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Top 12 Disney Heroes

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We’ve talked about Disney’s Villains, and we’ve talked about Disney’s Heroines...but let’s not forget that Disney has some interesting male protagonists, too. In some ways, I think this fact is even more impressive than their female line-up. Why? Well, Disney’s film era started with Snow White, and while you can argue how interesting she was, I think everybody can agree that the Prince in that movie was pretty dull. It’s hard to tell if he’s even the “hero” of the story; it’s clear that Snow White is the heroine. And, for a long time, that was the case with a lot of Disney films; supposedly-leading-male roles, such as Princes, often got a very short end of the stick. But, more and more recently, Disney has been working to make their male leads just as fun and interesting as their leading ladies. So, let’s give them some attention! These are My Top Twelve Favorite Disney Heroes!


12. Maui, from Moana.

VOICED BY THE ROCK! Phew...sorry; every time I mention this character, I feel compelled to say that. This is partially because of just how strange a casting choice that is, at least in my mind...but at the same time, because it’s such a PERFECT casting choice. When I saw Moana, I fully expected to be underwhelmed by this Polynesian demigod; I thought I’d be so focused on the fact that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson played him that I’d lose sight of the character. Well, thank God, I was completely wrong: much like Vincent Price with Ratigan, from “The Great Mouse Detective,” this is a case where the celebrity voice is so good and so well-cast that you almost totally forget that it’s a celebrity voice. But onto the actual character: some people have shot back about how drastically different Maui in the film is from the Maui of actual Polynesian mythology. To them I say: A.) this is Disney, so what did you expect? And B.) that fact honestly doesn’t bother me, personally, because this is still a fun and interesting character! What makes Maui interesting is that, in any other Disney film, he’d probably be the main character. He’s still the leading male role, no denying, but the main protagonist of “Moana” is obviously Moana herself. This doesn’t make Maui any less interesting, however: he’s a God-among-men, and he KNOWS it, and he’s done just about everything you’d imagine he could do. He’s fought monsters, shaped the planet itself, and is involved in all kinds of other daring and outlandish deeds. He also wields a giant hook which allows him to shapeshift, and is covered in magical tattoos. And, as a result of all this, he’s got a bit of an ego. To be fair, it’s not a totally unwarranted ego: I mean, who WOULDN’T want to be a shapeshifting bodybuilder who can fight gigantic crab-beasts every Tuesday? But, at times, he does get too big for his already tremendous britches, and having lost his hook years ago, by the time of this story, his powers are a little rusty. He’s also an odd hero in that he’s not totally moral: when he first meets Moana, he tries to steal her boat and lock her in a cave with no way out! But, as you’d expect, over time the two grow to like each other, and find that they do need each other to survive. That’s not a huge surprise for Moana, I suppose, but Maui does find it odd having to adjust to someone so much less powerful than he is, all the time knowing he probably can’t get by without her. It makes the film a begrudging buddy-buddy comedy at its funniest moments, and gut-wrenching drama at its darkest. Mythologically accurate or not, Maui is a welcome addition to the Disney line-up of heroes.


11. Pinocchio, from...uh...Pinocchio.

Much like Alice from “Alice in Wonderland,” Pinocchio is interesting because he isn’t your traditional hero. He’s not really out to save anyone, or change anything: he’s just this innocent little puppet kid who wants to be a real boy. His whole story focuses on the trials he has to go through to prove he’s worthy of that; in the words of the Blue Fairy, who gives him life to begin with, “A little boy who won’t be good might just as well be made of wood.” The problem is that, because Pinocchio is so innocent, caring, and easily-fascinated, temptation is constantly creeping into his life. He’s basically born without a conscience...he has to have a talking Cliff Edwards cricket tell him right from wrong! Granted, he’s a sweet little guy, so he’s never unlikeable (he’s nicer than the Pinocchio in the original story, who’s basically a troublemaking brat), but he’s far too trusting and far too excitable for his own good. This is what makes the film so interesting, too, as we basically watch Pinocchio grow and learn over the course of the picture...and the fact that he has to go through some pretty gut-wrenching stuff in order to reach the end alive, let alone happy, makes the movie so engaging. You’re scared for Pinocchio; you want things to go right for him, you want to help him just as much as his father or Jiminy Cricket want to. And because he is such a happy-go-lucky character, it makes the moments where things go right all the more wonderful.


