Everyone has their favorite Disney character, just as everyone has their favorite color, song, or season. They make viewers laugh, enchant them with their delightful nature, and at times they are even relatable and possess a surprisingly human quality. What is it that makes the faces of Disney so relatable and sympathetic?
Not every human on Earth can relate to bouncing through a cartoon world or slaying a dragon, but they can relate to struggles, emotions, and passions. Whether they are live-action, animated, or something in between, viewers can't help but see a piece of themselves in these magical friends.
Cinderella: Wants a Break
To put it bluntly, Cinderella has more patience than any other Disney character in existence. What some people tend to forget about her story is that she never wanted the fairytale narrative. She never wanted to marry a prince, she simply wanted to go to a ball.
She did so much for her cruel step-family and never complained, so why wouldn't she want a break from the housework? It's simple, but taking a break to enjoy yourself is something nearly every audience member could relate to.
Remy: Wants to Expand His Craft
One of the central messages of Ratatouille is that anyone can cook, but cooking can also be replaced with any number of skills. Anyone can cook, anyone can dance, anyone can juggle flaming chainsaws, but only if they have the passion to pursue their dream.
Remy, despite his origins and situation, is a very passionate individual who wants to continue to hone his craft despite his obstacles. Anyone in a creative field can relate to this passionate drive and desire to improve.
Nick and Judy: Want To Break Norms
Zootopia was an animated film that broke several boundaries or at least tried to get that message across. Both of its main characters deal with stereotypes and toxic social norms.
Nick is a fox, therefore he must be shady. Judy is a bunny, therefore she must be soft and delicate. Both characters realize that the first step in breaking the barriers is overcoming both society's prejudices and even their own.
Mr. Incredible: Wants To Be Fulfilled
Despite his superhero stature, Mr. Incredible is one of the most human individuals ever to be blessed with super strength. But just because he goes into a begrudging retirement doesn't mean he's ready to quit.
It's more than saving the day to him, the superhero lifestyle is about being fulfilled for him. His quote about "the glory days" tells audiences a lot about his sense of fulfillment from his superhero work. Isn't that something everyone wants?
Goofy: Wants a Relationship With His Son
Goofy is one of the last characters many would probably expect to see on this list, but if there's anything A Goofy Movie makes perfectly clear, it's that he wants to have a better relationship with his son. Most parents want to do right by their kids, but the amount of effort Goofy gives to Max is nothing short of endearing.
He might have ludicrous ways about going about it, but Goofy is a very loving character. How many times can audiences relate to familial relationships like this in their own life?
Carl Fredricksen: Coping With Loss
When it comes to emotional animated movies, Up is a heavyweight champion. The entirety of the film can be viewed as Carl Fredricksen's journey of coping with the loss of his wife.
The adventure can be interpreted as Carl literally carrying the weight of his wife's loss throughout the film. It's only when he learns to let go and continue living that he truly finds happiness in his friendship with Russell.
Lilo and Stitch: Want To Belong
Countless people live their lives feeling like they don't belong or that they're out of place. Lilo is this weird and eccentric kid who wants to be accepted by peers her own age, and Stitch is a literal space alien stranded on another planet. Why wouldn't they find companionship in each other?
They don't know where they belong in the universe, but they know and understand each other's struggle. No one gets left behind, or forgotten.
Jack Skellington: Wants To Be Challenged
As strange as it might sound, Jack Skellington has a relatable problem that crosses cultures and people around the world. He wants to be stimulated after being stuck in a rut for centuries.
Jack isn't just looking for something new, he wants to be challenged and forced to use his brain and imagination in other ways than scaring the daylights out of people. He literally says he's tired of the same routine and he's grown weary of it.
The Beast: Wants To Be Loved
Anyone who's ever seen Moulin Rouge will know the greatest thing you'll ever learn is to love and be loved in return. But those kids who were baptized in the ink and paint of Disney already knew that through the plight of the Beast.
The Beast is the product of his environment, but he still has to learn to manage his emotions and connect with another person. Love is a basic human need, and it just might be needed to warm the heart of a beast as well.
Quasimodo: Wants to be Accepted
Quasimodo and the Beast go hand-in-hand but where the Beast wants love from a singular person, Quasimodo just wants to be accepted by the world. The poor guy has lived his life as a shut-in up in the belltower, and all he asks for is one day of freedom.
Quasimodo's need for acceptance is universally felt and it's much deeper than just being loved by the film's romantic lead. He wants to walk about and be accepted openly for who he is, despite a destructive self-perception.