When one hears the name Disney, the idea of profanity is a far cry away from the squeaky-clean persona the studio tries to maintain. While the company has indeed produced its fair share of adult-focused material such as the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise and various titles under distributors like Touchstone Pictures, it's hard to imagine animated characters from the house of mouse with less-than-savory-language
That being said, Disney has always been very clever in the writing department and have a history of working their way around certain restrictions. The studio has several instances of substitute swears used for comedic or character effects, some of which even made it into everyday conversation. Perhaps these beloved animated characters aren't as innocent as one might think.
Oh My Gods! (Hercules)
It might be low-hanging fruit, but it would be unfair not to include this little phrase from Pain and Panic onto the list. The phrase "it's funny because it's true" definitely applies in Disney's world of Greek gods, goddesses, and heroes.
While working for the Lord of the Dead might present several opportunities for profanity, "Oh my gods" seems a bit more commonplace for the setting, giving it a more relatable quality to resonate with the viewers.
Whomps (Recess)
Any '90s kid who grew up with the Disney Channel will definitely know what it means when something "whomps." Penned by the famous TJ Detwiler from Disney's Recess, this substitute swear has dozens of uses across the entire series. In fact, there was an entire episode dedicated to the word and the subject of what constitutes profanity.
With that in mind, it's actually quite an impressive subject for a Saturday morning cartoon surrounding kids on the playground, especially since most kids might use something a tad more colorful than "whomps" to express their dissatisfaction.
Blow/Bless Me Bagpipes (Ducktales)
Scrooge McDuck's colorful catchphrases have the habit of toeing the line when it comes to substituting swears, especially in Disney's reboot series. But, one phrase that will forever be associated with the character has to be "Blow/Bless me bagpipes!"
Along with colorful, Scottish-inspired phrases such as "curse me kilt," this one has a bit of an extra edge depending on the situation and how far in the gutter the viewer's mind happens to be. It's certainly one of the most well-known phrases to come from one of Disney's classic cartoons.
Jumping Hop-Toads! (The Sword In The Stone)
A reasonable reaction to seeing an army of dishes washing themselves if there ever was one. There are loads of little lines like this scattered through Disney films of the '60s and '70s, but The Sword in the Stone has an extra ounce of creativity with some of its phrases.
Watching the wide-eyed Wart observe Merlin's magic in full swing more than likely resonated with the first viewers at the time, and the animators more than captured it in his expression and exclamation alone—bit that's nothing compared to his magical mentor.
Blow Me To Bermuda! (The Sword In The Stone)
Merlin could practically have his own list of substitute swears, partially due to his crotchety nature. But, this accidental spell is perhaps his biggest display in the entirety of the film. Disney is no stranger to creating characters with explosive tempers, but the wise old wizard Merlin practically takes it to a whole new level.
Scrooge had his bagpipes, but Merlin gets a trip to Bermuda. The wizard already has a pretty short fuse, even with his own magic spells, but, when one causes him to literally blow his stack, it's pure comedic gold.
Criminetly (The Aristocats)
The Aristocats might be one of Disney's most underrated animated films, but this little gem has practically been embedded in the vocabulary of any seasoned Disney fan. Uttered by Lafayette the basset hound in times of pain, disbelief, or duress, this take on the word "criminy" has lingered on years after the film's debut.
It might not be the most colorful or expressive, but it's more than likely one of the most used on the list. But that's probably a good thing.
Oh, Bother! (The Many Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh)
Winnie the Pooh might seem like the last character to ever be featured on a list involving substitute swears, but consider the context at which the silly old bear constantly utters his famous catchphrase. It happens whenever he's frustrated, dissatisfied, angry, or upset, exactly the same situations that fuel the usage of certain four-letter words.
Pooh's author, A.A. Milne, was known for his rapier wit, and it's hard not to imagine that he might have had the same thought process that put this phrase on the list. He just might be a little more witty and wise than he appears.
Sweet Cheese And Crackers (Zootopia)
Zootopia is probably one of the most mature Disney films in recent years, so the use of one entry-level swear might have been forgivable, but Judy's phrase used in the back of Mr. Big's limo is more than worthy of some recognition—especially since it so wonderfully fits her character.
Judy Hopps is one that definitely tries to maintain her sterling reputation, so its easy to understand how that desire might influence her vocabulary. As wholesome as she might try to be, most adults in the audience were probably able to read between the lines on this one.
Meega Nala Kweesta! (Lilo and Stitch)
Considered the ultimate naughty word in the Lilo and Stitch canon, it's no wonder that everyone's favorite blue sometimes-hero, sometimes-villain contributes some top-tier material for the list. Given that he's smarter than the average supercomputer, Stitch probably knows a few more certain colorful alien phrases.
It's practically one of the key phrases associated with the character, and its meaning has flip-flopped from the most horrifying swear in the galaxy to a simple desire for destruction. Either way, anything that grants a robot the ability to vomit has to be pretty gnarly.
Jiminy Crickets (Various)
As weird as it might sound, Disney might be partially responsible for creating the ultimate substitute swear. Though they didn't pen it originally, they're most certainly responsible for establishing it in the public consciousness. Even without the presence of a certain singing insect, how many times have different famous Disney characters uttered the phrase "Jiminy Crickets?"
The name of supposedly comes from a substitute for exclaiming "Jesus Christ," but, seeing how that might be offensive to some, taking another J.C. name might have been an easy alternative. It's hard to believe it actually became a very famous name in the Disney canon.