10. Quasimodo, from The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

“Hunchback” was a big risk for Disney; even today, some people argue over whether that risk really paid off. In my book, it certainly did. There have actually been a couple of animated family-oriented versions of this story, but Disney’s is the only one that’s been in any way successful, let alone good. The reason is because, while there are certainly some changes to the original book, Disney keeps the dark heart and bitter soul of Victor Hugo’s classic very close to its heart. The atmosphere is gigantic, the story deals with some pretty heavy stuff...and, of course, we have our hero, Quasimodo. The deformed bell ringer of Notre Dame cathedral, Quasimodo was raised from infancy by the cruel Judge Claude Frollo, who trained him to believe himself a monster, and shut him off from all of mankind. But, inevitably, Quasi grows bored, sad, and terribly lonely as a result of this reclusive existence, and longs to go out and see the world. He sneaks out of his bell tower to take place in an annual city holiday festival called “The Feast of Fools,” where he meets the beautiful and talented gypsy Esmeralda. The two become close friends (in fact, Quasi falls in love with her), and when Frollo threatens to burn Esmeralda for practicing “witchcraft” (really just fortune telling and magic tricks), Quasi has to help her evade the evil judge, his own father figure, at every turn. Like Pinocchio, Quasimodo was a slightly nastier character in the original books - still sympathetic, but with a bad temper...to say nothing of being deaf and partially blind. This Quasimodo isn’t deaf, no reference is made to him being in any way physically blind, and he’s essentially just a sweet, gentle lamb of a guy. However, what makes him interesting is his physicality: he’s a big guy, with a lot of strength, and while the Disney incarnation obviously softens up his appearance, he’s still decidedly unattractive. He has to fight his own face, so to speak, throughout the movie, just as he has to face his antisocial upbringing. He is both enticed by and terrified of the outside world, and everything it has to offer. He’s more or less a shy, scared kid in a hulking man’s body. It’s a simple but effective way of making the character so much fun, and you really cheer him on when he shows strength and when he gets the things he so desperately wants: love, decency, respect, and attention. Much like Pinocchio, it’s something of a story about growing up, as well as a classic “Ugly Duckling” tale, but there’s a bit more of a backbone to Quasimodo - he’ll fight hard to save the people he cares for, and get what he wants, and while he’s vulnerable, he’s not QUITE so easily taken in. If anything, he’s got a cynical side to him, thanks to Frollo’s dominating presence. And for mixing cockeyed optimism with tragic cynicism in a way that is both believable and endearing, Quasimodo definitely deserves a spot on this list.


9. Simba, from The Lion King.

A.k.a. “Disney’s Hamlet.” And, yeah, that’s a big part of why I like this film, as well as Simba himself. It’s funny to note that, out of all my Disney character-related lists, this is the first time I’ve actually gotten to talk about a character: you didn’t see Nala or Kiara among the Disney Heroines, and you never saw Scar nor Zira among the Disney Villains.  The fact is that I do really enjoy this film...just not as much as the rest of the world seems to enjoy it. Right alongside Beauty & the Beast, this is the film almost everyone seems to declare as the greatest Disney film ever made. And while it’s certainly a great movie, I don’t think I’d go quite that far at any point. But one thing I won’t deny is that it gave us a pretty interesting hero’s journey, and a hero to follow along it: Simba, the future and titular king. We get to follow Simba from childhood into adulthood; as a kid, he’s a rowdy rebel, and a little stuck-up - he knows he’s going to be king someday, and he loves the idea of being in control of everything. The only problem is that he doesn’t like waiting, and loves to explore his kingdom...sometimes going into places he probably shouldn’t. When his father is killed while trying to save him from a stampede, Simba runs away from home, ridden with guilt. He grows up into a careless adult, with instruction from those African vagabonds Timon & Pumbaa, still plagued by the ghosts of his past (both literally and figuratively, as we later see), struggling to cope with the knowledge that he is the rightful king, and has abandoned his home. Ultimately, Simba does return to his home in the Pride Lands, and reclaims the throne, proving himself a worthy successor and overcoming all the external and internal obstacles he faces. It’s a movie that deals with family, memory, guilt, betrayal, and destiny, and this was a character who had to face everything those thematic elements could throw at him, overcome them, and make us love him the whole time. He couldn’t be a total goofball, but he couldn’t be a grim, brooding wraith either. Instead, he comes out somewhere in the middle, and by the end of the film, he is the noble ruler we all wanted him to be, and that he always had the potential to become. It’s a classic tale with a classic hero, and neither Simba nor his story seem to be fading anytime fast.


