The 25 best Disney Pixar characters, ranked

Give him some fin as he kicks off the list of best Pixar characters. There just wasn’t enough screen time given to Crush in Finding Nemo to warrant a higher spot, but there’s no denying how fun he and Squirt are as they help Marlin and Dory along the EAC.

This Tom Holland-voiced character needs a boost in his life. His brother helps get him to the point of realizing his self-worth, reconnecting him with a stronger bond to his brother Barley and showing him what’s possible when he believes in himself in Onward.

There wasn’t much left in him before he met Russell. Seeing him carry on in his adventure after watching the beautiful love story of him and Ellie in the opening scene of Up remains one of the best character journeys in Pixar’s collection. One of the older characters depicted by Pixar is among the very best they've ever made. 

He’s fearless and confident. He’s also the fastest kid on the planet. Seeing him attempting to compete in a school track meet but not show off his powers was an entertaining moment in The Incredibles. Pixar needs to give us a grown-up look at Dash to see!

Newer to the Pixar scene in Turning Red, Mei has the confidence one can strive for. She excels in school and is family-first, and seeing her navigate the powers that turned her into a red panda highlighted just how impactful her self-awareness journey was.

Perhaps he could have been higher, considering he is the namesake of Finding Nemo. That said, his actions and disrespect to his father are what wound up getting him in a life-or-death situation in the first place. Marlin ends up having to go across the ocean to find him.

She came out of the gate as strong as any Pixar character when debuting in Toy Story 2. The rag doll oozes with excitement and a willingness to provide joy after being abandoned. Seeing her become a part of Andy’s collection was a rewarding plot point.

Not the strongest character in A Bug's Life, Flik demonstrates just how courageous he is in his will to change the colony. He is inventive, which makes him a bit of an outcast, but in the end, he’s the one who inspires the stand against Hopper and his army.

Voiced by Jamie Foxx, the Soul protagonist is another Pixar character with a dream waiting to be pursued. It’s fun to see him get a whole new look at life in an unpredictable way after falling down a manhole. In the Great Beyond, he realizes the true meaning of life after showing 22 what it means to live.

She is equal to her husband in her importance to The Incredibles franchise. Going by the name Elastigirl, she holds her own in battle as she’s resourceful and effective in her actions. Her shape-shifting abilities make her an integral part of the superhero family.

He’s the one that eventually shows the world to the titular character in Luca. Free-spirited, Alberto is easy to get behind due to how outgoing, fun, and confident he is in his adventures. He also has a tough backstory that eventually is shared, revealing he was abandoned as a child.

Just thinking of this Inside Out character can bring a tear to anyone’s eye. Watching his story unfold is heartbreaking as it becomes so relatable to everyone watching. He’s the imaginary friend of Riley, representing childhood and innocence, and seeing him fading away is far too real.

Monsters aren’t typically seen as something you’d want to hug, but Sully is a big ol’ teddy bear in Monsters Inc. He may be the leader on the Scare Floor, but Sully, as voiced by John Goodman, is as good-hearted as any Pixar character.

The Wilderness Explorer is hard not to love. This is evident in how he brings life back to Carl, who we see in the opening scene has never been the same since his wife’s passing. Russell is the real MVP of Up.

Of the three main characters within this franchise, no one is more disrespected than Marlin. While Nemo and Dory have movies with their names attached, Marlin is the one in Finding Nemo who swam fearlessly across the ocean to go and save his son. He took on a group of sharks, jellyfish, and his fear to complete the rescue mission.

Kicking off the Top 10, Miguel’s story is a beautiful one to watch unfold in Coco. There’s so much to be learned in his path through the Land of the Dead and his love of music. He also delivers an Academy Award-winning song in “Remember Me," which not many Pixar characters can claim. 

The whole plot of Cars sees the reality check in Lightning McQueen play out in front of our eyes. The one that can help guide him in his journey to being a better car is Mater, who exudes everything that would be expected from someone voiced by Larry the Cable Guy. The lovable tow truck is pivotal in this franchise.

What makes the No. 95 race car so much fun is seeing his character arc. It’s not often a Pixar film fits in a redemption story, but after showing his arrogance, Lightning McQueen realizes he’s not the center of the world as he learns the importance of friendship in Cars . Owen Wilson is electric in this role. Ka-Chow!

There’s a lot to love about Sully’s best friend. What separates him from many characters is the humor provided by the Billy Crystal-voiced monster. There won’t be anything obscuring Mike in our rankings, as he deserves the recognition as the best character in the Monsters Inc. franchise.

Appearing in two movies beginning with Finding Nemo, Dory is the most notable fish in the Pixar sea as she warranted her own spin-off film. Ellen DeGeneres was spectacular in delivering the voice behind this blue tang fish. How can you not hear her most famous line echoing in your head? “Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.”

The man’s a superhero, what else can you ask for? The Incredibles broke out on the scene in 2004 and gave us a look at this lovable family. Plenty of characters here deserve their praise, but Bob Parr and his alter ego, as voiced by Craig T. Nelson, is the main attraction of these films.

She’s the best. Starring in Brave, Merida is as strong as they come, as adventurous as anyone in the Pixar family, and, more importantly, is the only official Disney Princess in the Pixar family. Brought to life by Kelly Macdonald, Merida faces a daunting task but graciously navigates every obstacle in her way.

The top spot could have gone to the Tim Allen-voiced toy, but he’ll settle for the third spot. His popularity in Toy Story is so much that he even had a movie released on the origin of his human inspiration. The Toy Story icon is embedded in the Pixar fabric as much as any character.

There’s something to be said about the Ratatouille star and the impact he has on society. Despite being a rat and held back from pursuing his dream, Remy doesn’t take ‘no’ for an answer and proceeds to carry out his goal of becoming a chef. As resilient of a character as Pixar has, Remy gives off plenty of qualities that would suit all of us for the better.

When thinking of Pixar, it’s hard to come back to the film that started it all, Toy Story . While two iconic characters are leading the way here, Woody is the one who takes the prize as the top character for this studio. Voiced by Tom Hanks, the pull-string doll exhibits everything you’d want in a protagonist, and no one deserves the top spot more than Andy’s favorite toy and our favorite Pixar character.