristics. Zé and his town are extremely Brazilian. He couldn’t possibly be the same character and be from anywhere else. Zé Carioca comics provide a great insight into the Brazilian culture in a way that I don’t think any other Disney comic book gives any insight to any culture. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-disney-character-ever/336428/52 "2005-12-22T21:32:17Z")
Ariel. Bar none. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-disney-character-ever/336428/53 "2005-12-22T21:35:14Z")
The new little girl that’s slated to replace Christopher Robin! Ow! Quit hitting me! Owwwww! ---
**Author:** ![Bomzaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@Bomzaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bomzaway)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-disney-character-ever/336428/54 "2005-12-22T22:07:38Z")
I am convinced that Gaston and GW Bush are the same person. Example one (from Gaston’s theme song): [Cronies:] No one hits like Gaston [Townsman:] Matches wits like Gaston (at which point Geo…err Gaston knocks over the chess board) [LeFou:] In a spitting match nobody spits like Gaston [Gaston:] I’m especially good at expectorating [Chorus:] Ten points for Gaston! Example two (from the same song) [Chorus:] No one shoots like Gaston Makes those beauts like Gaston [LeFou:] Then goes tromping around wearing boots like Gaston [Gaston:] I use antlers in all of my decorating I am sure Dubya’s ranch is chock full 'o antlers. Example three (and the most compelling): After seeing Beast in Belle’s magic mirror, he rallies the crowd by saying, “If you’re not with us, you’re against us!” Gaston. George. Same, same. Oddly enough, he’s one of my favorite Disney Characters. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-disney-character-ever/336428/55 "2005-12-22T22:09:21Z")
But Gaston is hot (for a cartoon character). Don’t ever make me think of the “President Bush” and “Hot” at the same time. Please. For the love of God. Please. ---
**Author:** ![Bomzaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@Bomzaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bomzaway)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-disney-character-ever/336428/56 "2005-12-22T22:22:30Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > But Gaston is hot (for a cartoon character). > > Don’t ever make me think of the “President Bush” and “Hot” at the same time. Please. For the love of God. Please. I gotsta! I gotsta! More examples!!! [George] Turd Blossom, I’m afraid I’ve been thinking [Rove:] A dangerous pastime [George:] I know AND [Gaston:] Saddam will make off with your children. [Mob:] {gasp} [Gaston:] He’ll come after them in the night. [Belle:] No! [Gaston:] We’re not safe till his head is mounted on my wall! I say we kill Saddam! [Mob:] Kill him! [Man I:] We’re not safe until he’s dead [Man II:] He’ll come stalking us at night [Woman:] Set to sacrifice our children to his monstrous appetite [Man III:] He’ll wreak havoc on our village if we let him wander free [Gaston:] So it’s time to take some action, boys It’s time to follow me Our President is a Disney villain. Amazing. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-disney-character-ever/336428/57 "2005-12-23T01:26:36Z")
Don’t have anything for the OP, but I just wanted to toss another vote for **The Emperor’s New Groove** as one of Disney’s most under-appreciated comedies. “Is _that_ my voice? Is that _my_ voice?!” ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-disney-character-ever/336428/58 "2005-12-23T19:09:09Z")
> [@Loopus](#): > > I haven’t seen _The Three Caballeros_ in a long time, but this is one of my favorite comic book characters. I don’t know how much you know about it, but in Brazil this character is a major character and has his own comic book title. He’s known there as Zé (a nickname for José) Carioca and lives in a Rio de Janeiro suburb called Vila Xurupita (shoo-roo-PEE-tah). > > Zé Carioca is lazy (he never works and is, in fact, allergic to work) and is an accomplished swindler and deadbeat. Common plot elements involve Zé eluding his many creditors and/or scamming some money or food. He has two nephews whom he sometimes seems to be the sole caretaker of, Zico and Zeca. Of course, he loves soccer and plays for the Vila Xurupita Futebol Clube (during the 1998 World Cup, they produced a special Zé Carioca comic about the history of Brazil in the Cup). He also loves feijoada, the Brazilian national food, and jacas (don’t know the translation), a large tropical fruit grown in Brazil. > > Zé is one of my favorite Disney comic book characters mostly because he has such a connection to where he’s from. Most characters are from generic Anytown (Duckburg), USA, an anonymous place in which it is sweltering hot in the summer, it snows every winter, and which has no real defining characteristics. Zé and his town are extremely Brazilian. He couldn’t possibly be the same character and be from anywhere else. Zé Carioca comics provide a great insight into the Brazilian culture in a way that I don’t think any other Disney comic book gives any insight to any culture. Wow, I didn’t know any of this! Thanks. It’s heartening to know that my favorite character is still wildly popular somewhere … just not here. One of the great things about the Disney South American cartoons from the 1940’s is how the Disney artists tried really, really hard to depict these other countries as REAL places with REAL people (even if they’re real talking animal people). It would have been very easy to slip into either patronizing exoticism “let’s be amused by the strange behavior of these curious creatures” or bland vanilla universalism “they’re just Americans in unusual clothes”. Instead they produced characters like Carioca who, as you say, have this great connection to where he’s from. He’s funny and accessable and friendly, but he’s also very emphatically NOT AMERICAN. I think it’s really interesting that Brazilians have embraced him as their own. I can’t imagine the French feeling the same way about Belle or the Chinese about Mulan. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-disney-character-ever/336428.md?page=2)