Most Beloved Disney Characters, Ranked

Key Takeaways

• Disney characters like Donald Duck and Beast have rich lore and appeal to fans with humor and emotion.
• Genie from Aladdin was brought to life by Robin Williams, creating a well-rounded and beloved character.
• Mulan and Simba are iconic for their bravery and growth, while Ariel’s cluelessness and Stitch’s weirdness make them fun and beloved.

The Walt Disney Company has always been one that caters to a younger audience. However, many of their movies and television shows introduced to fans earlier in their lives have followed them through the years, with several offering surprisingly deep lore. This is, of course, because great effort goes into making sure that these pieces of media are full of characters that will draw viewers in for the long haul.

Royalty or rapscallion, duck or abomination, Disney does an admirable job of providing fans with characters that they can form real attachments to — whether that’s by making fans sympathize with them, or by simply appealing to their funny bone. What follows are some of the most beloved Disney characters there are.

Updated on November 3, 2024, by Mark Ward: Disney is a company that can’t seem to stop churning out charming and endearing characters for fans, both young and old, to obsess over. One of the most exciting things about them has to be their ability to show a great deal of emotion, while also just functioning as some of the most hilarious cartoon characters around. Whether they’re the main character of their respective film or a breakout side character who steals the show, it’s impossible not to hold many of them up as some of the most likable faces in fiction.

10 The Duck Family

A Cast Full Of Colorful Personalities

What Makes These Characters So Beloved?

• They starred in multiple hit shows.
• They were also featured in some great video games.

Everyone’s favorite anger-laden fowl, Donald Duck, has been around since the ’30s, but it wasn’t until the ’80s and ’90s that he and his flock really shined. It was then that shows like Donald Duck Presents, Ducktales, Quack Pack, and the anthology film, Once Upon a Christmas, made a name for characters like Uncle Scrooge and Donald’s excentric nephews — Huey, Dewey, and Louie — who all had distinctly fun qualities to latch on to.

That’s not to mention the extended family members, like Darkwing Duck and Launchpad Mcquack, starring in their own show, or the great forgotten video games that spawned during this era. Much of this output created a massive following that made the duck family a household name.

9 Beast

Looks Scary But Is A Teddy Bear

What Makes This Character So Beloved?

• He is mean — but kind when you get to know him.
• Charming in his nervousness.

Beauty and the Beast is proof that love knows no bounds. Imprison a woman’s father? That’s ok. Imprison the woman herself afterward? No problem! Of course, in any other circumstance, these would be dealbreakers, but in Beauty and the Beast, they’re just icebreakers.

As the story progresses, the lovable nature of Beast is shown to smooth out these rough edges, and before long, Belle and the viewer grow fond of him. Especially as he clumsily falls head over heels for Belle, doing things like gifting her his entire in-home library. Beast was proof that it’s what’s on the inside that counts.

8 Peter Pan

Charming And Quick On His Feet

What Makes This Character So Beloved?

• His desire to stay young is relatable.
• His quippy mouth is part of the charm.

If it was possible to stay a carefree kid forever, avoiding the burden of responsibility that comes with getting older, many would jump at the chance. This is undoubtedly why Peter Pan resonates so much with viewers, even if the movie points out some of the nasty aspects of such a prospect.

The fact that Peter is so spry and joyous as he zooms across a room or high up into the sky is much of this character’s appeal. Plus, his super quick — and at times rude — mouth is hard not to have a laugh at, even when it’s at another’s expense, like during his first meeting with Wendy in her bedroom, as he narrowly toed the line between charmer and bad boy.

7 Genie (Aladdin 1)

Both Hilarious And Dramatic

What Makes This Character So Beloved?

• He was brought to life by one of the comedic greats.
• Was an extremely well-rounded character.

There really is no question that Aladdin’s Genie was just an amazingly animated depiction of Robin Williams himself. It’s often reported that Williams ad-libbed many of his lines, as well, adding to his hilarious unpredictability in the role.

That unmistakable Disney magic was on full display during the movie’s more dramatic scenes, too, following the character’s frustrating struggle to find true freedom. Here, Williams could really let his acting chops shine. He truly brought a gravitas to the role that simply could not be replicated in sequels where other actors took over the role.

