22 Cutest Disney Couples from All Your Favorite Movies

The best Disney couples of all time

Disney couples sure have changed over the years. With your favorite Disney characters celebrating the Disney 100th anniversary this year, it makes sense that their approach to storytelling has changed with the times. While we love the classics, a lot of them have a few features in common: princes who appear in the movie for about five minutes, outdated gender roles and women taking a lot of naps. Although we’re all in favor of napping whenever and wherever you like, there are only so many times we can watch a princess wakened by true love’s kiss before it starts to feel a little tired.

More recent Disney couples do a better job of reflecting the real world: There are characters of color, princes with actual names and couples who save each other, instead of the male hero swooping in to rescue the damsel in distress. Plus, there are a whole lot more Disney Halloween costumes to choose from these days.

When it comes to rounding up the cutest Disney movie couples, however, we’re faced with a few logistical challenges. The wider Disney universe now includes both live-action and animated films and TV series, not to mention the Disney live-action remakes of classic animated stories. To keep it simple, we’ve stuck to the animated movies for this particular piece of Disney trivia. From adorable robots and majestic lions to gods, goddesses and the couples who are #relationshipgoals (hi, Elastigirl and Mr. Incredible), these are the cutest Disney movie couples of all time.

Cinderella and Prince Charming (Cinderella)

Cinderella is a little old-fashioned. Girl meets boy, they fall in love after spending approximately four hours together, girl is separated from boy, and boy makes every woman in the kingdom try on … a shoe. Whatever—it works out, and as one of the most beloved Disney quotes goes, they live happily ever after. Yes, Prince Charming’s methods could have used a bit more focus, and the idea that the only way for a woman to improve her lot in life is by marrying rich is a bit of a downer (despite being pretty accurate for a lot of history). But the prince’s determination to find Cinderella is incredibly romantic, and Cinderella is inspiring with her fortitude and refusal to let her terrible circumstances break her spirit. Also, “So This Is Love” is one of the dreamier duets in Disney history.

Megara and Hercules (Hercules)

Meg is one of the best Disney women because she’s as real as one of your girlfriends. By the time we meet her in Hercules, she has been around the block, had her heart broken a few times and has a job that’s less than ideal with one helluva boss (Hades). The ideal job is, of course, working at a Disney park, but that’s sadly not an option here. Anyway, Meg falls in love with Hercules in spite of herself and even dies for him. And Hercules is in love with her too—so much so that he would rather die than live in a world where she doesn’t exist. As for us, we fell in love with Meg the moment she called Hercules “Wonder Boy.”

Linguine and Colette (Ratatouille)

They say opposites attract, and these two pretty much embody that maxim in Ratatouille. She’s tough, competent and rides a cool motorcycle. He’s sweet, goofy and controlled by a rat much more talented than he is. Their love story could only happen in Paris, the most romantic city in the world. Linguine persuades the more serious Colette to have fun, while she teaches him how to cook and shows him the value of hard work. Turns out to be the perfect recipe for running a restaurant together. Disney fans and foodies alike need this list of the best Disney World foods.

Simba and Nala (The Lion King)

We know that lionesses are the true strength of a pride (doing the hunting, raising the cubs, keeping the lions in line), and Nala is a true lioness. When Simba’s uncle Scar runs his kingdom into the ground, it’s Nala who sets out to find her childhood friend and remind him of his royal responsibilities. That they fall in love along the way is a sweet bonus, and The Lion King tune about their relationship happens to be one of the best Disney songs ever. Can you feel the love tonight? We can, Elton John. We can.

Aladdin and Princess Jasmine (Aladdin)

This delightful duo will make the list of cutest Disney couples every time. First, we’re always fans of independent women, and Jasmine’s penchant for sneaking into the city in disguise and her determination not to get married unless it’s true love make her one of the best Disney heroines. The fact that Aladdin falls for her before he even knows she’s a princess lets us know his feelings are real. Of course, he still has to use his genie pal to get close to her, but she ultimately falls for him because he’s a guy who loves her for her, not her title. If you’re looking for a moral in your Disney story, you can’t do much better than this one. Looking for inspiration? Try these Walt Disney quotes from the man himself.

Sally and Jack Skellington (The Nightmare Before Christmas)

OK, so Jack spends most of the movie consumed with his wild plan to steal Christmas from Christmas Town and become a skeletal Santa, as well as Pumpkin King of Halloween Town. He could pay a lot more attention to Sally—not only is she in love with him, but she’s also trying to escape Dr. Finkelstein, her creator, who keeps her under lock and key and uses her as a servant.

