Disney animated movies have been known to cause tears and heartbreak because of their emotional scenes, like that of The Lion King when Simba tries to wake Mufasa after his fall. Fortunately, Disney is just as adept at bringing plenty of smiles and laughter to its viewers, specifically through the use of some hilarious characters.
Whether sidekicks or main characters, heroes or villains, there’s an amusing character in almost every piece of Disney animation. However, several such characters stand out from the rest as the funniest, ranging from some of Disney’s earlier movies to more recent projects.
Updated by Robert Vaux on August 21, 2024: Animated Disney characters are loved for many reasons. Chief among all of them is hilarity. Plenty of Disney characters are funny, but some easily get fans laughing every time. Since there are so many humorous Disney animated characters, this article has been updated to include even more, as well as to adhere to CBR’s current formatting style.
20 Mickey’s Apprentice Has a Serious Problem with Household Chores
Voice Actor |
Walt Disney |
---|---|
Character Species |
Sentient anthropomorphic mouse |
Related
15 Iconic Villains Who Deserve Attractions at Disney’s New Land
As Walt Disney World Resort prepares to unleash its villains upon the Magic Kingdom, it raises questions about what their new domain will look like.
Mickey Mouse remains Disney’s banner character, and he’s perhaps better known as a mascot than for any of his copious cartoons over the decades. There’s something very special about his appearance in Fantasia, however, playing the Sorcerer’s Apprentice and unleashing an army of broomsticks that he doesn’t have the first idea how to stop. The film became his signature performance, along with the blue wizard’s hat and red robes that make up his costume.
It’s also a deceptively funny appearance, as the innately sympathetic Mickey becomes the architect of his own destruction. The relentlessly marching broomsticks make for some terrific pratfalls, and the mouse’s increasingly desperate efforts to stop them generate some commiserating laughs. Anyone who has felt a big project slip out of their control can relate to Mickey’s dilemma here, retaining his eternally sweet and optimistic core even as he’s hoisted on his own relentlessly marching petard.
Fantasia
A series of eight famous pieces of classical music, conducted by Leopold Stokowski and interpreted in animation by Walt Disney’s team of artists.
- Director
- Joe Grant , Dick Huemer
- Release Date
- November 13, 1940
- Studio
- Disney
- Cast
- Leopold Stokowski , Deems Taylor
- Runtime
- 126 minutes
19 Vanellope Von Schweetz Is a Princess with a Rebel Streak
Voice Actor |
Sarah Silverman |
---|---|
Character Species |
Sentient computer program |
There has never been a Disney princess quite like Vanellope Von Schweetz, the ostracized “glitch” in Wreck-It Ralph’s fictional racing game Sugar Rush. She’s a victim of the film’s villain, who secretly dominates the game himself, and ends up forming an unlikely friendship with Ralph to finally qualify for the race she was always made for.
Sarah Silverman voices Vanellope like a precious little sister: two steps ahead of everyone around her and taking open glee at their efforts to cover their tracks. Naturally, her cynicism hides a lonely heart, which makes her sympathetic and endearing even when she’s actively tormenting those around her. The delicate balance always stays on the right side of the audience and turns her escapades into some of the funniest parts of the movie.
Wreck-It Ralph
A video game villain wants to be a hero and sets out to fulfill his dream, but his quest brings havoc to the whole arcade where he lives.
- Director
- Rich Moore
- Release Date
- November 2, 2012
- Cast
- John C. Reilly , Sarah Silverman , Jack McBrayer , Jane Lynch , Alan Tudyk , Mindy Kaling
- Runtime
- 1 hour 41 minutes
18 The Mad Hatter Loves a Good Tea Party to Celebrate Unhappy Birthdays
Voice Actor |
Ed Wynn |
---|---|
Character Species |
Human |
Alice in Wonderland is arguably one of the most eccentric and creative Disney animations, brimming with bizarre characters that each add their own version of fun to the film. Throughout Alice’s journey in Wonderland, she encounters many strange and interesting situations, including the strangest of all, during a tea party to celebrate one’s un-birthday.