8. Peter Pan, from...well...Peter Pan. (growls)

What’s always fascinated me about Peter Pan, as a general character, is that, in a way, he’s basically a big brat. In fact, he can be downright sadistic! Just think about it: he cuts off his worst enemy’s hand, feeds it to a crocodile, laughs as the man is chased and doomed to future digestion, banishes people who don’t follow his own rules, can be very careless, callous, and forgetful, and loves to fight and annoy just about anybody. From a certain point of view, he’s kind of a bully! And Disney’s version is no exception: he’s cool, let’s all be honest - he can fly, he can live practically forever, he never gets older, and he has adventures with mermaids, pirates, Native Americans, and fairies! But from a personality standpoint, he’s a cocky showoff and has a mean streak. So...why do we like Peter Pan so much? Well, aside from the fact that, again, he’s pretty cool with all he can do, I think much of Peter’s personality comes from the very basic fact that he’s a kid. Not only that, but he’s a kid who never grows up. We all remember being children, and while there were certainly sweet times, there were also times we could be hotheaded, vicious, and yes, attention-seeking. You always get the feeling that Peter has his heart in the right place: he may be a little cruel to Hook, but Hook himself is by no means a saint. Peter, despite his arrogance and foolery, is ultimately still the hero. He has a strong moral compass that tells him right from wrong; what he doesn’t have is impulse control. In a way, Peter is basically the world’s first fictional superhero: a guy with a lot of cool powers who can come in and help make things better. He can take you on a magical journey, he can fight anything that tries to hurt you, and he’ll have a ball doing it. I think that’s why so many characters within his own world, as well as all of us out in the boring real world, look up to this carefree, green-dressed youth. Despite his flaws, Peter Pan is a role model for all ages, and shows no sign of getting old...in ANY way.


7. Captain Jack Sparrow, from Pirates of the Caribbean.

The only live-action character to make it on this list, Captain Jack Sparrow - the nominal star of Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean” film series, played by Johnny Depp - is really more of an anti-hero than a true hero. Old Captain Jack is a pirate, and with that title comes more than a few flaws: he’s untrustworthy, he’s cowardly, and unlike many of the other characters on this list, he doesn’t always do things for the right reasons. He’s greedy, he’s selfish, he’s manipulative and tricky. He rarely does anything out of the goodness of his own heart...heck, all things told, in any other world, he’d be the villain of the story. But despite all his flaws, I think the reason Jack is such a fun character - aside from Depp’s utterly batty performance work, which makes the character bloody hilarious - is because, beneath all the mischief, there is a very sad character in his soul. He’s a guy who has seen a lot of hardship, and knows the world isn’t a totally happy place. He’s also a guy who, at the end of the day, seeks one thing beyond anything else. He loves money, he loves fame, but what he really yearns for...is freedom. The forces he fights in these stories are forces of governmental oppression, or magical curses beyond anyone’s control. While other characters surrender to the status quo, or to fate, or to powers beyond their comprehension...Jack is ALWAYS fighting. He goes into the belly of the Kraken ready to cut it to bits from the inside. He formulates mad schemes and complex plans to try and topple organizations that threaten the existence of piracy, and even free will, more than once. While he’s not necessarily a selfless hero, and you can’t say his heart is always in the right place, he does what he does out of a love of freedom and adventure. These are things we can really admire: for all the wacky shenanigans he gets up to, and all of the treacherous dealings he tries, Jack is ultimately both a pirate AND a good man. And it’s for this dichotomy that he remains so popular.


6. Aladdin, from YOU ALREADY KNOW.

I think that in some ways, Aladdin had more to prove than any other Disney Hero. He was a street rat: a lowlife urchin and thief, as well as clearly a chronic liar and con artist. Over the course of the movie, Aladdin has to prove he can be more than that: he has to prove himself not only worthy of Jasmine’s love, not only worthy of all of Agrabah’s respect, but also worthy of the Sultan’s crown. At first, he tries to take an easy way out, using the Genie to make him the greatest prince in all the land. But even with Genie’s help, he has to work for it. He has to fight Jafar, obviously, but also has to work through his own mental and emotional issues to open up to Jasmine and learn to be honest with her, and everybody else. And, at the same time, he has to learn that maybe being a street rat isn’t as bad as he always thought it was: he’s ingenious, he’s intuitive, he’s inventive, he’s quick on his feet and good in a scuffle. There’s more to him than just being “a one man rise in crime.” We really do want to see him come out on top, because even though he’s a bit of a troublemaker, it’s all out of necessity and a lack of self-esteem. And, of course, he made for a great adventurer in the sequels and television series that followed the film’s success. Not much else to say, really; Aladdin is a streetwise hero whose rags-to-riches story will always keep us entertained.


