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From classic animated legends to Pixar heavy-hitters, Disney’s crossover magic is a huge part of what makes Kingdom Hearts so unforgettable. Join us as we revisit the most notable heroes, villains, and sidekicks who shaped Sora’s journey across the series. From emotional boss battles to surprise team-ups, these appearances helped define the franchise in all the best ways.
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00:10Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're looking at notable appearances by some of our favorite
00:15Disney heroes, villains, and sidekicks in the Kingdom Hearts games and the impact they
00:20have on the overall franchise.
00:22Expect major spoilers ahead if you can follow the series roadmap.
00:35We're still cringing over how awful the level design for Deep Jungle is, but at least getting
00:40to meet Tarzan made it slightly worth it.
00:51Adopted by Gorillaz as an infant, Tarzan has never encountered other humans before.
00:56Despite the language barrier, Tarzan has a heroic spirit determined to protect his friends and
01:00family in any way he can.
01:02And even though he doesn't know much about the outside world, he's able to sense when
01:05someone is affected by the Heartless, such as Clayton.
01:08Honestly, if they could rework Deep Jungle for future games, we'd be all too happy to
01:13fight alongside the 8-man again, especially with his strength and acrobatic skills.
01:25Number 19.
01:27Ariel.
01:28Various.
01:29Atlantica has been cited as one of the worst worlds in the Kingdom Hearts series, but there's
01:33one face that makes the journey worth it.
01:35Ariel.
01:44As one of the few Disney princesses to fight alongside us on the battlefield, this rebellious
01:48mermaid offers a plethora of magic to help support us in combat.
01:51She may seem naive and headstrong, but she's compassionate and willing to throw down for
01:56those she cares for, not to mention her gorgeous singing voice.
02:07Even after she earns her happily ever after, she returns as a summon in Kingdom Hearts 3
02:11to give our key bearer an extra helping fin.
02:14Number 18.
02:15Fa Mulan.
02:16Kingdom Hearts 2.
02:18After meeting up with their old summon buddy Mushu, the trio ends up teaming up with Mulan,
02:22disguised as a male soldier named Ping to preserve her father's honor.
02:26And you are?
02:28I'm Mulan.
02:29Um, no, I, I, I mean...
02:32Ping!
02:34Mulan, Ping!
02:35Unfortunately, Ping isn't a reliable party member, constantly tripping and moving slowly.
02:40But once she ditches the getup, Mulan becomes the badass we know she is, an agile sword wielder
02:45with fire magic to heat up the battlefield.
02:47Much like the original movie, Mulan is rightfully recognized as the hero of China, once again
02:52emphasizing the importance of being true to yourself.
02:55While Ping was a pain to work with, it was worth sticking around to see Mulan unlock her
02:59full potential.
03:08Number 17.
03:10Yen Sid.
03:11Various.
03:12Remember Yen Sid, the mysterious intimidating sorcerer from Fantasia who served as Mickey's
03:16mentor?
03:17The Kingdom Hearts series took that concept and expanded it greatly.
03:24Master Yen Sid.
03:26It's an honor.
03:28Hey there.
03:29Show her.
03:29Show some respect.
03:31Here, Yen Sid wasn't just a magician.
03:33He was a Keyblade Master who taught Mickey everything he knew about wielding the mystical
03:37weapon.
03:38While he's long since retired as a Keyblade Master, Yen Sid still offers eons of wisdom to
03:42those who have succeeded him and keeps a sharp eye on the balance between light and darkness.
03:46Along with giving an underutilized classic character a vital role in the series' world building,
03:51it's clear that Yen Sid's teachings didn't go to waste seeing how great a King Mickey
03:55became.
04:16Number 16.
04:17Hercules.
04:18Various.
04:19With Hades being a recurring face in the series, you'd better believe that Wonderboy himself
04:23isn't too far behind.
04:36A mortal possessing godlike strength, Hercules is on his journey to prove himself a true hero.
04:41He sympathizes with Sora's own heroic quests and supports him any chance he gets, whether
04:45it's with a friendly one-on-one match in the Coliseum or acting as a backup in a brawl,
04:49and he is a heavy hitter.
04:52Even when he's worn out, Herc will just mask his exhaustion and keep moving forward on his
04:56quest to prove himself, all the while inspiring future heroes like Sora to keep going as well.