At the top of the list is the Mad Hatter. His fitting name explains his strange but intriguing nature, in keeping with the overall absurdity of Alice in Wonderland. His quirks, like pouring a whole pot of sugar over a cup of tea, are very funny, although he regularly talks in near nonsensical riddles.
17 Flora, Fauna, & Merryweather Raise and Protect Aurora From Maleficent
Voice Actors |
Flora: Verna Felton, Merryweather: Barbara Luddy, Fauna: Barbara Jo Allen |
---|---|
Character Species |
Fairies |
They come as a trio and are the guardians of Aurora in Sleeping Beauty. Fairies Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather are all individuals in their personalities, but together they are funny whilst remaining protective over Aurora.
In particular, Merryweather is the feistiest. She is responsible for some of the funniest lines — often as a way of digging at the evil Maleficent. Her brazen frame of mind is both inspiring and humorous to watch, even if it causes a few clashes between her fellow fairies along the way. Nevertheless, it’s just as fun to watch these sisters bicker over the color of a dress as it is to see them take on an evil villain.
Sleeping Beauty (1959)
After being snubbed by the royal family, a malevolent fairy places a curse on a princess which only a prince can break, along with the help of three good fairies. Directed by Les Clark, Clyde Geronimi, and Eric Larson.
- Release Date
- January 29, 1959
- Cast
- Mary Costa , Eleanor Audley , Bill Shirley , Verna Felton , Barbara Luddy , Barbara Jo Allen
- Runtime
- 1 hour 15 minutes
16 Flash Slothmore Is Going Nowhere in a Hurry
Voice Actor |
Raymond S. Persi |
---|---|
Character Species |
Three-Toed Sloth |
Related
Zootopia 2 Details Revealed as Ke Huy Quan Joins the Cast
Disney reveals exciting details for Zootopia 2, including new footage and the casting of Ke Huy Quan as a key character.
Zootopia is packed to the gills with funny side characters: animal inhabitants of the titular metropolis who often choose strangely appropriate careers. The topper is Flash, a tree sloth who works the desk at the DMV and seems to permanently live his life at 1/10th speed. Naturally, heroine Judy Hopps is in a huge hurry with just a brief amount of information needed. Thanks to Flash, she’s stuck there all day.
The scene is so memorable, in part because it’s so simple. Flash’s movements and expressions are perfectly normal, just slowed down for comic effect, which punctuates Judy’s increasing desperation to get what she needs. It also makes for a not-so-subtle dig about the service at the DMV, as well as setting up a sharp kicker in the mid-credits sequence, when Flash is pulled over for speeding.
Zootopia
In a city of anthropomorphic animals, a rookie bunny cop and a cynical con artist fox must work together to uncover a conspiracy.
- Director
- Byron Howard , Rich Moore , Jared Bush
- Release Date
- March 4, 2016
- Cast
- Ginnifer Goodwin , Jason Bateman , Idris Elba , Jenny Slate , Nate Torrence , Bonnie Hunt , Don Lake
- Runtime
- 108 minutes
- Studio(s)
- Walt Disney Animation Studios
15 Maximus Steals The Show in Tangled
Voice Actor |
Nathan Greno |
---|---|
Character Species |
Horse |
There’s a lot to like about Tangled, which stands as one of the better Disney princess movies in recent memory. Efforts to adapt the fairy tale of Rapunzel stretched all the way back to Walt’s day. Tangled finally cracked it by turning the story into a screwball comedy, as the long-haired princess runs away from her tower with the reluctant aid of Flynn Rider, a ne’er do well who’s actually a lot sweeter than he looks.
