Throughout its 100+ year history, Disney has introduced us to great characters, from classic names like Mickey Mouse and Snow White to more recent icons like Wreck-It-Ralph and Moana. But while Disney animation boasts plenty of characters that are strong in their own right, the company has also baked a number of duos into its movies over the years that are equally of note.

if you’ve watched enough titles from the Mouse House, you’ve encountered at least one great pairing, whether beloved sisters, odd co-workers, close friends, or a head honcho and their long-suffering assistant. This list gathers the best of the best together in one place — no Pixar here, only tag teams from the Walt Disney Animation Studio lineup. From leads to sidekicks to villains, these characters are all examples of Disney double acts at their finest, with each personality complimenting the other and enhancing the overall story being told. These are the pairings that have made us laugh, cry, and everything in between, and we adore them for it. Without further delay, here are the 15 best Disney duos of all time.

In “Hercules,” the titular zero to hero must go toe-to-toe with Hades (James Woods), god of the Underworld and one of Disney’s best villains. Likewise, Hades’ hench-demons Pain (Bobcat Goldthwait) and Panic (Matt Frewer) are one of the best duos. Both comic relief and genuinely evil, they have no problem killing Hercules as a baby … if they could manage to do it. But they’re hopelessly inept, and that’s where the humor comes from. As only adults will notice, in contrast to Hades, Pain and Panic don’t get anything right, so why leave this essential task to them? Ultimately, we end up empathizing with Hades for what he endures, and loving Pain and Panic for making him put up with it.

It’s not that they don’t want to be loyal, but Pain and Panic often forget to think before they act. For example, when Pain dons a pair of Air-Hercs and calls them “dashing,” Hades practically blows his top, with Panic sipping from a Hercules-branded cup for good measure. It’s classic bad henchman schtick, serving to both endear them to the audience and enrage Hades.

While “Beauty and the Beast” primarily chronicles the romance of its titular pair, it’s also the story of the enchanted Lumiere (Jerry Orbach) and Cogsworth (David Ogden Stiers). The curse put on the Beast (Robby Benson) transformed all of the castle’s inhabitants into household items, including Lumiere and Cogsworth who became a candelabra and small grandfather clock respectively. Like the Beast, they want it to end, although that’s easier said than done. And because ending the spell hinges on the Beast and Belle (Paige O’Hara) falling in love, they’re united in their desire to see the two come together — they just have very different ways of doing it.

Cogsworth and Lumiere are a classic opposites-attract pair, with the former being uptight and following the rules and latter taking on a suave and carefree approach. Despite their differences and disagreements, it’s clear that the two have a grudging respect and even a friendship, making way for moments of humor and pathos. 

His turn as Donkey in 2001’s “Shrek” and its many sequels may be more popular, but Eddie Murphy deserves just as much attention for his role as Mushu in 1998’s “Mulan,” the story of a girl (Ming-Na Wen) who joins the army to save her injured father from getting conscripted. Mushu, the disgraced family guardian tasked with watching over the titular heroine after destroying the statue of the guardian originally intended for the job, does an adequate job of being Mulan’s protector … or at least he does his best to do so. 

As a guardian, he doesn’t have much to go on, lacking in power and often poorly advising Mulan while she attempts to assimilate into the army as a man. Eventually, Mushu does help Mulan, making key contributions on the battlefield and behind the scenes, and the two learn to appreciate each other’s strengths. Mulan returns home a hero, and Mushu is promoted to a full family guardian. Although Mushu doesn’t appear in the live-action version of this tale from 2020, it’s done little to tarnish the legacy he and Mulan have as a dynamic Disney duo. 

“The Emperor’s New Groove” follows Kuzco (David Spade), a man turned into a llama and reluctantly befriends the gentle village leader Pacha (John Goodman). But the pair we’re talking about here — Kuzco’s advisor Yzma (Eartha Kitt) and her assistant Kronk (Patrick Warburton) — are the cause of Kuzco’s condition. While intending to kill him, Kronk mistakes a llama transformation potion for a vial he thought was marked as poison. After learning that Kronk failed to kill Kuzco in his llama form, the pair go after the former emperor with menacing wrath.

Simply put, this duo is hilarious together. Yzma is the picture of mean, although she’s not above taking a break for coffee and dessert. Kronk, on the other hand, is easily among the most underrated Disney sidekicks, a dimwitted foil who slaps himself when hunting for a bug but not without the occasional flash of brilliance, such as figuring out Kuzco’s location in the middle of the night. They ultimately have a falling out — Yzma tells Kronk she never liked his spinach puffs and that’s the last straw — but until then they’re more or less in sync, outside of Kronk killing Kuzco.

The main duo in “Lady and the Tramp” aren’t a natural pairing. She’s a pampered pooch from the suburbs, he’s a rough-and-tumble mongrel from the wrong side of the tracks. And if it weren’t for Aunt Sarah (Verna Felton), the two may have never met. Tramp (Larry Roberts) just so happened to be passing Lady (Barbara Luddy) while she and her friends were discussing her owners’ impending baby. Unsurprisingly, Tramp is of the opinion that babies are bad for dogs and is thrown out of her yard.

