Nine of the Most Underrated Disney Animated Movie Characters
Everyone knows and loves specific Disney characters. Names like Simba, Belle, Stitch, Cinderella, and Ariel would register with even the most casual movie-goer. Sometimes, the supporting players get overlooked, though.
Some of the greatest creations simply don’t get the hype, which drives me crazy. Here are my choices for nine of the most underrated Disney animated movie characters ever.
Anton Ego – Ratatouille
Virtually all Hollywood movies share certain similarities. Usually, a protagonist undergoes some conflict, leading to drama. A villain instigates most of these struggles. That’s the playbook we all know by heart.
Ratatouille flouts convention by establishing Anton Ego as the menacing film critic who hates everything.
Then, the ominous man with the rich palate surprises everyone by giving a fair shake to the cuisine of a rat. In fact, he becomes one of the most loyal customers at Remy’s restaurant.
I view Anton Ego as symbolic as an essential part of personal growth. He’s willing to try new things and isn’t rigid in his opinions despite the perception others have of him. Ego likes what likes and isn’t satisfied with the mundane. We should all aspire to this kind of behavior.
Archimedes – The Sword in the Stone
An educated owl doesn’t seem ridiculous in a Disney movie. After all, anthropomorphic animals are a staple of animated cinema. Archimedes is a bit different, though. He’s the voice of wisdom who aids Arthur in learning more about the world, building a wall of protection against Merlin’s oddball perspectives. Merlin’s too crazy for a young boy to understand, and so the responsibility of Arthur’s education falls to an owl.
I’ve often wondered how much inspiration Tootsie Pop’s marketing team took from The Sword in the Stone. I don’t think it’s coincidental that the owl in that legendary commercial acts like Archimedes.
Celia Mae – Monsters, Inc.
Look, I love Mike Wazowski, but let’s be honest. He has a LOT of personality flaws. He’s insecure, petty, and a glory hog. So, his snake-headed girlfriend, Celia Mae, deserves a lot of credit for putting up with him. I mean, he ruins one date so badly that she winds up wearing the cone of shame.
Still, Celia Mae aids him and saves the day by feigning a declaration about the all-time scare record and thereby stopping Randall from catching up to Mike, Sulley, and Boo. She’s quietly the heroine of the film!
Cobra Bubbles – Lilo & Stitch
Has Cobra Bubbles ever killed anyone? We will never know for sure. What we do know is that if every person in charge of child care worked so tirelessly, society would be better. This dude makes unannounced stops at Lilo’s home, investigates all suspicious activity, and even assists in fending off an alien invasion. Plus, he accomplishes all this while styling in a dapper suit and to-die-for sunglasses.
Mr. Big – Zootopia
Arctic shrews run maybe three inches long, and you’d need to put 50 of them on the scale for it to register one pound. These things are tiny.
Consider how scary one would have to be to run the entire underworld in Zootopia. Mr. Big has done some stuff, and I’m talking stuff that would make you lose your lunch if you saw it.
Despite that menacing undertone, the godfather of Zootopia loves his daughter dearly. He’ll do anything for her. The combination of soft touch and master criminal makes the character fascinating. Plus, he looks adorable!
The Pub Thugs – Tangled
Speaking of scary dudes, the Pub Thugs in Tangled are several people you wouldn’t want to meet in a dark alley. Well, I say that, but then each of these guys reveals a secret love. Suddenly, they seem quite relatable and charming.
Tangled’s delightful misdirect delivers a charming reminder that you shouldn’t judge based on appearance. Hook Hand, Ulf, and Vladimir certainly aren’t folks you’d want to throw down against in a bar fight, but they have other skills.
Vladimir’s ceramic unicorn collection is world class! Meanwhile, Ulf’s one of the least annoying amateur clowns I’ve ever seen. And Hook Hand displays the kind of piano virtuosity that those of us with two hands can’t even do!
The Pub Thugs bring a surprising level of adorability to Tangled. I view them as the most pleasant background characters in the film.
Rafiki – The Lion King
I struggled with the notion of including characters from The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast, the two most recognizable modern Disney animated movies. While none of the household goods from Belle’s tale will appear here, I had to mention one from The Lion King.
Rafiki lives with the land in a rare and profound way. He’s so in tune with the environment that he comes across as a mad monkey. In truth, Rafiki the mandrill intuits what has to happen during the film’s story. A prince becomes a king, and that journey requires hardships.
Personal loss is the opportunity cost for Simba to ascend. Rafiki’s wisdom is tinged with the sadness that comes from knowing that his friend must die for his son become king. And he’s stubbornly offbeat, too. The mandrill gets a kick out of saying a smart thing in the weirdest way possible. I treasure his strangeness.
Anger – Inside Out
We all feel the emotions sometimes. Inside Out cleverly explains the why of it. Apparently, there’s a flame-colored dude in all our brains, and he is ready to LOSE IT over the slightest inconvenience.
What I like about Anger as a character is that he absolves me of a lot of thoughtless behavior. It’s really not me! It’s a voice in my head! I sound like a mental patient right now, don’t I?
Rhino – Bolt
True story: I once started a Facebook fan page for Rhino from Bolt. Mark Walton, the Disney employee who voiced the character, joined the group and friended me on Facebook to show his gratitude. I think that says everything about how much I love Rhino.
That hamster is a man of action. He displays no fear as he threatens to snap a man’s neck. He also somehow possesses a human ladder that he can carry. And he has arguably the best catchphrase of any character on this list. “Let it begin! LET IT BEGIN!!!”
Hey Disney! Rhino deserves his own movie!