Top 10 Best Disney Character Intro Songs

“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” (1937)

Has anyone ever been this happy to go to work? Better yet, to go to work in a mine? I suppose it helps if you are unearthing hundreds of diamonds every time you dig, but this is easily the happiest working song ever created. Better yet, it gives us peeks into the characters of the seven dwarfs, as we see Dopey being, well, dopey, and Doc running the entire operation. By the end of the song, we know that when they work together, this crew of dwarfs is a formidable team.

“The Little Mermaid” (1989)

A beautiful ensemble piece where all the daughters of King Triton come together to not only introduce each other, but present Ariel for the first time. What’s clever about this song is that it gives us insight into Ariel’s character despite the fact that she actually isn’t present. We learn that she is forgetful, clearly, and curious. Considering how angry Triton gets when he discovers her absence, it’s likely these are recurring traits that get her in trouble. Although is just a short intro song, we learn everything we need to know about Ariel before we even meet her.

“The Aristocats” (1970)

What better way to impress a beautiful Duchess than through song? Thomas O’Malley is a smooth talking alley cat who becomes infatuated with the sophisticated Duchess immediately upon laying eyes on her. Hoping to impress, he begins listing his various self-appointed titles through song, pronouncing himself the King of the Highway and Prince of the Boulevard. Of course, throughout the film O’Malley becomes less obsessed with himself and comes to genuinely care for Duchess and her children - quite a character shift from this opening number.

“The Jungle Book” (1967)

“The Jungle Book” has a few great character intro songs, including King Louie’s classic “I Wanna Be Like You.” By far the catchiest number in the film, however, is “The Bare Necessities,” in which we first meet Baloo. This sloth bear gives a whole new meaning to the term “carefree”, as he sings to Mowgli about forgetting all of his various worries and enjoying the simple things in life. This song not only tells us all we need to know about Baloo’s character, it also has a strong effect on Mowgli, who decides he wants to stay in the jungle with Baloo, beginning their strong friendship.

“Moana” (2016)

Maui is extremely confident, although some might suggest arrogant as a better description. Of course, when you’ve given humans the sun, the wind, fire, and the sky, it’s hardly surprising that you might have a little ego. This catchy number sees Maui going through all the things he has done for humans, capturing the attention of both Moana and the audience. Of course, this song also serves another purpose, as it distracts Moana long enough for Maui to trap her inside a cave and steal her boat. Lesson learned: watch out for those demigods!

“The Lion King” (1994)

Another song that reveals a carefree philosophy, this tune introduces us to Timon and Pumbaa, two of the most memorable sidekicks in all of Disney. The pair meet Simba, who is devastated following the death of his father. They teach him the philosophy of hakuna matata, which roughly translates into “no worries.” This is a great look into the characters of Timon and Pumbaa and forms their strong bond with Simba, which would last throughout the film and in the multiple sequels.

“One Hundred and One Dalmatians” (1961)

While most characters on this list perform their own intro song, it’s Roger who sings this one about the classic villain, Cruella de Vil. This song spares no punches, as Roger compares her to a number of wicked things, including a spider, a vampire bat, and the devil. Of course, as we soon find out, these descriptions are very accurate and well-deserved. Although this is just a quick little ditty, it does a fantastic job introducing us to the villainous de Vil.

“Cinderella” (1950)

Despite all of the obstacles and difficulties Cinderella faces in her life, she somehow finds a way to stay positive and hopeful. This mindset is perfectly summed up in this song as she sings about her dreams and wishes, confident that one day everything she wants will come true for her. It is this hopeful mentality that allows her to deal with her terrible stepmother and stepsisters, and of course foreshadows the ending of the film when she finally gets her well-deserved happily ever after.

“Aladdin” (1992)

Aladdin himself has a pretty catchy intro song when we first meet him on the streets of Agrabah, but how could we not pick the Genie’s “Friend Like Me”? This song is Robin Williams at his absolute best. Aladdin has just released the Genie from the lamp, but is not entirely aware of the new power he now possesses. The Genie demonstrates his various abilities in this dazzling number as he tells Aladdin he is the best friend he could ever have hoped for.






Before we unveil our number one pick, here are a few honourable mentions:


“In Summer”

“Frozen” (2013)





“Why Should I Worry?”

“Oliver & Company” (1988)




“The World’s Greatest Criminal Mind”

“The Great Mouse Detective” (1986)

“Beauty and the Beast” (1991)

The opening number of “Beauty and the Beast,” this song provides a great introduction to Belle and how the people in her town feel about her. We discover that she is somewhat of an outcast due to her love of books and reading, while we also learn that Belle longs for much more than the mundane lives the townspeople live. Furthermore, we also get to meet the arrogant Gaston, and learn of his motivations to make Belle his wife. This song is the perfect introduction to several of the main characters in the film and clearly establishes the motivations for our characters from the very get go.