When it comes to wholesome entertainment, it’s hard to beat the likes of Schitt’s Creek and Disney. Each, in their own way, tries to find the beauty and the joy in life, reminding even the most cynical viewers that there is, in fact, a reason to look on the bright side, even in the bleakest of times.
That being the case, it’s actually rather fun to think about the ways in which the various characters of Schitt’s Creek equate to the characters that inhabit the Disney canon, with some results that are both hilarious and, in some particular cases, quite surprising.
Moira: Madam Mim
Madam Mim is one of those Disney villains that not a lot of people know, but anyone who has seen The Sword in the Stone knows that she’s an exuberant sort of personality.
She’s also fond of changing shapes, transforming herself into various animals, and just being a spectacle in general. That’s definitely the same sort of attitude that Moira Rose takes to life. After all, who could ever forget the many gorgeous outfits that she put on during the course of the show, as well as the many annoying (and sweet) things she did?
Johnny: Cogsworth
Beauty and the Beast is one of those tales that is as old as time, but while the story focuses on Belle and the Beast, it also has plenty of entertaining side characters. Who, after all, could forget the fussy Cogsworth, the clock servant that was always trying to make sure that his master didn’t get angry?
Though Johnny Rose might not have been turned into a clock by an evil spell, it’s pretty clear that he has the same temperament as Cogsworth, which is what makes him so lovable and adorable.
Alexis: Ariel
At first glance, it might not seem like Ariel and Alexis have a lot in common, but a look beneath the surface shows some rather stunning similarities. Among other things, they are both headstrong young women who grow increasingly frustrated with the limits imposed on them by their parents (Ariel by her father, King Triton, and Alexis by the constant naysaying and lack of faith of her mother, Moira).
Furthermore, each manages to fulfill their dreams, even if their ending is more than a little bittersweet, and each one has their share of good and bad traits.
David: Beast
The pairing of David and Beast might also seem a bit counterintuitive, but once again there’s more there than meets the eye. Both David and Beast have a lot of emotional turmoil going on beneath the surface, which means that they have a lot of trouble connecting with others, even if (especially if), that person happens to be someone that they’re falling in love with.
In David's case, that makes him a rather sad character. Fortunately, both of these lovable characters end up finding someone who loves them for they are and encourages them to see their own inner (and outer) beauty.
Patrick: Woody
It’s difficult not to love Patrick. After all, he is in some ways the best character on the show. He gives his beloved David unconditional love and support (he really is the sweetest), and he basically becomes part of the family.
He’s a loyal soul, and it’s clear that he takes his relationship with David very seriously, indeed. That makes him quite a lot like Woody, who is another character that prizes loyalty above almost anything else and is when one gets right down to it, just so darn cute.
Stevie: Phil
Philoctetes, the trainer of heroes, is one of those Disney sidekicks that doesn’t always get the kind of love and appreciation he deserves (especially since he was played by none other than Dany DeVito).
He’s a bit brash and more than a little cynical, but that gradually changes as he reveals that he, like so many other Disney characters, really does have a heart of gold. That’s exactly the storyline of the young curmudgeon Stevie, who slowly shows that she, too, has a good heart beneath her skepticism and becomes one of the show's most likable characters.
Roland: Pumba
Roland is, it has to be said, one of the more difficult characters to like in Schitt’s Creek, especially since he spends almost every episode basically making a nuisance of himself to the Roses and everyone else.
Gradually, however, he shows some depth to his personality, and he stands up for Johnny to a group of snooty New York investors. In his slovenly attitude and his hidden heart of gold, he’s very much like everyone’s favorite smelly warthog Pumbaa.
Jocelyn: Chicha
Joccelyn was another of those residents of the little town of Schitt’s Creek that managed to steal the hearts of the audience. Though she’s sweet for the most part, more than once she shows that she also has a little bit of an edge. In that respect, she’s a lot like Chicha, Pacha’s wife in the hilarious movie The Emperor’s New Groove.
Both of them are women who know what it takes to make a household run, and they’re not willing to take anyone’s nonsense.
Ted: Aladdin
Disney has created quite a few princes over the years, and it has to be said that not every one of them is very complex. That’s not true of Aladdin, who is one of the best of them, with a backstory and a persona that makes fans love him even now.
He also has a lot in common with Ted, the lovable vet that stole Alexis' heart. Both of them are guys that truly do want the best for the loved ones in their lives, and both of them are prone to doing very sweet (and sometimes annoying) things.
Twyla: Snow White
Of all of the denizens of Schitt’s Creek, Twyla is probably the purest. There just doesn’t seem to be a single mean bone in her body or thought in her mind. From the beginning, she makes the Roses feel that they are part of the town.
Despite her troubled family history, she doesn’t let this get her down or make her bitter, and in that respect, she is very much like the famous Snow White who, fans of Disney will remember, was almost killed by her stepmother but also managed to keep that from making her embittered or cynical.