The Marvel Cinematic Universe might be filled with action sequences where heroes fight villains, but one of the main reasons fans can’t get enough of the stories is because of relationships. Whether they are friendships, family relationships, or romances, fans have become invested in these dynamics and seeing the lives of their favorite heroes beyond saving the day.
There are some parallels between some of these characters and relationships and Disney's original animated films, fitting since Disney now owns Marvel. Here's how the various relationships in the MCU align with their Disney counterparts based on things like personalities and storylines.
Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter: Snow White and Prince Charming
It was difficult to find a counterpart for this couple because they don’t actually spend that much time together in the movies, so it’s hard to see how they really interact. However, given that Peggy had basically died in the MCU in old age, but was brought back to life so to speak in Steve’s life when he went to the past, Snow White makes the most sense.
Also, the story made Steve seem like the hero who got the girl at the end, even though Peggy seemed to have moved on from him in the original timeline. This narrative matches the original Disney story which revolves around the hero finding his true love after many trials.
Bruce Banner and Natasha Romanoff: Beauty and the Beast
This pairing is probably one of the most controversial in the entire MCU because many people felt like it didn’t make sense for them to date. However, given that Bruce Banner turns into the Hulk, this Disney counterpart really works as a comparison.
The Beast, just like Bruce, is also much kinder and compassionate than he might seem at first. The main difference is that Natasha has a much tougher personality and life than Belle. Still, they are both incredibly smart women, and the relationship speaks to the softer side of the men they care about.
Steve Rogers and Tony Stark: Hercules and Meg
While in the canon of the MCU, these two don’t really date, they are a very popular fan ship. Many fans have related their relationship, especially in fan fic, to Hercules and Meg.
This is because Steve Roger’s story is somewhat similar to Hercules as he goes from a nobody to a strapping young hero. And, Meg and Tony also have some similarities in personality as they are both smart and witty and like to act like they don’t need anyone. Tony grew up hearing tales of Steve, making the "Wonder Boy" comparison an apt one.
Gamora and Nebula: Elsa and Anna
While romantic relationships in the MCU are important and well-loved by fans, some of the family dynamics are just as interesting. Gamora and Nebula are the main sister relationships explored in the films, and their family life is really complex.
While their story is much darker than Anna and Elsa’s there are some similarities. Both Nebula and Elsa end up with a lot of emotional issues because of how their parents treated them, but at the end of the day, both pairs of sisters end up being there for one another. Though it's a difficult road, they find their way back to each other in the end.
Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes: Simba and Nala
It was difficult to find a relationship to compare Steve and Bucky to, but this is the closest one. Whether you see Steve and Bucky as just best friends or like to imagine them having a more romantic relationship, the truth is that they were close since childhood and then separated for a long time, just like Simba and Nala.
This long-lasting relationship is what marks these two pairings analogous.
Wanda Maximoff and Vision: Perdita and Pongo
Wanda and Vision are very unique individuals with complicated backstories in the MCU. However, they are compared here to Perdita and Pongo from 101 Dalmations because of their family dynamics.
Wanda and Vision become parents, and they are committed to caring for their kids. However, Wanda and Vision's story is a lot darker and doesn’t have much of a happy ending. Still, if given the chance, there's no doubt they would have been excellent parents to a whole brood of children, though perhaps not 101.
T’Challa and Nakia: Mulan and Shang
T’Challa and Nakia have a much warmer and happier relationship than Mulan and Shang simply because Mulan has to hide her identity for a while. But Mulan and Shang are the best counterparts here because they are both strong, independent characters, just like Nakia and T’Challa.
Nakia and T’Challa are equals who both have a lot to bring to the table, and they respect each other deeply. This is similar to how Mulan and Shang interact at the end of Mulan. Shang also becomes a little tongue-tied when he finally addresses his feelings for Mulan and T'Challa has been known to freeze.
Carol Danvers and Maria Rambeau: Elsa and Honeymaren
Carol and Maria have one of the strongest female friendships in the entire MCU, and many people also read their relationship as having queer subtext and would like them to be together.
This is similar to the relationship between Elsa and Honeymaren in Frozen 2. While Carol and Maria had a lot closer of a friendship, Elsa and Honeymaren also become close allies and many fans felt they would have dated if Disney was better at showing LGBT!+ representation. There's absolutely something in both these powerful duos that echos of a shared spirit.
Thor and Jane Foster: Tarzan and Jane
While Thor might be a warrior and a king and have a very different storyline than Tarzan, there are some similarities between these couples.
Jane Foster and Jane from Tarzan are both intelligent women who have to show their men how to interact in the human world. Also, Tarzan and Thor can both be seen as lovable himbos. There's something incredibly endearing about both these relationships that draws the audiences to cheer them on as they both help one another navigate their feelings.
Tony Stark and Pepper Potts: Rapunzel and Flynn Rider
Tony and Pepper are another couple that is hard to find a great match for in Disney animated movies, but Flynn’s personality does have a lot in common with Tony Stark’s.
They are both sarcastic and charming, and they have a difficult time letting people in and falling in love. However, the main difference is that Pepper Potts is a lot more serious and capable than Rapunzel who is a very young protagonist. Still, together, these pairs grow and evolve as characters, leaving behind their former selves to meaningfully transform.