Best Disney couples, ranked – Polygon

Disney stories put a big emphasis on “happily ever after” endings, especially in movies with romantic arcs. Early animated films like Snow White and Seven Dwarfs Oder SLeaping Beauty, At the end of the movie, the “marriage is the perfect ending” trend rings. The happy couple in white rides away in a carriage and dances in an air-filled ballroom. But the “marriage is the perfect ending” trend isn’t isolated to the old films: Disney made a six-minute Get Tangled special centered around Flynn and Rapunzel’s wedding that premiered before the theatrical rerelease of Beauty and the Beast2012

What about? AfterIs it possible to live happily ever again? What about the hard work that goes into maintaining a relationship — especially a relationship where one of the parties is part fish and the other is a human prince?

Out of my twin loves for Disney and for Valentine’s Day, I decided to evaluate the relationships of 17 Disney couples to determine whether they’re capable of surviving their story’s big, joyful climax. There are many things to consider. Lot of Disney couples out there, so here’s how we narrowed down the scope to make this list manageable:

• Only human couples were ranked. Since I’m not an animal, anthropomorphic or otherwise, I can’t accurately evaluate the deeper ramifications of animal relationships. We offer our condolences for Robin Hood, Maid Marian and Simba, Nala and Lady and Tramp.
• Similar to the above, Calhoun and Felix were both skipped by me. Ralph Wreck-It, because they’re video game characters.
• The story must at least partially involve lovers getting together. There are no previously married couples.
• While I took some of the sequel material into consideration to evaluate the strength of these relationships, I’m not ranking sequel-only couples — sorry, Anastasia (Cinderella’s stepsister) and the cute Baker!
• Disney acquired 1997’s Anastasia in the merger with 20th Century Fox, but it still isn’t really a Disney movie. So as much as I adore Anya and Dimitri, they aren’t included. Fighting me.

Now, let’s see which Disney couples do well after the talebook ends.

John Smith and Pocahontas were disqualified

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These characters are based on real-life people who didn’t end up together! And I don’t like the implications of their Disney movie romance, especially since in real life, Pocahontas was 10 when she met John Smith, who was a grown adult man. Nope. Disqualified. If you want a story where a colonizer falls in love with someone he’s trying to colonize and then switches sides, just watch Avatar.

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One small thing to note — Snow White and Florian aren’t total strangers when he wakes her up with a kiss. They meet early in the movie when she’s sitting by the wishing well, singing about the prince she hopes will find her someday. Florian, however, is just the type of guy who would love to see a coffin made from glass. You can spend a few weeks in the woods.Give a loving kiss to the lady who is inside. OK, maybe it’s kinda sweet that he was paying his respects to the beautiful woman he met once, but I dunno, mate, it’s not like she was properly embalmed. Anyway, corpse-kissing aside, this is a relationship built solely on physical attraction (and one duet), which doesn’t bode well for their future.

16. Sleeping Beauty: Phillip and Aurora

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This is a slightly higher-quality version than the Snow WhiteTwo reasons are important to pair. One, Aurora and Phillip’s parents are all friends, so at the very least, the young couple has something to talk about, and relationship examples to look toward. Two, Phillip breaks out of a dungeon and fights a freaking dragon for Aurora — that’s definitely more romantic than stumbling upon a glass coffin and giving a dead body a smooch. Also, because the evil fairy Maleficent outright explains Aurora’s situation to Phillip, he knows she’s asleep and not dead, and that kissing her will break her curse. But they’ve still only had one conversation and a brief dance in the woods, so we can’t even determine whether their sleeping habits are compatible. Phillip may snore very badly.

15. Mariano and Dolores from Encanto

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This one looks like it was made for failure. Mariano is only aware of Dolores’s beauty after Isabela his beautiful cousin rejects her. He is also keen to be married. His personality is one of those guys who only needs to find validation from others and be able to set goals for his life. Dolores is able to learn a lot about him thanks to his super-hearing. The fact that he thought he was in love with her cousin less than a week before he announces to Dolores that they should get married is a big hurdle, and it’s going to take real work to get over it. She tells him that he should slow down so that at least one person is willing to work hard to make this happen.

14. Ariel, Eric and the Little Mermaid

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Ariel wanted to be part of the human world long before she caught a glimpse of Eric on his ship — but then she saw a dark-haired, blue-eyed cutie who’s willing to jump off his boat to save his dog, and decided she was going to take matters into her own hands. He is worth her whole life. But the risks go both ways: Eric is willing to commandeer a ship into a storm to help Ariel defeat Ursula the Sea Witch, so they’re both doing some pretty intense things for one another. That said, their entire relationship happens in the span of three days, during which Ariel can’t talk and Eric spends a lot of time showing her how the world works, when he isn’t planning to marry Ursula-in-disguise. To build a strong relationship, they need to get to know each other’s cultural backgrounds. It seems like the type of relationship that burns bright and fast at the beginning, but without some hard work, it’ll fizzle out quickly when they actually get to know each other.