6 Mulan

Brave In The Face Of Adversity

What Makes This Character So Beloved?

• She’s clever, thinking outside the box in tough situations.
• She is a role model for many marginalized people.

In one of the most harrowing scenes of Mulan, she and her fellow military men are faced with insurmountable odds as the Huns come bombing down a snowy hill toward them. But, with Mulan’s quick thinking, and one cleverly placed rocket, the threat is neutralized for the time being.

This is just one of a number of impressive feats by the fierce protagonist. As such, it’s hard to measure just how iconic Mulan as a character is, and she exemplifies doing what’s right and good, even when the world seems opposed.

5 Simba

Finds Pride In His Pride

What Makes This Character So Beloved?

• He is naive but experiences immense growth on his journey.
• Knows how to have a good time.

Seeing Simba grow from a naive little feline to a prideful lion is one of the most gratifying transformations in all of Disney. That’s undoubtedly because of the hardship and heartbreak he goes through, at the hands of his own uncle no less. This makes it impossible for fans not to become invested in his journey.

Those hard times involve a years-long, soul-seeking siesta of sorts, while his home was overrun by the evil Scar. After eating tons of grubs in an iconic montage, Simba decides to return to Pride Rock and take back the kingdom that is rightfully his, so he can rule over it righteously, just as a leader should. This arc easily makes Simba one of the best non-human protagonists in Disney films.

4 Ariel

Cluelessness That Makes Viewers Care

What Makes This Character So Beloved?

• Takes part in some of the most memorable Disney songs
• Her naive nature is enjoyable to watch.

With many all-time fan-favorite songs like “Kiss The Girl” and “Part Of Your World” in the mix, it’s no wonder that The Little Mermaid is such a classic. So classic, in fact, that Ariel’s story was even chosen to be modernized, with the live-action treatment in 2023.

But what really makes her one of the most popular red-heads there is has to be her absolutely infectious naïveté. She has an insatiable drive to experience all that the world has to offer, and is willing to give anything to experience it, which was probably not too different an experience from the millions of young women who experienced her film throughout the 90s.

3 ​​​Stitch

So Weird That He’s Fun

What Makes This Character So Beloved?

• An interesting protagonist in a unique setting.
• Has been featured in many beloved Disney projects.

Dropping a hyperactive blue alien (who loves putting things in his mouth) into a setting like the gorgeous and, at times, other-worldly setting of Hawaii turns out to be a recipe for greatness. What’s more, Stitch’s stark, fish-out-of-water personality has done nothing but help him invade the hearts of many Disney fans.

Yes, Lilo and Stitch are the titular dynamic duo that made the original 2002 classic tick, but Experiment 626 has proven his ability to run the show himself on numerous occasions. From spin-off series to show-stealing guest appearances, Stitch has made sure that fans never underestimate the weirder side of the House of Mouse.

2 Mickey Mouse

The Busiest Mouse In The Business

What Makes This Character So Beloved?

• He set the tone for what Disney is all about.
• A jack of many trades.

This is where it all started: with a little black and white rodent whistling his way down a river on his steamboat. From that iconic moment, Mickey has proven himself to be one of the most easy-going, cool-headed fictional characters there is, with his early appearances helping to establish the whimsical nature of Disney as a whole.

Over the ensuing decades, Mickey has been extremely busy, starring in all manner of cartoon shorts, movies, and video games. Not to mention the myriad of jobs he’s gotten to know over the years, from football player to keyblade master. And all the while, he’s persisted as the face of one of the largest corporations there is.

1 Elsa

An Icy Role Model

What Makes This Character So Beloved?

• She’s strong and independent.
• A trendsetter, becoming an example for Disney characters to follow.

The popularity of Frozen is simply too hard to quantify. But, we can start by noting that both movies made over a billion dollars at the box office, worldwide, and Elsa’s striking independence is surely one of the biggest reasons.

With no love interest in either of the Frozen movies, Elsa’s extraordinary ice powers — and her deep internal journey — are focused on instead. She saves her home Arendelle twice as she learns not to be afraid of her magical powers. Elsa’s existential escapades undeniably blazed a trail that a number of Disney characters have since followed, and that tons of young kids can look up to.