The 20 most iconic Disney sidekicks

Flounder is a bit of a scaredy cat, but he’s still an icon. He’ll do whatever it takes to stick by Ariel’s side, and he’s always got her best interest at heart. He’s also quite possibly the cutest animated fish in movie history. 

Sebastian takes a different approach to ensuring Ariel’s safety, but he’s still loyal and a good friend to the little mermaid. He can be a little grating at times, but Sebastian only has good intentions. And Ariel could stand to listen to him a little more. 

Mushu is the definition of an icon. He knows his worth and doesn’t see his weaknesses as shortcomings. He’s loyal, but he makes sure Mulan knows when she’s really messed up. Mulan wouldn’t have been nearly as successful without Mushu. 

Cri-kee was an equally helpful sidekick to Mulan, but he doesn’t get much credit. His luck kept himself, Mulan, and Mushu alive, and he was a silent comic relief when things got dire. Everyone needs a good luck charm like Cri-kee. 

Genie was not kidding when he told Aladdin that he’d never had a friend like him. Genie is powerful but good. He only wants to help, not harm. And he has the most beautiful arc of any Disney sidekick as he becomes free in the end. And no one deserves it more. 

Pascal has more iconic facial expressions than any other sidekick and movie history. Inside a universe where animals are usually gifted with the ability to talk, Pascal is a sidekick who stayed silent but remained just as impactful. That is a powerful sidekick.

Meeko was not too dissimilar from Pascal in that they both stood silent and used their body language to communicate. Meeko was a tad more animated and mischievous, which made for a cute and memorable sidekick to Pocahontas. 

There’s so much to say about Olaf. He always had a funny and endearing word to say, and he was an instant icon because he got his own song. Few sidekicks have had as much emotional pull as Olaf. 

The true test of an icon is whether there are widely available Halloween costumes for that character. Every year, at least one person in the world is dressed up as Tinker Bell. She is a diva and an icon.

Whoever had the idea to make Timon a clever meerkat knew what they were doing. Timon made such a great sidekick because he had a personality of his own, but it never stopped him from fulfilling the duties of his trope.

The best sidekicks are the ones that come in twos. Timon is most certainly an icon, but he wouldn’t have been nearly as memorable had it not been for Pumbaa. The two are the tag team to end all tag teams, and they make for the perfect trio with Simba.

For decades, Disney has known the secret to making a memorable sidekick: give them their own song. “The Bare Necessities” is one of the most popular Disney songs of all time. Few other sidekicks have that much clout.

Some sidekicks are the morally upstanding counterpart to the protagonist, but not Abu. Abu always encouraged Aladdin to take a more criminal approach. Though misguided, it was very cute, most likely because of Abu’s tiny hat.

It’s rare to find a sidekick like Cogsworth who is loyal to two people at odds, especially one he just met. But Cogsworth is wiser than the rest of us and apparently is emotionally intelligent. He knew what Belle and Beast needed and saw to it that it was done without rocking the boat. 

Lumiere is a sidekick to everyone. He’s a sidekick to Cogsworth, Beast, and Belle. He’s a free spirit and always makes everyone feel good about themselves. Lumiere knows his role, and he does it well.

Terk is a perfect sidekick. She’s brash and dramatic, and her scenes are just as beneficial for Tarzan as they are for her. She’s totally entertaining without Tarzan in the scene, and she makes his screen time far more intriguing.  

Once again, Disney has always had the sidekick role figured out. Jiminy Cricket is the blueprint. He acts as Pinocchio’s conscience, he sings an iconic song, and he has a personality of his own. No notes. 

Pluto is one of the most famous dogs in pop culture history. He’s very loyal to his master, even though his master is a mouse. The relationships between animals in his world are a little wonky, but he’s a great sidekick even still. 

There’s no greater blow to morale than losing a sidekick. Ray’s death in The Princess and the Frog is one of the saddest moments in all of Disney's history, but it’s also one of the most beautiful. More sidekicks deserve satisfying arcs like Ray got. 

Iago is the sidekick of a villain, but he’s a sidekick nonetheless. He squawks and always has a rude comment, but he’s objectively hilarious. Iago is a sassy sidekick, and that makes for an icon.