But after Lady is put in a muzzle by the dog-hating Sarah while her caregivers are away, she flees only to run into Tramp again. The scrappy mutt not only defends Lady from harm but also shows her the ropes of street living. In the end, he even helps kill a rat threatening the baby. This is enough for love to bloom, resulting in puppies of their own, although it’s their getting to know each other that makes it all worthwhile. The spaghetti scene, where the two accidentally touch lips while eating a pasta strand before Tramp offers Lady the last meatball, is especially iconic, showing that despite coming from different worlds, these two can still make it work.

In “Zootopia,” Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin), the first bunny cop to serve on the city’s police force, is earnest to a fault. Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) is a criminal fox who runs hustle after hustle, even duping Judy when they first meet. They couldn’t be more different, and yet when Judy finds out that an otter has gone missing and is only given 48 hours to find him or surrender her badge, she turns to Nick.

Both Nick and Judy rely on stereotypes to understand each other at first, and with one being a predator and the other being prey, they have plenty to draw from. However, they gradually learn to overcome them and start to genuinely trust one another; that’s when they become a real team. Not only do they find the otter that Judy was looking for, but all the other missing mammals in the city and even solve the case of why predators are going feral. On top of making for an excellent duo to include on the police force, the personal journey and discoveries from both highlight what makes them such strong friends.

“The Fox and the Hound” centers on the titular fox and hound duo of Tod and Copper. Their different worlds collide thanks to Widow Tweed (Jeanette Nolan) stepping in to raise Tod (Keith Mitchell) following the death of his mom at the hands of a hunter. Because of that, Tod and hunting dog Copper (Corey Feldman) become next-door neighbors and later, after catching wind of one another, best friends. They don’t realize they make an odd pair and as such aren’t setting out to rewrite the rules of friendship; they just like each other, and that’s enough.

As you can imagine, once Tod (Mickey Rooney) and Copper (Kurt Russell) get older, things get more complicated. Amos Slade (Jack Albertson) blames Tod for hurting his older dog, Chief (Pat Buttram), while he and his pack are hunting the fox. As a result, Widow Tweed brings Tod to a nature preserve, with Amos and Copper hot on his trail soon after. But when Tod saves Copper from a bear, the hound sees the error of his ways and defends Tod from Amos. Everyone walks away with their lives, but the two former friends are irrevocably separated, although the memories of the fun they had when in their younger years live on.

In “The Jungle Book,” Mowgli (Bruce Reitherman), a wolf-raised “man-cub,” is reluctant to return to the man village despite the best efforts of his longtime friend Bagheera (Sebastian Cabot). Likewise, his friend Baloo (Phil Harris), a charismatic but simpleminded bear he encounters along his journey, is also adamant that the man-cub reside in the jungle. Shortly after meeting, Mowgli and Baloo bond over “The Bear Necessities,” the winning ditty that Baloo uses to teach Mowgli about what really matters in life. Baloo wants to keep the child as his own cub and, much to Mowgli’s delight.

The two prove their loyalty to one another when the tiger Shere Khan (George Sanders) comes to call. While Baloo at first attempts to take Mowgli to the man village among learning of the tiger’s intent to kill him, causing the child to distrust and abandon his old papa bear, the two eventually fight for one another once Shere Khan finally confronts them. Mowgli even thinks Baloo gave his life for the cause, only to reveal he’s alive. The ultimate test comes when Mowgli finds himself by the man village and finally decides to go after being enticed by a girl. In the end, despite deeply caring for the man-cub, Baloo leaves him there, realizing that being among his own kind is what’s best for Mowgli. 

When people think of Disney duos,  Aladdin (Scott Weinger) and the Genie (Robin Williams) often come to mind as one of the ultimate pairs. But for our money, we prefer Jafar (Jonathan Freeman) and Iago (Gilbert Gottfried). “Aladdin,” which was almost a very different movie, is the story of a street rat who falls in love with the Princess Jasmine (Linda Larkin) and then finds a genie who can help him win her heart. Also trying to get Genie and the princess’ hand for his own selfish desires is Jafar, the Sultan’s (Douglas Seale) royal vizier, alongside his parrot sidekick Iago. The duo are as evil as they come, hungry for the Sultan’s power and looking to stop Aladdin from inserting himself into their affairs.

Despite looking down at others in the kingdom, Jafar and Iago share a mutual respect for one another, and that admiration helps them get very close to what they want. The two even manage to gain control of the Genie at one point, who imbues Jafar with extraordinary power. They ultimately don’t succeed — it’s a Disney movie after all — but their ability to be in sync is second to none. Plus, their banter is often hilarious and laced with wicked remarks, especially by Iago.

The titular protagonist (Brian Bedford) of 1973’s “Robin Hood” may be adept at stealing from the rich and giving to the poor, but his exploits would be nothing without his best buddy Little John (Phil Harris) by his side. Robin Hood and Little John are wanted by the Sheriff of Nottingham (Pat Buttram), but instead of being brought low by it, they make their exploits look fun … and make Prince John (Peter Ustinov) look silly while doing so.