13. Cinderella, Prince Charming of Cinderella

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Cinderella receives a lot of undeserved criticism for sitting around waiting for a man. But I want to point out that she doesn’t go to the prince’s ball to look for true love — she’s just taking a night off from chores. She wants to party in a beautiful dress. Then she meets a wonderful guy that is attentive to her every night. Although this marriage is not a result of a single meeting, there are some things you should consider. There was no one who wasn’t aware of the other at any time! In the bizarre direct-to-home video sequels (Cinderella 2: Dreams Come TrueAnd Cinderella 3: A Twist in Time), Charming’s character is developed in a way that Florian and Phillip never get, and he’s revealed as a good match for his new wife. Cinderella ushers in a new age for their kingdom, opening the doors of Charming’s castle to the common folk, while he fully supports her. This is a fantastic combination: a girlboss/malewife! That’s what gives them an edge over Ariel and Eric, whose sequel is about the mistakes they made raising their daughter.

12. Frozen Anna and Kristoff

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It is sad that Kristoff and Anna are so far down the list. Frozen hadn’t gotten a sequel, they would have ranked higher. They didn’t get a sequel. Frozen 2There were so many problems in their marriage that they highlighted, and all could be fixed with one honest conversation. Instead of having a conversation, they rush to silly conclusions and then get involved in petty disputes. Before they tie the knot, I believe both should have some time to develop and be more confident. Kristoff seems more stable in their relationship, despite having had to deal with a lot. However, Anna needs to mature. They are both too young to make big decisions. This is unlike previous Disney films that featured younger protagonists. Their potential is there! It is up to them to grow and be patient. <3

11. Megara & Hercules From Hercules

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Meg may have been used to seduce Hercules but his genuine do-gooder attitude melts Hercules’ heart. Is Meg truly changed by the power of love or is it just a ploy to seduce Hercules? Do you think Hercules would question whether he gave up his godhood in order to be with her? It is possible that it will not be, however, this was an important decision after just one date. Meg WasHe was manipulating her for the duration of their relationship. Even if she changed her mind. I just think Hercules shouldn’t have made a life-altering decision based on his attraction to a sexy woman he barely knew.

10. Jane and Tarzan in Tarzan

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Jane is Tarzan’s first ever human female friend. It does not mean that they will have a long-lasting relationship. This seems more like a convenience relationship. That said, they’re both well into adulthood when they meet (even if Tarzan’s adulthood WasThey are strongly influenced by gorillas, so that they can have an accurate sense of who they are and what they desire. Is it likely that Jane might back out of the whole “living in the jungle” thing? Yes. Yes. But if someone looked at me like Tarzan looks at her in the “Strangers Like Me” sequence, I might just leave the comfort of civilization as well.

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Milo and Kida’s story is almost like Jane and Tarzan’s, with Milo giving up everything he knows to stay with Kida. Although it is certainly more convenient to stay in Atlantis, the utopia technologically advanced than the jungle seems much cushier. Milo may not be the first man Kida ever saw. Milo, however, does have a deep fascination with Atlantean culture that might bring up some tension down the line — did he marry Kida just to marry into Atlantis? Does he only like her because she’s Atlantean? Yeowch. This is one awkward conversation.

8. Rapunzel & Flynn are from Tangled

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Although they have a lot in common, Rapunzel must be allowed to discover who she really is beyond the prison cell she has been locked in for her whole life. They seem to be at very different times in their lives than Anna or Kristoff. However, they aren’t as bogged down by superficial insecurities, and they’re actually remarkably honest with each other. Flynn confides his sad backstory to Rapunzel, and she’s entirely upfront with him about what she wants. This relationship will not last if they hurry into it. But give it some time, and they could build up to something — provided Flynn doesn’t mind waiting around. There is a three-season series they have that runs between the film and the wedding. They canonically allow it to take some time.

