Pixar is one of the biggest names in animation. The release of their first film Toy Story in 1995 put them on the map. They have become the gold standard for children's animation. The studio has won 11 of the Best Animated Film Academy Awards. Many Pixar films are some of the most beloved family movies all over the world. Their characters have become part of the pop culture landscape.
Update July 9, 2023: In honor of the release of Elemental, this list has been updated with even more great Pixar characters.
Pixar and its characters are so valuable to Disney that Bob Iger, shortly after he became CEO of Disney, bought Pixar for $7 billion. This is more than Disney paid for Marvel and Star Wars. This was because Iger noticed that many of the characters in Disney theme parks were ones created by Pixar, as these were the ones that had connected with audiences. Pixar was valued for its ability to create new characters. Pixar just released its 27th film, Elemental, last month. With that said, here are Pixar's greatest characters ranked.
25 Bing-Bong
Pixar
Bing Bong is one of Pixar's silliest characters who also has one of the most heartbreaking arcs in the company's history. Introduced in the film Inside Out, Bing-Bong is the imaginary friend of Riley, who Joy and Sadness meet. Bing-Bong gives his life so that Joy can take care of Riley. He slowly fades away from Riley's memory. His sacrifice is such an emotional moment it was even referenced in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law as a sad moment for both Bruce Banner and Jennifer Walters.
24 Crush
In one of the most beloved Pixar films of all time, Finding Nemo introduces movie lovers and underwater fans to Crush. The 150-year-old, laid-back sea turtle from the East Australian Current is a funny character for families and a great, fatherly expert for Marlin. He helps Marlin realize that, at a certain point, a father needs to let his child do certain things on their own. There is not another Pixar character that speaks like a surfer dude yet treats everyone like they are part of his turtle family.
23 Wade and Ember
It might be cheating to include two characters in one spot, but the two stars of Elemental are so close together and companions and opposites it would feel wrong to include one without the other. Ember is fire, a young woman who holds a great deal of responsibility on her shoulders, trying to take on her family's shop. Wade, as water is flowing, is constantly in touch with his emotions. These two opposite elements are drawn to one another despite the fact that they should not, and together make for one of Pixar's greatest love stories.
22 Merida
Merida is the lead character in 2012's Brave and was Pixar's first female protagonist. She is a Scottish Princess who defies her culture's customs looking to forge a life on her own terms. Merida has been an incredibly popular character since she first premiered. She is one of the few Pixar characters to spin off beyond the company being part of the Disney Princess line. She had a cameo in Ralph Breaks The Internet and made her live-action debut on the ABC series Once Upon A Time.
21 Anton Ego
Anton Ego is one of the most perfect characters that Pixar ever created. The famous French food critic in Ratatouille is the epitome of a closed-off person who is awakened by something special returning to their life. Ego finds his love for food again after tasting Remy's famous Ratatouille. Remy's dish makes Ego remember his youth. When he would have a bad day, his mother would make him a similar dish to Remy's. That dish would brighten his spirits. Remy's dish turned him from a negative, harsh person into a joyous and exciting food lover. Ego could easily be compared to a family visiting their old home or a graduate visiting their old school. He was reminded of a good moment from his past, and that is all he needed to get his joy back.
20 Lightning McQueen
Pixar
While the Cars films might be the lowest Pixar franchise in critical ranking, the fact that the franchise got three films shows how the series did have an impact, and central to that is Lightning McQueen. Voiced by Owen Wilson, audiences see Lightning McQueen begin the series as a hot shot egotistical rookie in Cars, an athlete in his prime in Cars 2, and a seasoned veteran who becomes a mentor in Cars 3. It has been seventeen years since Cars premiered, and audiences still recognize Lightning McQueen and can't help but say Ka-Chow!
19 Mr. Incredible
Pixar
Mr. Incredible is the father of the Parr family in The Incredibles and the central character of the first film. Mr. Incredible's story arc is about overcoming his insecurities and embracing his family's inner strength. Incredibles 2 finds comedic moments with him stepping into a stay-at-home father role. Mr. Incredible is both a great superhero but also a good father.
18 Elastigirl
Elastigirl is the mother of The Incredibles and she and Mr. Incredible get an equal booking. Yet Elastigirl stands slightly higher on the list due to her being a better superhero than Mr. Incredible. Holly Hunter gives Elastigirl a sense of confidence but also a strong-nurturing side to her that makes her the glue of the Parr family. She is both a great superhero and a great mom and has been a fan favorite ever since 2004.
17 Remy
Pixar
Remy is the lead character in Ratatouille. Voiced by Patton Oswalt, this little rat who dreams of becoming a chef feels relatable to anybody who has aspired to be more than what they were born into. He is passionate, sarcastic, and a little self-absorbed, but also a character who believes that the world does not have to be what it is. Remy changes the lives of those around him and is the second-best rodent Disney has made, behind only Mickey Mouse himself.
