The 100 Best Animated Disney Characters

Updated September 3, 2023 3.6K votes 191 voters

Over 100 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The 100 Best Animated Disney Characters

Voting Rules

Vote up the best animated Disney characters.

From their humble beginnings back in the 1930s creating the first ever feature-length animated films in Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Pinocchio, and Fantasia to the next near century of releasing masterpieces like Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, and The Little Mermaid, the Walt Disney Animation Studio has been a staple in the minds, hearts, and souls of the masses for as long as many can remember. Even today, they are continuing to release revolutionary and groundbreaking classics like Froze and Encanto that give audiences heartwarming stories, fantastic songs, and most importantly, some of the best animated characters of all time! With over 100 animated feature films under their belt, the Walt Disney Animation Studio has provided children of all ages with some of the most beloved, important, and revolutionary characters in the history of film.

From the legendary Mickey Mouse who started it all with the classic Steamboat Willie to the plethora of beloved Disney Princesses like Ariel, Jasmine, Tiana, Belle, Cinderella, and Snow White who brought classic fairy tale stories to life in the most incredible ways to the incredible sidekicks who steal the show in every film they're in like Genie, Tinker Bell, Mushu, Timon, and Pumba, the best animated Disney characters offer fans a look at the good inside all of us, the evil the world has to offer, and the powers of love, hope, friendship, and togetherness.

Vote up the best animated Disney characters of all time, the ones who made you laugh, cry, sit on the edge of your seat, and made you jump for joy anytime they were on screen. Then, don't forget to check out The Best Disney Princesses, The Best Disney Animated Movie Sidekicks, and The Best Animated Disney Villains to get a full and in-depth look at each and every animated character to ever come out of the house of mouse.