05:01I didn't hesitate to give my life for Megs, and then I remembered.
05:05A true hero is measured by the strength of his heart.
05:09Number 15.
05:10Baymax.
05:11Kingdom Hearts 3.
05:12While San Fransokyo feels very bare-bones, it's worth it to get to meet our favorite healthcare droid, Baymax.
05:18Hello.
05:19I am Baymax, your personal healthcare companion.
05:23Oh!
05:25Wow!
05:26He's just as stoic and huggable as ever, and he ends up joining our party and offering some
05:31much-needed offense, support, and aerial combat.
05:34He even teaches us the most valuable lesson of all, the ways of the fist bump.
05:38However, our new friend is actually the second version of Baymax.
05:41The original from the movie is on a chip stolen by the organization and corrupted by darkness.
05:46While it's heartbreaking to see any version of him being turned into an evil puppet, it
05:50does further prove that despite being a droid, Baymax is just as alive as his human friends.
05:55Isn't that Baymax's heart?
06:05That's okay.
06:07Baymax is here.
06:09Number 14.
06:10Aladdin.
06:11Various.
06:12Whenever our journeys take us to the sweltering deserts of Agrabah, we're guaranteed to run
06:16into the titular street rat himself, Aladdin.
06:19Just paid a visit to the Cave of Wonders.
06:22I found that magic carpet.
06:25And this lamp.
06:27As usual, he's heroic, clever, and quick on his feet.
06:30However, he's not as sturdy as Goofy.
06:33What he lacks in defense, he more than makes up for in speed and strength with some satisfying
06:37swordplay.
06:38Overall, while he might not look like much, Aladdin is a diamond in the rough that you'd
06:42be lucky to have backing you up on the battlefield.
06:44Whenever Aladdin can be with us, we can always rely on Genie as a dependable ally and summon.
06:59Number 13.
07:00Winnie the Pooh.
07:01Various.
07:02Need a break from the lore and drama that the realms cause us?
07:05There's a book in Merlin's library that will take us into the Hundred Acre Wood where
07:09we'll meet our favorite bear of very little brain.
07:21Pooh is blissfully unaware of the trouble the Heartless and the organization cause outside
07:24of his book, more concerned with filling his tummy with honey.
07:27Whenever we visit, we become a Christopher Robin-like figure, helping Pooh whenever his
07:31friends have gone missing or he's forgotten everything.
07:34Outside of honey, Pooh is extremely loyal to his friends and always encourages us to come
07:38back and visit.
07:39Even if his world's optional, how could we refuse that offer?
07:49Number 12.
07:51Kingdom Hearts 2.
07:52For most of the games, Simba aided Sora as a summon as the Pride Lands had been absorbed
07:56by the Heartless.
07:57But, by Kingdom Hearts 2, his home had been restored to its former glory and Simba's story
08:02continues as normal.
08:04Sora!
08:05Donald!
08:06Goofy!
08:10Ahhhh!
08:11Deceived by Scar into believing he had murdered his father, we must help Simba regain his confidence
08:15and become the king we all know he is.
08:18Thankfully, Simba is a tank on the battlefield and able to support us just as well.
08:22Simba is mostly a summon in the other games, but the one time he became a party member,
08:27he made it all worth it as we helped him take his rightful place.
08:32Simba seems fine now.
08:34Ha!
08:34The king has returned!
08:37Number 11.
08:37Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan.
08:40Kingdom Hearts 3.
08:41Things get kooky when Sora, Donald, and Goofy end up in Monstropolis, transformed into
08:46Freaky Monsters.
08:47It's then that they run into the dynamic duo of Mike and Sully with their human friend,
08:51Boo.
08:51Hmm?
08:53I wonder who those guys are.
08:55What?!
08:55Careful, Sully!
08:56If they see the KID!
08:58That's fine.
08:59We got nothing to hide.
09:01They've abandoned the old ways of scaring kids, choosing instead to use laughter as a
09:05power source.
09:06However, their old foe Randall, with the help of the unversed, aims to undo all their hard
09:10work by harvesting the power of negative emotions.
09:13Fortunately for the trio, Mike and Sully know how much more powerful laughter is, which ends
09:18up being a major help along the way.
09:19Mike being a walking master at physical humor doesn't hurt either.
09:23Whoa!
09:25Whoa!
09:25Whoa!
09:25Whoa!
09:26Whoa!