5. The Beast, from Beauty & the Beast.

While many Disney heroes have had to start from a low point and work to a higher one, and while several of them have been a bit of a troublemaker before their ascendancy, it’s rare that you find a case where the hero basically starts off as the villain. But that is the core story of our favorite tale as old as time, “Beauty & the Beast”: the Beast - a.k.a. Prince Adam - starts off as a selfish, ignorant prince - rude and snide and infantile to a tea. When he makes the grave error of shutting out a disguised enchantress, she transforms him into a monstrous mish-mash of various animals, and at the same time, turns all of his servants into household furnishings and appliances, from clocks to crockery to candelabras. The enchantress leaves him with a magical rose, which will lose its petals over time: if he does not manage to find someone to love, who will love him in return, before the last petal falls, he will remain a Beast forever. The Beast starts off as a pretty nasty and intimidating character; he has something of a hair trigger, and will fly into a rage at the slightest things. Over time, though, it becomes pretty clear that the real problem is that the guy is basically a big child, in every way. He’s always gotten his way, and he used to be handsome and powerful; now, stripped of both his looks and his power, he’s left to brood, and all the selfishness of the past, mixed with his loneliness and bitterness, has made for one heavy and dark concoction. When Belle comes into his life, their relationship, needless to say, has a rocky start...but over time, she manages to coax the sweeter side of him out, and he, in turn, develops feelings for her. And as the Beast’s heart softens, he becomes less selfish, less vindictive, less...well...beastly. We go from being scared and repulsed by this guy to finding him to be funny, charming, loveable, and noble. At the same time, to make the contrast all the greater, Gaston - the town hero where Belle comes from - goes from a comical nuisance to becoming a terrifying and nasty villain. These parallel courses around a steadfast point - Belle herself - are what make the film so interesting, and it’s wonderful to see the Beast change and warm up over the course of the story. It’s a classic romantic fantasy, and with the recent 2017 remake, neither the Beast, nor his tale of love and redemption, shows any sign of going out of style.


4. Basil of Baker Street, from The Great Mouse Detective.

What’s interesting about Basil of Baker Street - who is basically Disney’s Sherlock Holmes, in every way - is that we don’t actually know that much about him. We don’t know his past, we don’t know his age, we don’t know how long he’s been at work, we don’t really know what his real name is (is Basil his first name, or his last name?): all we know are two things - he’s a brilliant detective, and Basil of Baker Street is his professional moniker. But it’s these mysteries that partially make Basil so much fun. As his newfound sidekick, Dr. Dawson, watches this genius work, we find ourselves just as fascinated by his incredible mind, adventurous spirit, and almost childishly exuberant antics as Dawson is. He’s hyperactive and scattershot; his brain seems to be racing faster than even HE can keep up with at times, with very few points where his mind seems to slow down and allow him to take in other things outside the case he’s working on. He’s got a massive ego, too; he KNOWS he’s a genius, and every second of the story, he enjoys “playing the game” of the world’s greatest detective, taking great delight in the thrill of the chase and the pursuit of justice. But for all the thrill-seeking and vain preening, he clearly has his heart in the right place; he’s not just chasing his arch-foe, the nefarious Professor Ratigan, because he wants to look good and prove himself. He’s out to show his old enemy, and everyone else, that justice can prevail, and he does want to do what’s truly right and good. It’s this mixture of massive ego and a tough moral fiber that make Basil, like any great Holmes, so intriguing; we don’t know how long he and Ratigan have been playing this game, we don’t know how long he’s studied, or where, or what his relationship with the police is...but what we do know is that, when he DOES seem to LOSE, it utterly DESTROYS him. He’s a manic-depressive mess, able to bounce around gleefully when he finds things are going right, or brood in deep sorrow when things go wrong; he’s easily frustrated and a bit standoffish, but he’s by no means a bad guy. It’s really a shame that there isn’t a television series focusing on this great detectives other cases; I think it would be a great hit! But, until that time - if ever it comes - at least this master sleuth has one great movie to his name, and will always remain one of Disney’s most fascinating characters.