Most divisive: Captain Hook

Ranked by

1
Goofy
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Disney's House of Mouse, An Extremely Goofy Movie
103 votes
- Played By: Bill Farmer, Pinto Colvig, George Johnson
Goofy is a funny-animal cartoon character created in 1932 at Walt Disney Productions. Goofy is a tall, anthropomorphic dog who typically wears a turtle neck and vest, with pants, shoes, white gloves, and a tall hat originally designed as a rumpled fedora. Goofy is a close friend of Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck and is one of Disney's most recognizable characters. He is normally characterized as extremely clumsy and somewhat dimwitted, yet this interpretation is not always definitive; occasionally Goofy is shown as intuitive, and clever, albeit in his own unique, eccentric way. Goofy debuted in animated cartoons, starting in 1932 with Mickey's Revue as Dippy Dawg, who is older than Goofy would come to be. Later the same year, he was re-imagined as a younger character, now called Goofy, in the short The Whoopee Party. During the 1930s, he was used extensively as part of a comedy trio with Mickey and Donald. Starting in 1939, Goofy was given his own series of shorts that were popular in the 1940s and early 1950s. Two Goofy shorts were nominated for an Oscar: How to Play Football (1944) and Aquamania (1961). He also co-starred in a short series with Donald, including Polar Trappers (1938), where they first appeared without Mickey Mouse. Three more Goofy shorts were produced in the 1960s after which Goofy was only seen in television and Disney comics. He returned to theatrical animation in 1983 with Mickey's Christmas Carol. His last theatrical appearance was How to Hook Up Your Home Theater in 2007. Goofy has also been featured in television, most extensively in Goof Troop (1992–1993), as well as House of Mouse (2001–2003) and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (2006–2016) Mickey Mouse (TV series) (2013-Present), Mickey and the Roadster Racers (2017-Present). Originally known as Dippy Dawg, the character is more commonly known simply as "Goofy," a name used in his short film series. In his 1950s cartoons, he usually played a character called George Geef or G.G. Geef. Sources from the Goof Troop continuity give the character's full name as G. G. "Goofy" Goof, likely in reference to the 1950s name. In many other sources, both animated and comics, the surname Goof continues to be used. In other 2000s-era comics, the character's full name has occasionally been given as Goofus D. Dawg.
2
Mickey Mouse
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Disney's House of Mouse, Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color
130 votes
- Played By: Bret Iwan, Walt Disney, Wayne Allwine, Walt Disney, Wayne Allwine
There is a reason Mickey Mouse is the face of the Walt Disney Company. The first character ever brought to life by the studio, nearly 100 years after his first appearance, Mickey is still as recognizable, beloved, and as important a figure in mainstream pop culture today as he was when he was first created.
3
Stitch
Lilo & Stitch, Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch, Stitch! The Movie
116 votes
- Played By: Koichi Yamadera, Chris Sanders
From the second Stitch was introduced by Walt Disney Animation Studios, the world knew that this character was going to be unlike anything they had ever seen. Mischievous, out-of-control, and surprisingly evil, Stitch's character development is what makes him such a beloved figure, and his story is as tragic as it is heartwarming, helping him become a beloved figure in the studio.
4
Mufasa
The Lion King, The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, The Lion King 1 1/2
91 votes
- Played By: James Earl Jones
Mufasa was one of the secondary protagonists in the Lion King franchise. He was Simba's father, Sarabi's husband, Scar's older brother, Nala's father-in-law, Kiara and Kopa's grandfather, Ahadi's oldest son, and the former King of Pride Rock. In The Lion King, Mufasa and his mate Sarabi give birth to baby Simba, who grows up to be a spunky cub who can't wait to be king of Pride Rock. So Mufasa teaches his son about being king and shows him the whole kingdom. Eventually, Mufasa saves Simba and Nala from Shenzi, Banzai and Ed after being alerted by Zazu. Mufasa scolds Simba for almost getting him and Nala killed, but Simba said he was only trying to be brave like him; but Mufasa reveals he's only brave when he has to be. One day, Mufasa's younger brother Scar plots to kill him and Simba, with help from the hyenas. After giving the signal to Shenzi, Banzai and Ed, they cause a wildebeest stampede, in which Simba is almost killed, but is saved in time by Mufasa, who was alerted by Scar. With Simba watching on a safe hill, Mufasa struggles to climb his way back up. He sees Scar at the top and tells him to save him. But Scar grabs Mufasa with his claws (thus making him roar in pain), and with a wicked smile, Scar whispers, "Long live the king!". Horrified, Mufasa realizes Scar's true feelings toward him and he lets go of his brother, sending him flying into the stampede, thus getting trampled and killed. When Simba goes down to help his dad, he soon realizes he's dead and begins to cry. Scar shows up and tricks Simba into believing he caused his father's death and told him to run away and never return. He then sends Shenzi, Banzai and Ed to kill Simba, to which they fail, unbeknownst to Scar. Many years pass, and Simba is now an adult and afraid to go back home and confront Scar. But eventually, the ghost of Mufasa appears in the night sky and gives Simba confindence and tells him to remember who he is. At the end, Simba finally does go back to the Pride Lands and defeats Scar, taking his rightful place as the new king of Pride Rock and avenging his dad. In The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, Mufasa's ghost appears at the end to give Kiara and Kovu his blessing. At the end, Mufasa tells Simba that he's proud of him after Kiara and Kovu get married. In The Lion King 1½, we see Mufasa's story from Timon and Pumbaa's point of view, and they riff on Mufasa's scenes like how Mike, Joel, and the Bots used to do in Mystery Science Theater 3000. He also appeared as a guest in House of Mouse. Mufasa's ghost appears again in Kingdom Hearts II to once again give Simba confidence, and he has a flashback where he remembers what Mufasa told him about the stars when he was a kid. His character was similar to another character James Earl Jones played in Coming to America. Mufasa was voiced by James Earl Jones and by Keith David in House of Mouse.
5
Genie
Aladdin, The Return of Jafar, Aladdin and the King of Thieves
105 votes
- Played By: Robin Williams, John Leguizamo
The incomparable Robin Williams gives one of the greatest performances of all time as the titular Genie, a rip-roaring joke-delivering side-splitting machine with a heart of gold who not only makes us cry with laughter but cry in one of the most heartfelt and moving performances in Disney history.
6
Pumbaa
The Lion King, The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, The Lion King 1 1/2
76 votes
- Played By: Ernie Sabella
Pumbaa is a fictional character from the 1994 film The Lion King.

Goofy

Mickey Mouse

Stitch

Mufasa

Genie

Pumbaa