Best Animated Couples
Happy Valentine’s Day! I felt it made since to put together a list of the top movie couples, but for this list I decided to solely focus on couples from animated films. Something I really struggled with on this list was diversity. I don’t mean racial diversity, heck I don’t even mean diversity across species because I have that. I’m talking about finding animated couples not from Disney movies. So let’s knock out the Disney couples first.
Carl & Ellie, ‘Up’- I have to start with the film that will make you sob less than 15 minutes into the movie. We get the privilege of seeing this couple’s whole relationship play out in one of Disney/Pixar’s best montages. Meeting as children, becoming friends, eventually marrying, & going through the ups & downs of life including fertility struggles, sicknesses, & Ellie’s eventual death. It’s tragic, but so beautifully displayed onscreen. Ed Asner voices Carl, while the young versions of the couple are voiced by Jeremy Leary & Elie Docter.
Flynn Rider & Rapunzel, ‘Tangled’- Perhaps my favorite animated couple, these two are so fun together. Initially skeptical of each other (rightfully in Rapunzel’s case) they learn to trust each other and begin to fall in love. The end of the film reveals that they got married & there is a short film, ‘Tangled Ever After’ that shows their wedding. They are voiced by Zachary Levi & Mandy Moore.
Mickey & Minnie Mouse, Disney- I mean these two are perhaps the most iconic couple ever. Good for them. Little mice. They’ve been in many films & TV shows together, and have been going strong for nearly 100 years which is an impressive feat. They debuted in 1928’s ‘Steamboat Willie’ and have been voiced by several actors, though I want to specifically mention Wayne Allwine & Russi Taylor who were married in real life for nearly 30 years until Allwine’s death.
Jane & Tarzan, ‘Tarzan’- One time someone told Destinie & I that we should be Jane & Tarzan for Halloween, but I would have to be a ‘hungry’ Tarzan. Thanks. Minnie Driver & Tony Goldwyn voice the couple.
EVE & WALL-E, ‘WALL-E’- Ha! Robots! These robots love each other & it’s honestly incredibly sweet how they bond while barely speaking to each other. Ben Burtt & Elissa Knight provide the vocal effect for the characters who manage to bring humanity back to Earth.
Bob & Helen Parr, ‘The Incredibles’- Voiced by Craig T. Nelson & Holly Hunter we get to start the film with the wedding of these two supers. The film then progresses to their middle age life, retired from heroics, and with three kids, Violet, Dash, & Jack-Jack. AKA Mr. Incredible & Elastigirl, we also get to see these two more in the sequel ‘Incredibles 2.’
Fix-It Felix & Sgt. Calhoun, ‘Wreck-It Ralph’- There are mice, robots, & ogres (spoilers) on this list, but somehow this is the most unconventional couple here. Jack McBrayer & Jane Lynch voice the odd couple who come from different games, but come together and help one other in different ways, including Felix helping Calhoun move past her past trauma. The two are also seen in the sequel ‘Ralph Breaks the Internet’ in which they are now a married couple.
Nala & Simba, ‘The Lion King’- Can you feel the love tonight? The peace the evening brings. The world for once in perfect harmony. With all its living things. Etc. Etc. Voiced by Moira Kelly & Matthew Broderick.
Li Shang & Mulan, ‘Mulan’- Li Shang begins to form a connection with Mulan when she’s disguised as a man and is utterly shocked when its revealed she’s a woman. So I’m sure he has some things to work through. But regardless he chooses to come over and stay for dinner at the end of the film so that’s nice for them. Voiced by BD Wong & Ming-Na Wen.
Naveen & Tiana, ‘The Princess and the Frog’- A playboy prince & an aspiring waitress. But wait! They’re frogs! What a classic twist to make two people fall in love. A tale as old as time. Voiced by Bruno Campos & Anika Noni Rose.
Anna & Kristoff, ‘Frozen’- The final Disney couple on the list, this couple initially meets when Anna is engaged to Hans, whom she barely knows. They begin to develop feelings for each other & are able to act on their feelings when it’s revealed Hans is evil! They get engaged in the second film & we will see what happens in the third. Voiced by Kristen Bell & Jonathan Groff.
Blu & Jewel, ‘Rio’- These two blue macaws are put together with the hopes they will mate to keep their species alive. Although they are both hesitant (or rather totally opposed) to this idea, they eventually fall for one another & have a whole slew of hatchlings in the sequel. Voiced by Jesse Eisenberg & Anne Hathaway.
Gru & Lucy, ‘Despicable Me 2’- Initially at odds at the beginning of ‘Despicable Me 2’ these two are able to align their goals and build a very solid bond that turns into a romance. By the fourth film, they are married, have a son together, & are parents to the three girls Gru had previously adopted. They are voiced by Steve Carell & Kristen Wiig.
Astrid & Hiccup, ‘How to Train Your Dragon’- Another couple whose relationship we get to see unfold & develop over several films. Voiced by America Ferrera & Jay Baruchel, the two are married by the third film & have two children by the end of that film. We will soon see these two adapted into live action played by Nico Parker & Mason Thames.
Fiona & Shrek, ‘Shrek’- Let’s finish it off here with Shrek & Fiona. Meeting in the first film, falling in love, getting married, going on their honeymoon in the second film, being forcibly separated, coming back together, having kids in the third film, & riding off into happily ever after in the fourth film. Apparently there’s a fifth film on the way, so we’ll see what’s in store next for the it couple. Voiced by Cameron Diaz & Mike Myers.