Flynn’s criminal past has a way of catching up with him, however, most often in the form of a relentless palace horse named Maximus. Honorable, dedicated, and ruthlessly efficient, he takes Flynn’s continued freedom as a personal affront and proves as relentless as the Terminator in tracking him down. It makes for some of the movie’s best sight gags, even when the two become reluctant allies during the film’s third act.
Tangled
- Director
- Nathan Greno , Byron Howard
- Release Date
- November 24, 2010
- Cast
- Mandy Moore , Zachary Levi , Donna Murphy , Frank Welker , Dee Bradley Baker
- Runtime
- 100 minutes
- Studio(s)
- Walt Disney Animation Studios
14 Dory’s Just Keep Swimming Mindset Becomes the Heart of the Film
Voice Actor |
Ellen DeGeneres |
---|---|
Character Species |
Blue Tang |
Dory may be a forgetful fish, but she is also delightfully funny in her ignorance. Dory is well-intentioned when she agrees to help Marlin find his son, Nemo. Yet, her zeal for life and often lackadaisical attitude are what set her apart from the rest of the characters in Finding Nemo.
Dory swims to the beat of her own drum. She doesn’t care what people think of her as long as they are kind and give her the benefit of the doubt. Dory swims through life with a carefree attitude. She doesn’t take herself too seriously, and she can instantly lighten any mood with one of her imaginative observations of the world around her. Dory doesn’t let anyone keep her down for long, and she helps others find joy in their lives as well.
Finding Nemo
The franchise tells the stories of a clownfish family, Marlin and Nemo, and her amnesiac blue tang friend, Dory.
- Created by
- Andrew Stanton
- Cast
- Alexander Gould , Albert Brooks , Ellen DeGeneres , Eugene Levy , Diane Keaton , Willem Dafoe
13 Hei Hei is in His Own Slap-Stick Comedy World
Voice Actor |
Alan Tudyk |
---|---|
Character Species |
Rooster |
Words and lines are the easiest way for a character to express themselves in any TV show or movie, yet Hei Hei is a prime example of one who doesn’t need to say anything to make viewers laugh. Though he may not speak, Hei Hei proves to be an invaluable, if not completely random, addition to Moana’s crew.
Hei Hei’s slap-stick mishaps are a great source of entertainment throughout one of the longest Disney movies, Moana. Hei Hei is put in an unfamiliar situation when he accidentally joins the titular character on her journey. But he is the best possible scenario for audiences to experience some fun humor as the chicken does his best in an impossible situation for a mostly flightless bird.
Moana
In Ancient Polynesia, when a terrible curse incurred by the Demigod Maui reaches Moana’s island, she answers the Ocean’s call to seek out the Demigod to set things right.
- Release Date
- November 23, 2016
- Director
- John Musker , Ron Clements , Chris Williams , Don Hall
- Cast
- Auli’i Cravalho , Dwayne Johnson , Rachel House , Temuera Morrison , Jermaine Clement , Alan Tudyk , Nicole Scherzinger
- Runtime
- 107 minutes
- Studio
- Disney
12 Lumiere Shines His Light to Brighten Beast’s Castle
Voice Actor |
Jerry Orbach |
---|---|
Character Species |
Candelabra/Human |
Considering he was among the other servants who were trapped in a spell that turned them into household objects, Lumiere is charismatic and zestful. While he may not be happy to be a walking candelabra, Lumiere handles his fate in stride, and he makes the best of a tough situation.
Lumiere’s name, which translates as “light,” is the ideal title for such a comical but friendly character. His dedication to serving others who enter the Beast’s castle is showcased in Beauty and the Beast‘s iconic “Be Out Guest,” musical number. Lumiere’s impassioned performance optimizes the fun and laughter he’s willing to supply, even though his life has been dramatically changed.
Beauty and the Beast (1991)
A prince cursed to spend his days as a hideous monster sets out to regain his humanity by earning a young woman’s love.