7. Jasmine from Aladdin and Aladdin

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Aladdin holding a hand out to Jasmine and asking, “Do you trust me?” is just *chef’s kiss*. I love a class-difference romance centered around a charming-yet-scrappy urchin and a resilient-yet-sheltered socialite. Yes, I did watch. TitanicHe was an impressionable age. But, he Did lie to her about his identity — which, while addressed and forgiven in the movie, points to the fact that he’s insecure about their relationship. Both admit that they have seen two movies together.Aladdin: Jafar ReturnsAnd Aladdin and The King of Thieves(before they are actually married. But still, the pressures of being royalty might get to Aladdin more than they affect some of the other married-into-nobility couples on this list, simply because of how their relationship started.

6. Beauty and the Beast’s Belle and Adam

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I do not want to wade into the “Is this STOCKHOLM SYNDROME?!” debate around Beauty and the Beast. (It’s not.) Instead I will concentrate on the fact that Adam & Belle spend a lot more time getting to understand each other than Disney couples. Particularly Adam has to go through significant growth to become a man that Belle can be proud of. That enchantress was really having the last laugh, which is the point of Adam’s curse. That being said, I could foresee them getting a bit bored down the line, if only because Belle’s restless spirit and thirst for adventure might leave her singing about how there must be more than just a big castle and fancy dresses. They could be successful if Adam was willing to support Belle in her pursuits.

5. Tiana and Naveen in The Princess and the Frog

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Tiana looked at Naveen and decided she wasn’t gonna put any effort into fixing him, because he could do that himself. He was successful! Naveen’s arc in the movie revolves around him realizing his cushy playboy lifestyle isn’t fulfilling and that he needs to put in hard work if he actually wants to cultivate meaningful relationships. Meanwhile, Tiana’s arc is about how she needs to let herself relax once in a while. They’re perfect complements! She is supported by him, and he reminds her to have fun. She pushes him to be better, but also doesn’t coddle him. They’re only getting points off their relationship because of the whole royals question: Who’s taking up the throne if Naveen is in New Orleans helping Tiana with her restaurant? Will they have to make a big choice about going against Naveen’s family or Tiana giving up her dreams? They might find the answer in long-promised Disney Plus, although it raises some serious questions.

4. Mulan, Shang Mulan

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Shang became so affected by the power of this relationship, he began to doubt his sexuality.

Mulan Shang and Shang are a formidable pair. They work together well. Shang spares Mulan’s life after learning she’s a woman who illegally entered the army, since he’s so impressed with her (and also definitely smitten). Mulan was right to warn Mulan about Huns. They clashed briefly but Shang eventually forgives Mulan and helps her. He respects her as she is by the end of the film. Mulan has become more confident and is able to communicate with him. The strength of their relationship is remarkable. Mulan 2The story centers on Mushu, who tries to split them for selfish reasons. It is a difficult task because they are so good together.

3. The Hunchback of Notre Dame – Esmeralda & Phoebus

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This is the closest thing to a proper, satisfying enemies-to-lovers arc that Disney has ever done, even though the “enemies” interaction is incredibly brief. Phoebus and Esmeralda fight their first time they meet. But he then lies to his superior in order to rescue her. But he understands she isn’t a damsel in distress — he’s just using his own privilege to help out a Romani woman in a prejudiced country. In fact, he spends the whole movie using his position as a white man to stand up for what’s right, until he’s eventually injured and Esmeralda then saves He. Is this a dramatic departure from the Victor Hugo novel, where he’s a sleazy guy who just wants to get in Esmeralda’s skirts? Yup! But Disney stories tend to be dramatic deviations from the original source material. Esmeralda & Phoebus share a strong relationship based on common values. They also have a good sense of themselves and their goals. They’ve overcome petty differences to work together before, and they can do it again.

2. Roger and Anita, 101 Dalmatians

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Does it matter? Barely!The movie’s beginning is all about their meeting up and having a great time. I’m really pushing the limit here, since a lot of the movie does follow them in their post-marriage life, and they seem pretty happy! They work well together, even when tragedy strikes (though he might be less irritating when she teases him about Cruella). They have their moments together where they are a little silly. Raising 101 dalmatians is sure to be a challenge, but if anyone can do it, it’s Roger and Anita.

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David knows Nani is too busy to date him, given how overwhelmed she is with raising her little sister after their parents’ death. Nani is still grateful for his friendship and support, even though he does not expect any in return. Nani knows she can rely on him, and the only reason that she isn’t dating him already is because she’s more focused on passing a social services inspection so she and Lilo can stay together. More so than most of these other couples — if not all of them! — they’re friends first and potential love interests second. This gives them the best foundation for building a relationship, even if they don’t get along through all of life’s difficulties. Then they experience a Lot, but at the same time, their crisis situations are a little more grounded than saving China from invasion or standing up to a bigot fanatic who’s burning down Paris. They are still able to Do involve aliens.