Over 100 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best Wingmen In Disney Animated Movies
Voting Rules
Vote up the Disney wingmen you'd put your full trust in.
We've heard enough about Disney heroes... let's talk about Disney sidekicks. What is a protagonist without a good wingman, anyway? Nothing! That's what. The classic Disney heroes would never have gotten the job done without their best mates looking out for them from time to time. Some heroes would have failed spectacularly without the help of their particular sidekick. And what kind of children's film ends with the hero failing spectacularly?
What is Aladdin without the Genie? What is Cinderella without the Fairy Godmother? What is Big Hero 6 without Baymax? Would Simba have even survived without Timon and Pumbaa? Would humanity have returned to Earth without M-O in WALL-E? Would Kuzco still be a llama to this day without the help of Pacha in The Emperor's New Groove? Get your friend hat on and your voting fingers ready - we're running through some of the best animated wingmen in Disney history.
What would be better than having Robin Williams as your best friend? Having a Robin Williams imbued with magical abilities as your best friend, that's what. Talk about a bundle of fun and energy to entertain you! Though Abu and the Magic Carpet are also solid buddies to have in your friend group, can either of them grant you even one magic wish? Aladdin knows who his best bud is.
He's got impressions. He's got dance numbers. He can turn a monkey into an elephant. What more are you looking for? Sure, he was forced into servitude under Jafar there for a minute, but that was against his will and it's not like he meant it. We're pretty sure you've never had a friend like him. And we're pretty sure you never will.
From what we in the audience can tell, Prince Adam was a bit of a heel, and you could make an argument he deserved the magical punishment that turned him into a beast at the hands of a homeless enchantress. But did his entire staff of servants deserve that fate, as well? They were kind of just doing their jobs... talk about some serious collateral damage. And our boy Lumiere got it pretty bad, as he was turned from a human into a candelabra.
Before being turned back into a human, this little French candlestick proved to be one of the most welcome members of the Beast's staff of animated inanimate objects. He was genuinely kind to both Belle and her father, and showed his ability to deliver a showstopper with "Be Our Guest." And when Gaston's stooges storm the castle, Lumiere is there to burn some butts. He's just a good dude who played an integral part in ending the curse.
You're getting a two-for-one here. Could you imagine Timon without Pumbaa or Pumbaa without Timon? These sidekicks are a buy-one, get-one-free deal; hopefully you stocked up on snacks because these boys love to eat. These friends/guardians taught Simba how to relax and enjoy life just a little bit after the demise of Mufasa. And, as harrowing as the demise of his father was, how could Simba not learn to let go a little once these goobers launched into a rendition of "Hakuna Matata"?
If vultures are after you, they'll scare them off. Hungry? They'll find some bugs for you to munch on. And they may not be the best of fighters, but if doing a hula dance to distract some bad guys isn't great ingenuity, we don't know what is. All in all, these lovable scamps are two very solid friendos and Simba never would've made it back to Pride Rock without them.
Before Eddie Murphy was racking up major paycheck after major paycheck as Donkey in the Shrek films, he played a similar sidekick role in Mulan. It's safe to say Mushu and Donkey are equally annoying, but Mushu actually does a somewhat respectable job of being helpful from time to time. Did the 2020 live-action remake of Mulanfail with audiences due to a lack of Mushu? That's for you to decide.
Mushu does constantly give Mulan bad advice during the training camp sequence, which makes her very unpopular with her fellow soldiers. And Mushu does create a fake message, sending Mulan's troop to battle Shan Yu, which results in Mulan eventually being found out. But Mushu is by Mulan's side to the very end and he helps our young warrior restore her family's honor. And he has the voice of Eddie Murphy!
Disney's less-successful-yet-still-very-successful superhero franchise Big Hero 6 did pretty well upon release in 2014. Sure, it didn't do Marvel Cinematic Universe numbers, but $600 million is nothing to scoff at. And much of the film's success lies on the back of its lovable sidekick, Baymax. If there was ever a superhero type you wanted to cuddle, it's this Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man of a robot. Look at him - he's just begging to be hugged!
Baymax is an inflatable personal healthcare companion with fighting skills. What more do you want? He'll fight with you and then nurse you back to health afterward. Did we mention he can fly? And if he's feeling a bit loopy, just give him a cat to cuddle. He loves those hairy babies. Seriously, we can't say enough good things about Baymax. He is a top-tier sidekick if there ever was one.
Those who know and love Monsters, Inc. will probably read the name "Mike Wazowski" and immediately hear Boo shouting it in your head. That little girl doesn't know too many words, but she knows his name - that's for sure. And though Sulley and Boo's relationship serves as the crux of the film, Mike is just as important to the story - and he's very good at physical comedy. So that's always a plus, right?
Sully and Mike don't have a perfect relationship - there's plenty of bickering throughout the picture - but when the going gets tough, the pair are always there for each other. And any little monster who is willing to stand up to the creepy Randall is alright in anyone's book. Even if he does forget to file his paperwork from time to time. Nobody's perfect.
