Favorite Disney Friendships: Not All Relationships Are Romantic

The 24 Greatest Friendships in Disney Movie History

A hallmark of every great Disney flick is a great friendship between characters. We’re taking a look at some of our favorite friendships from Disney movies. Some will seem obvious (Timon and Pumbaa!), but others may surprise you. I’m sure these images will prompt a stroll down memory lane for most of you, with some even reminding you of favorite friendships from your childhood. Share this with your besties, and if you think we’ve missed perfect pals from your favorite Disney movie, be sure to tell us in the comments.

Now pop some popcorn, sit back, and look back on our favorite Disney movie friendships …

• Mowgli and Baloo
  

  Mowgli loves his buddy Baloo so much that he wants to be like him, scratching his back on trees, and floating without a care through the jungle. And their friendship makes us want to be like him, too-oo-oooh.

• Timon and Pumbaa
  

  Timon and Pumbaa are such great pals that they even overlook each other’s nasty habits from bug eating to, well, that thing that Pumbaa does. They’ve also got some of the best songs in Disney movie history. Hakuna Matata, friends!

• Lilo and Stitch
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  It’s hard to make friends when you’re an alien, and sometimes it’s even harder when you’re a kid. This is why Lilo and Stitch were made for each other.

 

• Bambi and Thumper
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  Thumper is to Bambi what that kid from kindergarten who offered to sit with you at lunch is to you. When you’re starting out in the world, sometimes you just need one pal to make things okay.

   

• Tinker Bell with Peter Pan and Periwinkle
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  Tink has come so far over the years! The same girl with friend-jealousy issues (remember the Wendy and Peter brouhaha?) has added a collection of wonderful pals to her crew. Peter will always be her BFF, but now that she’s found her twinsie, Periwinkle, things will never be the same.

   

• Sully with Mike and Boo
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  Sulley from Monsters, Inc. and Monsters University is the kind of friend we’d all love to have around. He’s dependable, friendly, fun, and covered in fuchsia polka dots. I couldn’t resist including both the team of Mike and Sulley and the adorable pair, Sulley and Boo, in this rundown of my favorite Disney friends.

   

• Marlin and Dory
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  Remember that time you forgot your best friend’s name every five minutes? Yeah, I didn’t think so. Marlin and Dory remain one of my favorite friend teams in Disney movie history. Lots of people say they’d cross an ocean to help a friend. Dory actually did it.

   

• Carl and Russell/Kevin and Doug
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  Up is the classic story of the friendship between a young kid and the old guard. And the not-so-classic story of the friendship between a fictional species of bird and a talking dog. Once you make it through the sob-worthy first 15 minutes of this film, Disney treats you to some incredible best friend moments.

   

• Winnie the Pooh and Friends

  

  Although some may have chosen Pooh Bear and Christopher Robin, and others may have opted for Roo and his buddy Tigger, I feel like the entire Winnie the Pooh Crew deserves to make the Disney Favorite Friends list. Their personalities complement each other perfectly, and without each other, they wouldn’t be nearly so wonderful.

   

• Mickey Mouse and Pluto
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  A boy mouse and his dog! Despite interference from chipmunks, Minnie Mouse, a seal in the bathtub, and even that kitten that wormed its way into Mickey’s heart (poor Pluto!), Pluto and Mickey remain the best of friends.

   

• Penny and Bolt/Mittens and Rhino
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  One of my favorite Disney films, Bolt, is all about friendship and the lengths we’ll go to for our friends. It seemed a natural fit to include Penny and Bolt, but Mittens and Rhino can’t be overlooked. Mittens learns about friendship during her cross-country journey, and Rhino the hamster is her unlikely teacher.

   

• Woody and Buzz

  Woody and Buzz. Just look at them. Not even a sociopathic teen, a chicken-suit wearing toy collector, a trash incinerator, or a diabolical pink bear that smells like strawberries can come between these two best buds.

   

• Lightning McQueen and Mater/Luigi and Guido
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  Lightning McQueen and Mater seem to be the natural choice from the Cars franchise to make the favorite friends list, but Luigi and Guido can’t be counted out. As their Uncle Topolino says in Cars 2, “Chi trova un amico, trova un tesoro,” or “Whoever finds a friend, finds a treasure.” Bellissimo!

   

• Merida and Angus
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  When I was an angry, frustrated teenager, I’d jump in my Mustang and ride off, hiding from my family until I’d had time to cool down. When Merida is angry and frustrated, she jumps on her Scottish Clydesdale and rides off, hiding from her family until she’s had time to cool down.

   

• Mary Poppins and Bert
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  If you’re Mary Poppins, it takes someone absolutely incredible to be worthy of the role of your best friend. Bert fills those shoes perfectly.

   

• Ralph and Vanellope
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  No one likes Ralph. No one likes Vanellope. It was only natural for them to become the best of buds and race around in their candy car, foiling villainous plots.

   

• Gus and Jacques
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• Jacques and Gus (Gus Gus!) are two of my absolute favorite Disney friends because they’re adorable, hilarious, and good to their tiny mice cores.

   

• Dumbo and Timothy
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  Everyone needs a friend who believes in them more than they believe in themselves. For Dumbo, that friend is Timothy Mouse. Timothy persuades Dumbo that he can fly and in Dumbo’s moment of need (dropped feather!), and he’s able to save them both just by being a good friend.

   

• Mr. Incredible and Frozone
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  Some guys like to hang in their mancave and watch the game with their bros. Some guys like to sit in cars, listen to police scanners, and stop burglaries in progress. Whatever works. Long live the bromance.

   

• Thomas O’Malley and the Alley Cats
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• Why is Thomas O’Malley one cool cat? Because he’s with the band.

   

• Ariel and Flounder
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  Life can be difficult when you’re a beautiful young mermaid under the thumb of your over-protective father. Flounder provides Ariel with a listening gill and a fin to cry on whenever she needs it.

   

• Rapunzel and Pascal

  

  If you’re headed into a fight, there’s no one better to have your back than a … chameleon? Pascal helps Rapunzel pass her time in the tower and bravely follows her away from the tower as she searches for her true destiny.

• Classic Friendships 24 of 25

  It’s time to kick it old school! Join me in the way-back machine as we remember some favorite pals from Disney movies who are worth an honorable mention: Haley Mills and Haley Mills in the original Parent Trap, the kids in Escape to Witch Mountain, the mother/daughter/daughter/mother in the original Freaky Friday, and Herbie and his driver in all the Love Bug movies.
  

• Classic Animated Friendships 25 of 25

  A couple of animated pals from days gone by also deserves an honorable mention: Copper and Tod, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, Chip and Dale, Pete and Elliot.