- Release Date
- November 21, 1991
- Director
- Gary Trousdale , Kirk Wise
- Cast
- Paige O’Hara , Robby Benson , Angela Lansbury , Jerry Orbach , David Ogden Stiers , Bradley Pierce , Jesse Corti , Richard White
- Runtime
- 1 hour 24 minutes
11 Olaf Likes Warm Hugs and Melts Audience’s Hearts
Voice Actor |
Josh Gad |
---|---|
Character Species |
Snowman |
Frozen has become one of the highest-grossing animated Disney movies of all time, and with gleeful characters like Olaf, it’s plain to see why. Josh Gad’s portrayal of the iconic character has moved him past the franchise and made Olaf a timeless character next to others like Mickey, Simba, and Winnie the Pooh.
The positive snowman takes the cold out of the movie with a warmth that transcends the animated world and reaches the viewers. His enthusiastic outlook adds hilarity to the narrative, as Olaf can always be relied upon to give a humorous line in any scene. He may be made of snow, but Olaf is one of the sunniest Disney creations.
Frozen
When the newly crowned Queen Elsa accidentally uses her power to turn things into ice to curse her home in infinite winter, her sister Anna teams up with a mountain man, his playful reindeer, and a snowman to change the weather condition.
- Release Date
- November 27, 2013
- Director
- Chris Buck , Jennifer Lee
- Cast
- Kristen Bell , Idina Menzel , Jonathan Groff , Josh Gad , Santino Fontana , Jennifer Lee , Maurice LaMarche
- Runtime
- 102 minutes
- Studio(s)
- Walt Disney Animation Studios
10 Jaq and Gus Are Unlikely Heroes Who Rescue Cinderella
Voice Actor |
James MacDonald |
---|---|
Character Species |
Mice |
Cinderella is a sad story with a happy ending about a young girl given the chance to live her dreams for one night and even find love. However, to lift the sadness with some comic relief, mice Jaq and Gus are always at hand to support “Cinderelly” and get audiences laughing.
The two fit together like a perfect puzzle. Gus can sometimes appear more chaotic, while Jaq remains grounded. Their opposing characteristics are easy to giggle at, but their wholesome loyalty and love for Cinderella are always elements that make audiences smile.
9 Mike Wazowski Was The Reason Behind Monsters, Inc. Changing Its Scare Tactics
Voice Actor |
Billy Crystal |
---|---|
Character Species |
Monster |
3:08
Related
Pixar’s Best Protagonists, Ranked
Pixar films have spawned some of the most popular movie characters of all time, many of whom are the main characters of their respective narratives.
Mike Wazowski is a rather anxious monster who knows all the ins and outs of Scaring. Not only does he expertly train his best friend and coworker James P. “Sully” Sullivan, but he also knows how to promote Sully (even if Mike never gets his paperwork in on time).
Unfortunately, for Mike, one of his best features is physical comedy. The scrapes and complicated situations Mike finds himself in never fail to put smiles on fans’ faces. Mike also has a signature dry sense of humor that is even more hilarious when compared to Sully’s straight-man performance. Mike is the sarcastic voice of reason in the Monsters Inc. universe, and audiences wouldn’t want him any other way.
Monsters Inc.
Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan are two workers at Monsters, Incorporated. The franchise follows their lives when they become close to a kid as well as their time in college, and the lives of other workers at the company.
- Created by
- Pete Docter , Jill Culton , Jeff Pidgeon , Ralph Eggleston
- Latest Film
- Monsters University
8 Anna’s Courage and Hope Make Her the Perfect Counterpart to Elsa
Voice Actor |
Kristen Bell |
---|---|
Character Species |
Human |
Frozen’s sisters Anna and Elsa have grown to be beloved Disney princesses, and their sisterly bond has been a key element in pushing them to the forefront of popular Disney characters. Where Elsa has become the foundation of their sisterhood as the logical and largely grounded sister, Anna is the one who loves to offer a warm light in their chilly kingdom.