16 Edna Mode
Edna Mode appears in only two scenes in The Incredibles, but the character steals the show. Voiced by Brad Bird and based on costume designer Edith Head, Edna is the woman responsible for making the various superhero costumes. Edna has some of the most memorable lines in The Incredibles. Even with just a couple of scenes, Edna is one of the best characters Pixar has created and a hilarious homage to costume designer Edith Head.
15 Mike Wazowski
Mike Wazowski's name isn't just fun to say, he is a great character to watch. Voiced by Billy Crystal, Mike is one of the co-leads in 2001's Monsters Inc. and the 2013 prequel film Monsters University. Adult Mike is a ladies' man and humorous. Monsters University added some depth to the character showing how he dreamed of becoming a scarier and how life had different plans for him. Mike Wazowski is easily one of the most recognizable characters in Pixar's history.
14 Boo
Boo is the central human character in Monsters Inc. A young girl who finds her way into the monster's world, while she originally is perceived as a threat, both Mike and Sully eventually begin to care for her. The relationship she forms with Sully is the heart of the movie, and their departure was an early indicator of just how emotional Pixar films could be. Boo is such a popular character fans have been theorizing they see her in other films from Pixar, including Toy Story 3 and Brave.
13 Sully
Sully is the heart and soul of the Monsters Inc. franchise. Voiced to perfection by John Goodman, Sully is both a big terrifying monster and a lovable softy. Sully might not have the most famous lines of a Pixar character, but he has one of the biggest hearts. Sully's characterization is made better with the addition of Monsters University which allows Goodman to voice a more laid-back slacker, highlighting exactly how much he will mature by the time audiences see him in Monsters Inc.
12 Syndrome
Pixar has a lot of great villains, from the Prospector in Toy Story 2 to Randall in Monsters Inc., but Syndrome from The Incredibles is the best of the best. Voiced by Jason Lee, Syndrome is a fanboy gone wrong who, after being rejected by his hero Mr. Incredible begins his quest to kill all superheroes. Syndrome is equal parts humorous but also threatening. The moment he is willing to kill children shows how evil he is.
11 Mei
Pixar
Mei is the lead character of Turning Red. Mei is a 13-year-old girl in 2002 who turns into a giant red panda when she experiences emotional stress due to an ancient family curse. She is unique among not just Pixar characters but animated protagonists as she feels like a contemporary character. She is a young student who has friends, crushes on boys, and has a complicated relationship with her family and culture. Mei might be a new Pixar character (and might be a literal manifestation of puberty and periods), but it shows that the company's best days are far from behind them.
10 Jessie
Pixar fans could make the very compelling case that Jessie is the one character that they feel the most sick to their stomach for. The Toy Story series is all about toys helping their kids feel like they are not alone. But ever since Jessie was abandoned by her original owner, all she wants is to not feel alone anymore. Her bravery, toughness, and desire to be wanted allow her to form a strong bond with Woody in Toy Story 2, which eventually helps her find a new home with Andy.
9 Marlin
Pixar
While Finding Nemo might be named after the young fish, it is his father, Marlin who is the central protagonist. Marlin is a father who loves his son but, due to a great family tragedy, is overly protective. When push comes to shove, Marlin faces his own fears and stops at nothing to find his son. Marlin is one of Pixar's greatest heroes, an everyday dad who learns a valuable lesson in being a parent.
8 Sadness
Sadness is arguably the most important character in the history of Pixar. The Inside Out character provides fans of all ages with the reason why emotions are so important. More specifically, she helps fans realize the power of actually being sad. In the movie, the other emotions, especially Joy, are frustrated by Sadness, constantly making Riley feel sad. They don't want her to affect her negatively in any way.
However, they soon realize that Sadness helps provide Joy with the opportunity to make Riley happy again. Without the feeling of sadness, people cannot experience joy properly. People need the feeling of sadness to truly live great lives. Sadness is one of the most powerful characters in Pixar.
7 Joy
Pixar
Joy is the lead character in Inside Out and the primary emotion that controls Riley's young childhood. Amy Poehler is perfectly cast as Joy. The character shines for the lesson she undergoes, learning that Riley needs to experience a whole host of emotions and that sometimes there is value in an emotion like sadness. Inside Out 2 will explore a new set of emotions, yet thankfully Joy is still set to be part of the film.
6 Miguel
Pixar
Coco is filled with a colorful cast of characters, but the heart and soul of the movie is Miguel. Similar to Remy from Ratatouille, Miguel is a young man driven by his passion for art, in this case, music. Miguel is accidentally transported to the Land of the Dead on Día de los Muertos and embarks on a quest to discover and confront the secrets of his family. Miguel has the heart and passion of a musician, but his family's love for him and his love for them makes him such a beloved character. His final moment singing the heart-melting Disney song "Remember Me" to his grandma Coco will bring a tear to even the most cynical viewer.
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