For example, they manage to rob the prince blind on a tax collection day by dressing up as and convincing him they’re fortune tellers. Later, when Prince John catches Robin Hood competing in his archery tournament and sentences him to death, Little John holds a knife to Prince John’s back until his friend is set free. Robin Hood and Little John undeniably take their mission with seriousness — the latter even questioning if they’re good or bad guys early on in the film — but still make plenty of time for merrymaking in the midst of it all. 

Upon finding the demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson), Moana (Auli’i Cravalho) gets way more than she bargained for. Though she aims to return the heart of goddess-turned-raging demon Te Fiti to help restore life to her island, Maui has different ideas, mostly reclaiming his magical hook and getting his full power back. As is the case with such contrasting couples, the two are at odds throughout most of “Moana” — with Maui’s egocentric leanings coming up against the teenage heroine’s selfless ways. They gradually learn to see eye-to-eye, with Maui showing Moana how to wayfind and Moana bringing out the demigod’s altruistic side.

Ultimately, they’re both better because of their connection. Maui ultimately respects Moana for her grit and Moana appreciates Maui’s ability to get things done, even if it takes some coddling at first. It’s a dynamic they take into “Moana 2,” with this duo being the heart of that story as well.

Before claiming his rightful royal title in “The Lion King,” Simba (Jonathan Taylor Thomas) must first let go of his painful past. The figures who have the biggest impact on him in this regard are longtime friends Timon (Nathan Lane), a sharp-witted and charming meerkat, and Pumbaa (Ernie Sabella), the carefree and witty warthog. They take the orphaned lion cub under their wing and introduce him to their motto of “Hakuna Matata,” a Swahili term which means “no worries” and speaks to their habit of living in and enjoying the moment.

But while Timon and Pumbaa preach this laid-back philosophy, they actively support Simba (Matthew Broderick) to return to his home and take on his evil uncle Scar (Jeremy Irons) for control of the Pride Lands. In fact, they fight alongside him, with Pumbaa even going so far as to charge into battle — shouting a Sidney Poitier reference no less — to save Timon at one point. Ultimately, Timon and Pumbaa are the best of friends and apply the same unwavering loyalty to Simba no matter the situation.

“Pinocchio,” about a wooden puppet that wants to be a real boy, is full of lovable characters, including the puppet maker Gepetto (Christian Rub), his cat Figaro (Clarence Nash), and the etherial Blue Fairy (Evelyn Venable). But it’s the duo of the title character, Pinocchio (Dickie Jones), and his “conscience,” Jiminy Cricket (Cliff Edwards), that make this 1940 classic sing. Though Jiminy is ostensibly the one who will show Pinocchio right from wrong, he’s not much better than him at discerning the best choices unless it’s blatantly obvious. But between the cricket’s ingenuity for assessing situations and Pinocchio’s innocence in trying just about anything, somehow they make it work.

The pair have many adventures together, including on Pleasure Island, where Jiminy saves Pinocchio from becoming a donkey just in time. The two also come to the rescue when Pinocchio’s family is stuck in the belly of the fierce whale Monstro, leading to an explosive climax that puts both at risk. These harrowing escapades cement their bond, ensuring that Jiminy always has a place with Pinocchio. Almost impossible to think that in the original book, Pinocchio squashes the cricket within minutes of them meeting.

Like everyone at the animal shelter, Lilo (Daveigh Chase) initially assumes that the strange alien experiment she dubs Stitch (Chris Sanders) is little more than an odd-looking mutt who happens to be remarkably destructive. Even then, the lonely child, grieving the loss of her parents and struggling to make friends elsewhere, attaches to him almost immediately, hoping Stitch will be the companion she’s always yearned for. However, through the course of “Lilo and Stitch,” the little blue alien grows to mean more than that; he becomes ohana, or family.

While Lilo eventually learns the truth of Stitch’s origins, by that time, he has already become chosen family in both the original animated film and the live-action remake. The bond developed between these oddball outcasts — an alien that has chaos written in his DNA and an isolated little girl — is touching to say the least. Lilo and Stitch belong together, and not even the Galactic Federation can tear them apart.

“Frozen” is arguably the most important Disney movie of the 2010s, in no small part thanks to the iconic sisterly bond of Anna (Kristen Bell) and Elsa (Idina Menzel). As youngsters, these two enjoyed playing and building snowmen in their castle in Arendelle using Elsa’s ice magic. That is until Elsa accidentally hurt Anna with that same power, and kept herself locked away in an attempt to keep her sister safe. Even when their parents die in a ship wreck, Elsa doesn’t come out to acknowledge or comfort Anna. When she finally comes back out of necessity for her coronation and attempts to reconnect with her sibling, things take a turn.

Among the public learning of her powers, Elsa builds a far away castle and isolates herself once more, unintentionally letting loose an eternal winter in the process. But even in the midst of such chaos, Anna tries to bring Elsa back. The ice queen eventually saves Anna, with the love for her sister being strong enough to break the wintery curse. That’s the dynamic they’ve had ever since. No matter the obstacle, both are there for one another, their fierce bond being both genuine and inspiring. That pure, deep connection puts them at number one on our list of best Disney duos.