Anna’s position in the Frozen duo is to deliver optimism and a willingness to love and trust people freely. Her bubbly persona is humorous as well as infectiously joyful. She often says exactly what she’s thinking, especially if she’s nervous or feeling awkward, which makes her as relatable as she is funny.
Frozen II
Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, Olaf and Sven leave Arendelle to travel to an ancient, autumn-bound forest of an enchanted land. They set out to find the origin of Elsa’s powers in order to save their kingdom.
- Release Date
- November 7, 2019
- Director
- Chris Buck , Jennifer Lee
- Cast
- Idina Menzel , Kristen Bell , Jonathan Groff , Josh Gad , Sterling K. Brown , Evan Rachel Wood
- Runtime
- 1 hour 43 minutes
7 Pumbaa Teaches Simba to Live Without Worries
Voice Actor |
Ernie Sabella |
---|---|
Character Species |
Warthog |
Pumbaa is not the main character of The Lion King, but a very popular sidekick. He is the fun friend that has become a staple in many Disney films. He arrives on the scene when Simba is lost, both literally and metaphorically. Along with Timon, Pumbaa tries to lift his spirits.
Pumbaa seemingly bumbles along in life, but it’s his naivety and innocence that proves to be so funny. The warthog doesn’t try to be comical; instead, his natural, gentle way of being encourages laughter.
6 Stitch Brings Warner Bros’ Chaos to Disney
Voice Actor |
Chris Sanders |
---|---|
Character Species |
Genetic experiment |
Disney never quite got the hang of rebel characters, content to play the stodgy traditionalists while their animation rivals at Warner Bros. delivered the iconoclasts. That changed in a big way with 2002’s Lilo & Stitch, presenting a pair of aggressive misfits straight out of a Bugs Bunny short who reduced their picturesque Hawaiian town to chaos. The formula worked brilliantly, giving Disney a proper anarchist at last and spawning a full-fledged franchise in the process.
Stitch is a hoot from the first frame to the last. Like most Disney protagonists, he has a heart and learns to open it before the final credits. But the sheer misanthropy of his early antics is virtually unseen in the company’s famously squeaky-clean animation, and make him all the funnier in the bargain.
5 Edna Mode Brings Fashion to The World of Superhero Costumes in The Incredibles
Voice Actor |
Brad Bird |
---|---|
Character Species |
Human |
Related
The Incredibles Doesn’t Need a Sequel, It Needs a Spinoff
D23 announced The Incredibles 3 was in development, but as fans ponder a possible trilogy, many realize the untapped potential of Pixar’s superheroes.
Edna Mode is a fashion icon, based heavily on real-life Hollywood fashion designer Edith Head. Her looks are staples in the haute couture scene, but her true calling is in Hero costuming. Edna has a fervor for ensuring that Heroes not only look their best but are also kept safe from their powers and in the field. More than anything else, though, Edna’s passion brims closely to the surface, which comes out in hilarious ways.
Edna has no time for anyone else’s opinions and comically shoots down anyone who tries to change her mind. She is an inexplicably creative genius when it comes to designing fabrics to handle Hero work. Plus, she is a woman’s woman who never fails to remind her friends of their strengths. Edna may be small, but she makes up for her height with an infectious personality that is completely unforgettable.
The Incredibles
The Parrs are a superpowered family with three children who have a double life as superheroes on a time where the Supers are mostly gone.
- Created by
- Brad Bird
- Latest Film
- The Incredibles 2
- Cast
- Sarah Vowell , Holly Hunter , Craig T. Nelson , Samuel L. Jackson , Spencer Fox , Brad Bird
4 Kronk Has His Own Theme Song and Even Talks to Squirrels
Voice Actor |
Patrick Warburton |
---|---|
Character Species |
Human |
Kronk is an adorably naive henchman who just wants to do a good job. Although he isn’t the brightest bulb in the box, he approaches life with such tenacity and vigor that it’s hard not to root for his antics. One of Kronk’s greatest loves is cooking, which often gets him sidetracked from his actual mission. However, he has a good heart and does his best to follow Yzma’s orders in his own, gentle way.
