Top 10 Cartoon Best Friends in Movies

Our opening animated allies are as adorable as they come! Bambi and Thumper are one of Walt Disney’s first duos, and one of his finest. Bambi doesn’t have a mom to guide him, but he does have a mighty good mate in Thumper. The scene in which the little grey rabbit teaches his fawn-friend how to walk on the ice is a classic throughout all of cinema, as it perfectly captures a lack of confidence and an abundance of kindness.

They said they’d ‘always be friends, forever’, but, boy, would that pledge come to be tested! These two shouldn’t be friends, but they are! Tod’s a fox in the care of gentle Widow Tweed; Copper’s a hound dog employed by angry Amos Slade. As youngsters, they’re unaware of the differing paths they’re destined for, and as full-growns it’s a tough fact to face. If they’re to remain the best of BFFs, then they must do so under tricky, testing, and potentially tragic circumstances.

Next, to a friendship that’s truly out of this world... Or at least 50% of it is! If Tod and Copper weren’t strictly meant to be, then Lilo and Stitch shouldn’t really stand a chance! As Experiment 626, Stitch was never supposed to leave his native laboratory on his native planet. But he ends up on Earth anyway, masquerading as a strange breed of dog and a new friend for Lilo. What follows is ‘The Ugly Duckling’ crossed with “E.T.” crossed with all manner of madness!

A street rat he may be, but he’s a street rat with friends! Aladdin and Abu are Agrabah’s greatest partners – in life and in crime! The hero’s never too far away from his high-pitched, kind-of-kleptomaniac, primate pal! Al has more buddies than Abu, though. Genie proves an awesome acquaintance at first, and a loyal friend to the finish. Riding the Magic Carpet and chasing Jasmine’s love, they’re a trio of cartoony terrific-ness!

If there’s anything that this list is teaching us, it’s that friendships are often formed when they’re least expected. Wreck-It Ralph’s been locked inside his retro video game for years, and Venellope’s been a glitch dwelling within her own console for just as long. Ralph wants a medal, Venellope wants a race; and they need to work together to achieve either of those things! As a pair, they’re peculiar, but as a team they’re too strong for the villains, and too cute for the audience!

Another curious concoction of companions, these 3 play out the most heart-warming of stories within the coldest of climates. Manny’s a lonesome mammoth with a sore spot for humans, Diego’s a saber-toothed tiger and a hunter of humans, Sid’s a sloth and an unquestionable lover of all things. When the three become unwilling, unexpected and unconventional guardians of a small child, the story that unfolds is as beautiful as it is bonkers!

Monsters are meant to scare, and they’re meant to do it because they care... There’s no doubt that both of these guys fulfil the last part of that mantra, but Mike is a little lacking in the first requisite. While Sulley is the number one Scarer at Monsters, Inc., Mike just doesn’t cut the nightmarish mustard. That does little to curtail their companionship, though. They’re comrades in your closet; they’re the best of buddies under your bed at night!

We’d probably all like to have Mike Myers and Eddie Murphy as our real life chums, even if their on-screen characters don’t get along at first! Myers is Shrek, the reclusive, repulsive ogre. Murphy is Donkey, the happy, hyperactive... donkey. They’re thrown together by fantastical circumstance, embarking on a road-trip encompassing all of our favorite fairy tales. It’s a journey to Lord Farquaad, and a passage to friendship. They argue like a married couple, but they play off of one another perfectly.

There are certainly ‘no worries’ when it comes to these two. This warthog/meerkat duo is exactly what Simba needs upon fleeing the Pride Lands. The heir to his father’s throne, but feeling responsible for Mufasa’s death as well, Simba is at rock bottom. However, Timon and Pumbaa nurse the Lion King back to greatness through their infectious, hilarious camaraderie. Timon’s got brains, Pumbaa’s got brawn (sort of)... they’re wholly unorthodox, but it really works for them!

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
- Peter Pan & Tinker Bell “Peter Pan” (1953)
- Mowgli & Baloo “The Jungle Book” (1967)
- Kristoff & Sven “Frozen” (2013)
- Mr. Incredible & Frozone “The Incredibles” (2004)

Their animation’s top notch, and their friendship is too... There could never be another twosome at the top of this particular tree! An old-fashioned cowboy doll and a new-age spaceman toy, Woody and Buzz continue the trend of being unusually associated. Under the influence of Andy’s ownership, however, the playthings form an unbreakable bond. For Woody, jealousy switches to admiration; for Buzz, mockery is replaced by respect. ‘You’ve got a friend in me’, they have a friend in each other, and we have a winner in them!

Do you agree with our list? Which cartoon companions are your favorite? For more animated Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.