But she’s brave enough to stand up to both the doctor and to Jack, warning him about his plan (not that he listens). Plus, unlike some other Disney heroines, Sally takes charge and frees herself. She does what she thinks is right by trying to rescue Santa from Oogie Boogie, and Jack eventually wakes up and realizes what he’s been missing out on. Their first kiss is in a cemetery, of course. Goth couple goals? Goth couple goals! If you love Jack’s dog Zero, check out these other Disney dog names.

Woody and Bo Peep (Toy Story)

You know that one rock-solid couple who have been together forever and never seem to fight? Woody and Bo Peep are their Disney-couple equivalent. We met them back in the first Toy Story movie—Bo is the only one who makes the usually confident Woody get all tongue-tied, and she’s a longtime champion of his leadership decisions. Best of all, they’re still together almost a decade later in Toy Story 4. Plus, she’s an expert with that crook of hers. We bet she could shut down some of these Disney Park rumors.

Carl and Ellie (Up)

You might remember Up as the movie that had you weeping within the first 10 minutes, and this Disney couple was the cause. These adorable childhood sweethearts fell in love young. Although they were devastated not to be able to have children, they nevertheless had many happy decades together, until Ellie falls ill and passes away suddenly, leaving Carl (and us) utterly wrecked. We love these two because their personalities balance each other so well: Ellie’s positivity smooths Carl’s rough edges, and his devotion to her is absolute.

Pacha and Chicha (The Emperor’s New Groove)

Listen, a woman with a frying pan is a woman who will always be listened to (see also: Tangled). In The Emperor’s New Groove, Pacha and Chicha are obviously devoted to each other and their two rambunctious children. Chicha wears the pants in the relationship, and Pacha knows that she’s always right. Chicha doesn’t stand for any disrespect, and Pacha always supports her. He clearly lives by the saying: happy wife, happy life. No wonder they have such a great marriage! The other secret, of course, is telling lots of Disney jokes.

Bernard and Bianca (The Rescuers)

Remember this one? Cute mice, exciting international adventures and a really big diamond. Oh, and a world-class love story. Bianca is the Hungarian representative of the Rescue Aid Society, an international mouse organization working to help abduction victims. When a young orphan, Penny, is kidnapped, Bianca chooses the Society’s janitor, Bernard, to be her co-agent on the mission. Adventure and love follow as they work to rescue Penny before she can be forced to steal the world’s biggest diamond. Bianca is sophisticated and adventurous, while Bernard is sweet and supportive. Together, they’re a couple that rivals Disney’s other mouse love story.

Tiana and Naveen (The Princess and the Frog)

How do you know when you’ve found true love? When you’re both willing to live your lives as frogs to stay together. Sure, Prince Naveen is a little arrogant at first in The Princess and the Frog, but being turned into an amphibian soon teaches him humility. For her part, Tiana stops working for the first time ever and learns to have a little fun. Naveen even gets on board with Tiana’s restaurant dream, which is really what makes these two the ultimate in #relationshipgoals in this royal movie from Disney. Frogs aside, real love is when your partner supports your dreams.

Anna and Kristoff (Frozen)

Sure, it’s nice when your boyfriend is sweet, goofy and up for any adventure, but it’s even better when he has a pet reindeer named Sven. Anna starts the movie thinking that Prince Hans is the man for her. But just as her sister Elsa learns to accept herself and her powers, Anna learns what she really needs: a man who will put her before himself, who will help her save her sister and who isn’t actually evil, like Hans turns out to be. It’s a nice reversal from a trend we often see with Disney couples, where the man has to come around to a woman who’s loved and supported him for the entire movie.

Duchess and Thomas O’Malley (The Aristocats)

This relationship doesn’t just transcend the class barrier—it’s also adorable. Streetwise Tom O’Malley and sophisticated Duchess meet when Duchess and her three kittens are abandoned in the French countryside by their nefarious butler, Edgar. O’Malley agrees to escort them back to Paris, and after he saves her kitten from drowning, the pair fall in love. O’Malley is ready to give up his alley-cat ways in order to be with Duchess and become a father to her kittens. Duchess can’t help but fall for his bravery and charm, as well as love him for his devotion to her children. FYI, Disney released The Aristocats in 1970. Find out which Disney movie came out the year you were born.

WALL-E and EVE (WALL-E)

Who would have thought that two robots would rank among our favorite Disney couples? He’s old-fashioned and clunky; she’s modern and sophisticated (and unfortunately not programmed to understand emotions). However, WALL-E was programmed not to give up, and he does his utmost to get EVE to notice him, until there are literal sparks between them. In the grand tradition of Disney movies, EVE even brings him back to life with a kiss, at which point you’ll be sobbing into the couch cushions.

