I just got back from a trip with my daughter. Which meant I heard 16 hours of Disney movies during the driving portion of the trip. Disney takes on a whole new perspective when you can't see the movie, and I've decided when I grow up I want to be Ursula, the Sea Witch in The Little Mermaid. Or maybe Hades from Hercules, but Ursula gets to wear purple eyeshadow and that beats flaming hair. Anybody else have a recommendation?

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2000

Answers

My favourite Disney character is one of the less well-known ones: Rabbit 12 from Bambi. Rabbit 12 appears during one of the opening scenes, in the background, eating an unidentifiable plant, but the brevity of the appearance only serves to underline the majesty of the performance. Watch Bambi again, look out for Rabbit 12 and note the way that she (I'm convinced it's a 'she') initially ignores Bambi, Bambi's Mum, and woodland entourage as they pass by: she is clearly a rabbit of character. There is a hint of disdain in the way she refuses to look over, to join the fawning, sycophantic adoration which is lavished on the so-called 'lead' characters. That's pride. That's integrity.

A small character, in many people's books, but in my estimation, a gem.

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2000

I do like Ursula, as well as the bitchy queen on Sleeping Beauty.

Pale Blue, if you're going to be facetious, at least write and tell me your real identity so I can have a face in mind while I snicker.

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2000

If I ever have a punk band, I'm gonna call it Rabbit 12....

My favorite is the Ballet Dancing Hippo from Fantasia, for obvious reasons....

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2000

Hades all the way, man! He is totally cool. But if I couldn't be Hades, maybe I'd be Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty, or perhaps Captain Hook or one of Cinderella's stepsisters. I love villains. Thank you so much, Mary, for this question!

Pale Blue, I watched Bambi again, and sure enough, there's Rabbit 12. Excellent emotional range, don't you think? Not to mention development.

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2000

My least favorite Disney character is Ariel. Because when I was in high school, I dated a guy who wanted me to dress up like her. Not for Halloween or anything, just for... him. And he already had the costume.

The easiest way to make me blush in public is to start humming "Under the Sea."

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2000

See, I would LOVE to be Ariel. I find dolphins sexy and would love to hang out in their habitat.

And Dwanollah, why is it obvious that you like dancing hippos?

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2000

Not sure how this is spelled, but Sheer Khan (?) from The Jungle Book was just about the coolest bad guy on four legs. Gaston, because every last inch of him's covered in hair. Sebastian ("he'd say, I'm going to kill me a crab, that's what he'd say!").

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2000

Right on, Sheer Khan was the coolest. I haven't seen that movie since I was a wee child but he is burned into my brain. I was so creeped out and intrigued by him.

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2000

I think it's Shere Khan. (But don't take the word of the person who called Maleficent a queen.) Did y'all ever see him on that Saturday morning cartoon called Tailspin? It was Baloo and Louie the Ape King running some sort of cargo plane service. Shere Khan was a business man. It was stupid coz they all wore clothes. Shere K wore three piece suits and sat behind a desk.

Happy birthday, Dwanollah, by the way.

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2000

Was Sheer Kahn the Louis Prima character?

I love Merryweather, the blue fairy, from Sleeping Beauty. She's so cute and feisty.

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2000

Merryweather = precursor to Buttercup

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2000

(Aw, thanks, honey!)

Word on Merriweather! I always liked her. Mr. Smee from Peter Pan is another fav (although I do get a little bit of a pedophile vibe from him)... and Timothy Mouse... and just about the whole gang from Robin Hood (except for Robin and Maid Marion).

And I dig the dancing hippo because I was en pointe in ballet for several years about 6 years back... and wasn't exactly the most lithesome ballerina in the bunch... but I was pretty good at it, for a late starter. But most important, I just loved it. So there! :)

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2000

I must say, Snow White. She got to hang out with a bunch of cool dwarfs that totally idolized her. Sure, she had to cook and clean, but she still managed to remain soooo very immaculate! Another lame reason--I played her in a high school play--so sue me!!

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2000

Who's Buttercup? All I can think of is the Princess Bride.

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2000

Now that I think about it, I see a Merriwhether-Buttercup correllation...Interesting.

Colin, that Gaston thing almost made me pee my pants!

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2000

I always liked Chip in Beauty and the Beast, myself..

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2000

I really dig Thumper.

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2000

You guys went and named all my favorites! Okay, when I was real little, my friend and I had so many arguements over which one of us was the *real* Little Mermaid. I remember I went home sobbing one day because she got her mom to type her up a pretend birth certificate that said her birth name was Ariel! Then, when I was not so little, I played Gaston for a skit st my babysitters (so I'm not a boy, whats wrong with that?). They glued carpet samples to me so every last inch of me would indeed be covered in hair! And finally, for a drama project I played Maleficent in our production of Sleeping Beauty, which kicked ass because I got to wear this bitchin' black gown with a silver cape, and I got to carry around a septer! See, when I say soembody is my favorite character, that means I wanna be them. Like Catwoman. Is that healthy?

-- Anonymous, June 29, 2000

Buttercup is from The Powerpuff Girls.

I always liked Aladdin, despite his stupidity, just because he was a fox. However, my favorite character is Ursula, too. Not in her evil form, but when she transforms into the hot chick to seduce Eric away from Ariel. Why, you ask? Because she adopts the name Vanessa, which is obviously my name and she's what I've always wanted to be. The gorgeous evil girl who tries to steal the limelight away from the nice chicks.

...The only difference is, *I* would succeed.

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2000

Aladdin is kinda cute, but man, have you seen Tarzan? He's sizzlin'. I'm always trying to convince my daughter to either pick Tarzan or George of the Jungle (the live version, with Brendan Frasier), but alas, she's more into The Little Mermaid or Lady and the Tramp.

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2000

Mary Ellen, I saw this topic and was about to post a confession of my lust for Tarzan. Back off chick, he's MINE!

Mmmm, all that animated thickness in nuttin but a loincloth...

"...and Daddy, they took my BOOT!"

-- Anonymous, September 11, 2000

Rabbit 12 has my vote. I read Pale's answer and smile each time. Viva Rabbit 12!

Failing that, I'm partial to The Aristocats, Si and Am the cats (but only for their theme song), Anastasia. Tigger. Baloo. Cinderella's mice. Cruella DeVil was far more interesting than the startling multitude of puppies, but I liked Pongo and Perdi, the puppy parentals...

Hmm, I'm not very well-versed in Disney. I do know that I'm not overly fond of the "biggies" like Mickey, Donald, Goofy, et al. This gets me nearly lynched when I admit it ("...'round these hyar parts, we don't like people who don't like The Mouse..."). Oh well.

-- Anonymous, September 11, 2000