09:27Whoa!
09:29Whoa!
09:43Sora?
09:44And I'm Donald!
09:45Oh, I'm Goofy!
09:47And I'm...
09:49Buzz Lightyear!
09:50Nearly everyone in Andy's house has disappeared, with only a small handful of toys left behind,
09:55and it looks like one of Xehanort's is behind this.
09:57Sora, Donald, and Goofy volunteer to help the toys, though Buzz is reluctant to trust the
10:02newcomers.
10:02Despite this, he and Woody join the party to help put an end to Xehanort's scheme, where
10:07Woody completely breaks him down with a savage roast of infinite proportions.
10:22They were originally cut from Kingdom Hearts 2, but their part in 3 was well worth the wait,
10:27hopefully inspiring future Pixar-themed worlds.
10:30Number 9.
10:31Hades, Various
10:32Along with Maleficent, the Lord of the Dead himself is one of the most recurring threats
10:36in all of the franchise.
10:38This literally hot-headed baddie only has two goals in the afterlife, to snuff out Hercules
10:42and conquer Olympus.
10:48He'll put us through the ringer in the Coliseum with a nearly endless barrage of monsters,
10:53manipulate those around him to put on a good show, and even revive a fallen warrior to do
10:57his dirty work in the arena.
10:58He'll only get his own hands dirty when all else has failed, and he's no pushover with
11:03his fire powers.
11:04He's actually separated from the villains to keep pursuing his own goals for domination,
11:07which goes as smoothly as you'd expect.
11:10You can keep your heartless this time.
11:12I'm going back to my original plan, alright?
11:14So, toodaloo!
11:16Number 8.
11:17Jack Skellington, Various
11:18While it looks spooky, Halloween Town is full of gentle souls, including the Pumpkin King
11:23himself, Jack Skellington.
11:32As an artist, Jack means well, but his ambition tends to backfire, such as attempting to control
11:38the heartless or making his own Christmas again.
11:41Fortunately, he's not above admitting that he's made a mistake and will fight alongside
11:44his friends to set things right with some powerful magic.
11:47Overall, Jack remains his eccentric, curious self that you can't help but love.
11:52Unfortunately, getting to meet him also means having to deal with Oogie Boogie, who has
11:56two of the most challenging and visually satisfying boss fights in the original game.
12:06Number 7.
12:07Captain Jack Sparrow
12:08Kingdom Hearts 2 and Kingdom Hearts 3
12:11Yes, the Kingdom Hearts franchise has even crossed over into live-action Disney.
12:15During Kingdom Hearts 2, they arrive in Port Royal, set during the events of Curse of
12:19the Black Pearl and encounter the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow.
12:27As usual, Jack remains his snarky, eccentric self, though he's absolutely appalled by how
12:32the Heartless and the organization sully the names of proper pirates.
12:35While he acts like a lumbering fool, he proves himself a valiant ally to Sora's crew.
12:40As Goofy points out, Sora and Jack are almost two sides of the same coin, and Jack ends up teaching
12:45Sora a thing or two about being a pirate.
12:47It's no wonder that Sora was excited to see him again.
12:50There, Sora!
12:52Huh?
12:53Jack Sparrow!
12:57Captain Jack Sparrow!
12:59Number 6.
13:00Beast
13:00Various
13:02With his Keyblade and the rest of his party gone, Sora has reached his lowest point in the original game.
13:06However, he received comfort from an unlikely source, Prince Adam, a.k.a. The Beast.
13:12And though I am on my own, I will fight! I won't leave without her!
13:19His determination to find his beloved Belle inspires Sora to keep going even when it feels hopeless.
13:24In addition, Beast is a powerhouse of an ally.
13:27Using his tremendous strength to take on his foes and defend his allies, and his support moves allow us to
13:31attack the enemies from all sides.
13:33One year later, we would end up returning the favor when Beast is at his lowest, deceived into allowing himself
13:38to be consumed by his own despair.
13:40What matters is, you weren't hurt by Zaldin. You're safe.
13:49Number 5.
13:50Mickey Mouse
13:51Who's the King of Disney Castle?
13:53Mickey Mouse.
13:55What about Lannister?
13:58Now, Sora! Let's close this door for good!
14:02It's no surprise that this iconic Disney mascot would end up being the ruler of his kingdom, but what really
14:06surprises us is how seriously he takes his job.