3. Nick Wilde, from Zootopia.

As I said before, I absolutely love this movie, and Nick - even more than Judy - is probably my favorite character. What’s interesting about Nick is that he actually takes elements from a lot of earlier Disney protagonists, but melds them together in a unique way that is totally his own. Like the Beast, he starts off as a scoundrel, but through his relationship with Judy, has to learn to open up and look on the bright side of life. Like Aladdin, he has to fight the way the world views him the whole way through, but at the same time has to learn how to use that to his advantage. Like Captain Jack Sparrow, he’s a little unpredictable, and doesn’t always do things out of the goodness of his heart. Like Quasimodo or Simba (and later Maui), he’s got a tragic past which informs many of his life choices, and which he has to learn to overcome and forget. Last of all, like Basil of Baker Street, this guy is actually REALLY smart, crafty, and...well...sly as a fox! He’s so confident and snarky, it makes the moments where the cracks in the armor show all the more  powerful...because the rest of the time, you’d honestly get the feeling that this fox could never lose. He’s funny, he’s charming, but he’s also a bit of a knave. He proves to be a great foil for Judy Hopps, and she learns just as much from him as he does from her. He can be slick and cool, but he can also be a bit bumbling and silly. And, to be perfectly blunt...I find the relationship between the two protagonists, he and Judy, absolutely adorable. The chemistry is so intense and the writing so wonderfully witty, yet also able to have softer and even more dangerous moments betwixt them, that it makes every single frame of the film a masterpiece the moment he pops up. (...Well...maybe “masterpiece” is going a bit too far, but it certainly comes close!) What more can I say? This slippery vulpine will always be one of my favorite heroes!


2. Mickey Mouse.

Okay, so, it was a major struggle deciding who would get the top spot here. And Mickey very nearly did, for one very obvious and very simple reason: HE’S MICKEY-BLOODY-MOUSE! This guy is simply one of the most marketable and easily recognized characters in all the world. He’s Disney’s mascot, their flagship hero, and an adaptable figure with few peers: he can be a mischievous but loveable scamp, or he can be a curious child; he can be a wisecracking showman, or he can be a vulnerable sweetheart. He can be the everyman, or he can be the superman. He can appeal to children for his cuteness, comedy, determination, and fun-loving attitude, and he can appeal to adults for...well...honestly the exact same reasons! As Disney’s single most recognizable icon, there’s not much one can SAY about what makes Mickey such a great hero...really the greater question is…


...Who can possibly top Mickey Mouse?


1. Jack Skellington, from The Nightmare Before Christmas.

This is one of my favorite movies of all time. All of the characters are fantastic, but for me, it’s Jack Skellington who takes the cake. Not unlike Jack Sparrow, what makes Jack so fascinating, beyond ANYTHING else, is that - if it weren’t for the presence of Oogie Boogie - he’d basically be the villain of the story! Really think about it: he scares people, he kidnaps Santa, he hijacks Christmas and spreads terror and danger in his wake...he’s not INTENDING to do wrong, but he’s clearly not a conventional hero. He’s not really fighting to save the day until near the end of the movie; heck, if anything, he’s the reason there are any problems going on in the story at all! From a certain point of view, you could very easily make the argument that Jack is the antagonist! So...what makes Jack so appealing as a character to so many people, myself included? Right alongside Mickey Mouse, I think one could argue he’s one of the most marketable and recognizable characters in all of media. Why he is so beloved, and why is he so popular? Well, I think it all comes down to something very basic: Jack, like Mickey, is somehow able to be all of us and better than us at the same time. All of us can relate to the holidays - from the fun and fiendish darkness of Halloween to the warmth and love of Christmas. We all have wanted to try new things, the way Jack does; sometimes they go well, sometimes they don’t. We all have encountered things that made us stop and stare and just shiver with amazement. We all have longed for something more, but not known exactly what it was in many cases. But despite all these very human issues, Jack is probably the most powerful character in the story. He’s the King of Halloween, the scariest ghoul around; he’s sophisticated, debonair, and lovingly melodramatic and graceful. What’s not to like? He’s friggin’ awesome! In some ways, we all want to be Jack, because he has all those lovely attributes, but we can also relate to him for his sense of wonder, optimism, and even sorrow. As a result, we’re cheering like mad when he gets things right, and when he gets things wrong? We’re torn  between enjoying the ride alongside him, and wanting to warn him to turn back, because we KNOW it won’t turn out well. The fact that Jack DOES save the day at the end, the fact he DOES learn from his mistakes, is what makes his story so relatable, and makes him such a great character. With an interesting design (it’s Tim Burton, after all) and the vocals of Chris Sarandon and Danny Elfman behind him, which blend together seamlessly, he shows no signs of losing popularity, and will always remain My Favorite Disney Hero.


