25 Disney Characters Who Taught Us Life Lessons
Disney movies are awesome. From the early hand-drawn films to the 3D CGI masterpieces of today, the stories and they lessons they teach are what make the movies so special. Not to say there haven't been some that may not have shined quite as bright as others (I'm looking at you direct-to-DVD sequels), but the character development in all of them is what keeps generation after generation captivated. The lessons woven seamlessly into the films are what keep them relevant and will continue to do so indefinitely.
1. Alice — 'Alice in Wonderland'
Don’t eat or drink things if you don’t know where they came from.
2. Flynn — 'Tangled'
Don’t be afraid to let people know the real you. You don’t have to pretend to be someone else to succeed. Be proud of who you are.
3. Rapunzel — 'Tangled'
Venture outside your comfort zone. The rewards are worth it.
4. Kida — 'Atlantis: The Lost Empire'
Learn about your family history while you can. One day it will be lost to you completely.
5. Milo — 'Atlantis: The Lost Empire'
Take every opportunity to experience new cultures. You’ll learn a lot about the world and about yourself.
6. Belle — 'Beauty and the Beast'
Books can take you all kinds of places, but don’t get so lost in them you miss the real world around you.
7. Vanellope — 'Wreck-It Ralph'
Don’t believe people who tell you there’s something wrong with you. Being different doesn’t mean you’re wrong.
8. Ralph — 'Wreck-It Ralph'
Your job does not have to define you.
9. Peter — 'Peter Pan'
You can accomplish amazing things by thinking positively, but if a boy shows up at your window in the middle of the night he’s probably going to get you into trouble.
10. Tinkerbell — 'Peter Pan'
You can be small and powerful — one does not prevent the other.
11. Mulan — 'Mulan'
Sometimes you have to break a few rules for the sake of your family and it might even require duct-taping your boobs down.
12. Merida — 'Brave'
You control your destiny — you don’t need magic to do it. And there are no magical shortcuts to solving your problems.
13. Lilo — 'Lilo & Stitch'
Family is more than just the people you share DNA with, it’s also the people you choose.
14. WALL-E — 'WALL-E'
When love happens, it knows no boundaries and requires very few words.
15. Ariel — 'The Little Mermaid'
No person is worth giving up everything about who you are, but if it’s really love you may be willing to anyway.
16. Aurora — 'Sleeping Beauty'
Trying to protect someone from fate can drive them right to it. And sharp, pointy things should always be avoided.
17. Megara — 'Hercules'
You are beautiful — own it. You don’t have to feel bad about feeling sexy. Also, think hard before you uproot your entire life for someone. The changes might stick around longer than they do.
18. Hercules — 'Hercules'
Don’t pattern your life after celebrities. Being famous doesn’t automatically make you a role model. You have to earn being called a hero.
19. Tiana — 'The Princess and the Frog'
Working in food service isn’t glamorous but it will teach you skills that will help you with whatever path you end up choosing.
20. Dory — 'Finding Nemo'
Being forgetful doesn’t mean you’re stupid, and being happy doesn’t make you weird.
21. Pocahontas — 'Pocahontas'
Not everyone gets a happy ending.
22. Cinderella — 'Cinderella'
Women will squeeze their feet into a pretty shoe no matter what it’s made of or how tight it is. And a night out often goes downhill after midnight.
23. Aladdin — 'Aladdin'
Lying to your significant other may work for a while, but they will find out eventually and it will come back to bite you in the butt. And if they wouldn’t love the real you, they aren’t worth your time anyway.
24. Jasmine — 'Aladdin'
Pay attention to the people around you. You may not just be paranoid. That creepy guy looking at you might be really be a creepy bad guy planning to make you his plaything.
25. Simba — 'The Lion King'
Don’t believe everything you are told. The person telling you could have an ulterior motive. And, true friends accept you, farts and all.