14:09We're so used to Mickey being the silly, happy-go-lucky cartoon he usually is that seeing him as a
14:14badass Keyblade Master feels so surreal.
14:16While he's in a much more serious role, he's still the optimistic, friendly mouse that we all know and love,
14:21and he knows the importance of balance between light and darkness.
14:24He doesn't appear nearly as much as his pals Donald and Goofy, but it makes the moments we do see
14:29him all the more worth it.
14:30But the closer I get, the hazier our connection feels.
14:35You mean...
14:37Maybe.
14:38But we can't give up hope.
14:40Number 4.
14:41Maleficent
14:42Various
14:42Of all the Disney villains present throughout the series, none of them have had as much staying power as the
14:47Mistress of Evil herself, Maleficent.
14:49You poor, simple fools!
14:52You think you can defeat me?
14:54Me, the mistress of all evil!
14:57Not content to just curse Aurora, Maleficent aims to spread darkness and enslave all worlds in the universe, using the
15:03Heartless and a band of her fellow Disney baddies.
15:06There is no one she won't manipulate to further her goals, and even when she is defeated, her influence ensures
15:11that she'll never be gone for long.
15:13That's without mentioning how she put Sora through the ringer in her dragon form in one of the franchise's most
15:18challenging boss fights.
15:19Disney villains come and go, but Maleficent shall always reign supreme.
15:24Light and darkness are fated to clash.
15:27A Keyblade war is upon us.
15:29Number 3.
15:30Jiminy Cricket
15:31Various
15:31Someone has to be the chronicler for our universal travels, so who better than the certified conscience, Jiminy Cricket?
15:37Well, well, as I live and breathe, if it isn't Pinocchio!
15:44When we first meet Jiminy, his world had tragically been cleaned by the Heartless, and he was separated from his
15:49friend and young charge, Pinocchio.
15:50He found refuge in the Disney castle and was assigned to join Sora, Donald, and Goofy on their quests.
15:56While he never joins the battle, he helps us keep track of our objectives, world building, and anything that can
16:01help us fill in the blanks along the way.
16:02Think the Kingdom Hearts narrative is hard to follow now?
16:05Imagine how much worse it could have been if we didn't have Jiminy to help guide us.
16:09Don't forget about me!
16:12Jiminy!
16:13Every journey worth going on needs a cricket to keep track of it.
16:17Number 2.
16:18Donald Duck
16:19Various
16:20Who gets stuck with all the bad luck?
16:22Thankfully, not Donald Duck.
16:23Let's go get him!
16:25Goofy!
16:32He takes his position as King Mickey's royal assistant and magician very seriously, and has a fiery temper when things
16:38don't go right, or when comedy demands it.
16:40He's a powerful mage, but has a reputation for not healing us when we need him to. He also doesn't
16:45always get along with Sora.
16:55Despite this, Donald is a loyal, competent ally you'd be thankful to have in your corner, and only occasionally swap
17:01out if needed.
17:02Plus, let's be honest, the games wouldn't be nearly as fun without Donald bantering with Sora and Goofy.
17:07The three of us know how to handle a couple of old adversaries, right?
17:11More adversaries!
17:14Before we continue, be sure to check out WatchMojo's 24-hour livestream. All of your favorite videos in one place,
17:2024-7. Always on, always live.
17:23Are you not entertained?!
17:25Number 1.
17:27Goofy
17:28Various
17:28Along with Donald, there's one party member that always has our back no matter what.
17:33Hey, why don't you come with us? We can go to other worlds on our vessel!
17:38Serving as King Mickey's captain of the Royal Knights, Goofy isn't much of a fighter and prefers to go into
17:42battle with his handy shield.
17:44While still the clumsy, lovable dimwit, the Kingdom Hearts series brings out a wiser side to Goofy that's able to
17:49see things that others often overlook.
17:51He's the optimistic glue that holds the trio together and is one of Sora's most loyal, dependable friends.
18:01Our hearts shattered when it looked like he died in Kingdom Hearts 2, but thankfully, Goofy's taken too many lumps
18:07over the years to truly be kept down, even for a minute.
18:10Sure, adventuring's fun, but it definitely has its ups and downs. When the going gets tough, us friends have to
18:17stick together!
18:21What Disney characters do you want to see in a future Kingdom Hearts entry? Let us know in the comments!