And now for some Honorable Mentions; once again, I have included a LucasFilms character, a Marvel character, and a Pixar character, since Disney owns the rights to all these companies.

Indiana Jones, from...you can guess.

While Star Wars has had their fair share of heroic figures - Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke Skywalker, Yoda, and Han Solo, just to name a few - I chose to put Indiana Jones here for a very particular reason: his name. Now, I don’t mean he wins simply because of his name, I mean that his name is what has to sell his heroism. What do I mean by that pretentiousness? Well, let me put it this way: Star Wars was never titled “Luke Skywalker, the New Hope” or “Anakin and the Revenge of the Sith.” Audiences were interested in the concept and plot, not the main character, when the films were marketed. Indiana Jones is different: the whole series revolves around the fact that you’re following one key character, and if that character flops, the series just won’t work. There’s a sort of risk taken when you give a character’s name in the title of your movie. “Who’s Indiana Jones?” they will ask. “Is he going to be interesting? Will I want to go on this adventure, whatever it is, with him?” Thankfully, the answer is a resounding yes. A university professor with the soul of a pirate, this fedora-wearing, bullwhip-cracking, high-flying action hero has kept us entertained through four films, a television series, a number of books, a handful of video games, and even one heck of a fun amusement park ride at Disneyland! His stories are filled with lots of laughs and a number of grim frights, as he seeks out rare and mystical artifacts, all in the name of science and human study. He believes in finding all the secrets of the world, and learning as much as we can about them, and has a lot of fun doing it. Described by Harrison Ford himself as “both a romantic and a cynic,” this dual-natured archaeological adventurer will always capture our imaginations.


Spider-Man, from...again, you can guess.

...I...don’t think I need to say anything here. It’s sort of like when I put Darth Vader on my list of Disney Villains in this same area. I mean...the character’s so iconic, what can you say about him? (pauses) Moving on.


Marlin, from Finding Nemo.

I had a hard time picking a Pixar hero, because, honestly, even when Pixar’s films aren’t at their best, the main characters tend to be pretty interesting and fun to follow. And they’ve given us plenty of interesting male protagonists: Mr. Incredible, Woody & Buzz Lightyear, Mike & Sully, Carl Fredricksen, the list goes on. Ultimately, I went with Marlin because, out of all these heroes, I felt Marlin’s struggle and character arc was the easiest, simplest, and most down to earth of them all. He doesn’t want to go on a grand adventure, he doesn’t want to win a contest, he doesn’t really want to PROVE anything...what does he want? To find his lost son. That is a powerful motivation. This guy, traumatized by the death of his wife and other children, a neurotic recluse, has to go out into the world he has feared for so long. He doesn’t waste time, he doesn’t think twice: as much as he hates it, he knows he won’t rest until he saves the child he cares for so much. Nemo, his son, is all he has left, in his mind. Keeping him safe is the only thing that matters. While the movie is tons of fun and has a lot of goofy stuff in it, it actually deals in some very grounded, and even depressing, subject matter. Marlin risks getting EATEN at least four or five times throughout the picture, to say nothing of being poisoned, suffocated, blown to bits...yeah, this father has to go through almost literal HELL (pardon my language) just to find his little boy and bring him back home. And, as the film goes on, while his need to save his son never dwindles, he realizes that maybe keeping Nemo on the short leash he had him on all his life was the worst thing he could have done, and despite all the terrifying things he has to face on his travels, there’s also a lot of excitement, wonder, and curious things one can learn. It’s a simple dilemna, a simple arc, a simple story...and an extremely moving one. All that, for me, makes Marlin worthy of some mention as a hero.


Other Honorable Mentions Include…

Winnie-the-Pooh, from The Many Adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh. (Come on, he’s adorable!)

Tarzan, from STOP GIVING ME TITLES WITH THE CHARACTER’S NAME!!!

Prince Naveen, from The Princess & the Frog.

Flynn Rider, from Tangled.

Prince Philip, from Sleeping Beauty. (Like I said on my Heroines list: Shush; I like him, don’t judge me.)


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SpiritZodiac's avatar
Guess it’s a good thing you didn’t include “Hercules” lol. Also, a tv show about Basil and Dawson would have been Boss!!!!