Kronk’s other love is animals – especially squirrels – and his squirrel language is one of the many highlights of The Emperor’s New Groove. Kronk’s unbridled awe at life and its little coincidences make him one of the most lovable characters. But the fact that Kronk lives in his own world — complete with his own theme music — is what makes him so hilarious.
3 Mushu Proves His Worth as Mulan’s Guardian Spirit
Voice Actor |
Eddie Murphy |
---|---|
Character Species |
Dragon (Not Lizard) |
Mushu is the sarcastic dragon guardian in Mulan. Mushu has a bit of a checkered past when it comes to protecting Mulan’s ancestors, but he doesn’t let his mistakes stop him from creating all new ones when he joins Mulan in her quest to save her father and China.
Mushu can be self-centered, but his schemes are what make him so funny. The more Mushu schemes, the more comedic the outcomes of his plans are. Mushu has impeccable sarcastic timing and a cynical view of the world. However, in the end, Mushu’s desire to redeem himself is what gives him the continued courage to carry on and create the most absurd (yet effective) plans. Mushu is a guardian that anyone would be lucky to have because of his dry wit and fantastic sense of comedic timing.
Mulan
To save her father from death in the army, a young maiden secretly goes in his place and becomes one of China’s greatest heroines in the process.
- Release Date
- June 19, 1998
- Director
- Tony Bancroft , Barry Cook
- Cast
- Ming-Na Wen , Lea Salonga , Eddie Murphy , BD Wong , Donny Osmond
- Runtime
- 1 hour 27 minutes
- Studio
- Disney
2 Hades Rules The Underworld While Trying to Keep His Temper in Check
Voice Actor |
James Woods |
---|---|
Character Species |
God |
Related
15 Best Female Disney Movie Villains, Ranked
Disney’s been creating iconic villains for over a century, and some of the most memorable female foes still inspire fear in viewers today.
Hades may be the main antagonist in Hercules, but there’s no denying that he brings a good amount of comedy to the Disney animation. Voiced by James Woods, he often has viewers wondering if it is okay to love the villain.
Hades’ underlying bitterness is brought out through sarcasm and quick wit. Though he isn’t a likable character, it’s hard not to be drawn in by the humor he provides. His deadpan wit can often contrast with the high levels of anger he reaches, which only makes his personality funnier.
Hercules
The son of Zeus and Hera is stripped of his immortality as an infant and must become a true hero in order to reclaim it.
- Release Date
- June 13, 1997
- Director
- John Musker , Ron Clements
- Cast
- Tate Donovan
- Runtime
- 93 minutes
- Studio
- Disney
1 Genie is Robin Williams’s Mark on Disney Legacy
Voice Actor |
Robin Williams |
---|---|
Character Species |
Genie |
The late Robin Williams set a precedent for other comedians in both stand-up and acting. His role as Genie in Aladdin expanded the high standard he repeatedly met, using his voice to bring life and humor into the animated character.
Genie is revisited in Once Upon a Studio, reminding audiences of the energy and charisma he brought to Aladdin. It’s widely known that Williams improvised a great deal, generating plenty of material to be used for the role. The combination of an enchanting character played by the utmost talent was only ever going to create a memorable character.
Aladdin (1992)
A kind-hearted street urchin and a power-hungry Grand Vizier vie for a magic lamp that has the power to make their deepest wishes come true.
- Release Date
- November 25, 1992
- Director
- Ron Clements , John Musker
- Cast
- Scott Weinger , Robin Williams , Linda Larkin , Jonathan Freeman , Frank Welker , Gilbert Gottfried , Brad Kane , Lea Salonga
- Runtime
- 1 hour 30 minutes