Rapunzel and Flynn Rider (Tangled)

In many ways, Tangled has a lot in common with the older Disney movies. The heroine is pure of heart and spirit, and her goodness and belief in her love interest prompt him to become a better man. Here, Flynn reconnects with his true self—Eugene—and although he starts out intending to take advantage of Rapunzel’s naiveté, he falls for her bravery and her tendency to see the good in everything. Also, she’s another heroine who has a way with a frying pan. Thankfully, they haven’t banned those from Disney movies.

Flynn is not only the man who saves Rapunzel from her terrible stepmother, but he also takes her to see the lanterns, her lifelong dream. And any doubts we might have about this Disney couple are gone when Flynn is willing to die to save her. So while we don’t want to spoil things if you haven’t seen this movie, let’s just say it has a happy ending.

Roger and Anita (101 Dalmatians)

We’re suckers for any meet-cute that involves dogs, and this one is too adorable for words. Roger and Anita (owners of Dalmatians Pongo and Perdita) meet when their dogs’ leashes get entangled and they fall into a pond. You know it’s love when they start laughing, and soon they’re married and living in domestic bliss in a house near the park where they met with their dogs (who are also in love). They don’t have any children in the movie, but with 99 puppies to look after, it’s probably for the best.

Esmeralda and Phoebus (The Hunchback of Notre Dame)

This relationship has everything: romance, danger, rescue and snarky remarks. Phoebus is a war veteran in town to try to eradicate the Romani people, while Esmeralda is a proud Romani woman. Although they start as enemies, they can’t help but fall in love, and Phoebus betrays his superior officers to fight for the liberation of the woman he loves. Esmeralda and Phoebus work in contrast to Esmeralda and Quasimodo, who doesn’t see her as a full person but puts her up on a pedestal. Phoebus, meanwhile, recognizes her as an equal, and she sees that he has a good heart despite being a soldier.

Nani and David (Lilo & Stitch)

As the older sister and guardian of rambunctious Lilo (and her new dog, Stitch) in this beloved cartoon movie, Nani has way too much on her plate already without a relationship adding to the load. But sweet David has the patience to wait for her until she can make time for him. His laid-back personality is a good balance for Nani’s sarcasm. And, of course, they both love to surf. The best relationships are the ones where you can understand each other’s lives while still sharing what is most important to you, and you’ll love living vicariously through them in this animated flick.

Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl (The Incredibles)

Bob and Helen Parr (aka Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl) know that a true partnership involves having each other’s backs—forever. If you look great in your outfit, even better. When dealing with superpowered children, it’s vital to be a team, and the Parrs have that figured out in The Incredibles. The secrets to keeping it fresh even after years of marriage are definitely sharing new experiences, allowing for each other’s strengths and weaknesses, saving the world together as a family—and Lycra.

Buzz and Jessie (Toy Story)

He’s an arrogant astronaut, a lone ranger who values his freedom. She’s a free-spirited cowgirl with abandonment issues. Can these two crazy kids make it work? This couple’s relationship is more of a slow burn. Although there’s always something between them, it’s not until the end of Toy Story 3 that Jessie makes the first move, pulling Buzz up to dance with her. We love these two because their relationship doesn’t develop along the lines of stereotypical gender-based tropes common in Disney movies. Buzz falls for her adventurous personality and cute face, and Jessie sees through his bluster to the sweet space toy beneath.

Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse (Mickey Mouse & Friends)

What kind of list would this be if we didn’t include the OG Disney couple? Mickey and Minnie have been together since 1929, through all sorts of adventures. Mickey’s playful personality keeps things fun, while Minnie is the rock in the relationship. She’s always on hand to help when one of his plans goes awry, and the two of them love to sing and dance together. That’s probably the secret to a lasting long-term relationship. That and Disney gifts.

Mulan and Shang (Mulan)

Mulan‘s story is so epic, it almost doesn’t need a love interest, but Shang is so perfect for her that we cannot help but fall in love with him too. He falls in love with a woman who risks everything to protect her family, and she falls in love with a man who loves her just as she is and doesn’t want her to be a traditional, demure wife.

They’re equals in battle, matched in brains and beauty, and they might just be the most romantic Disney couple ever. That moment when Shang understands Mulan is his true love and goes to her house is one of the best and most romantic moments in any Disney movie ever. There’s no doubt about it: Mulan and Shang are definitely the King and Queen of Disney couples.

Now that you’re well-versed in the cutest Disney couples of all time, find out which Disney park to visit, according to someone who’s been to every single one in the world.