Many of us learned the basics of love and romance from the shows and movies we watched as kids. And when it comes to that, Disney had no shortage of material, whether it was princesses meeting their princes or animated animals finding their soulmates.
There's no definitive winner when it comes to Disney couples, but some of the most memorable came through films. Take Ariel and Eric from The Little Mermaid, or Tiana and Naveen in The Princess and the Frog, for example. On the TV side, we met couples like Raven and Devon from "That’s So Raven." We’ve also got a few from Disney’s Pixar subsidiary, like Up and WALL-E, which the entertainment giant acquired in 2006.
With that in mind, here’s a look at 15 of the best Disney couples across all their films and franchises. Check them out below in no particular order.
1. Tiana and Naveen in ‘The Princess and the Frog’
It might not seem like a big deal now, but in 2009, Tiana became Disney’s first Black princess, something that hadn’t happened in the company’s entire 72-year history of animated feature films up to that point. Alongside Prince Naveen, a prince transformed into a frog, Tiana figures out how to chase her dream of owning a restaurant while opening herself up to love.
2. Simba and Nala in ‘The Lion King’
Whether you prefer the animated classic or the live-action version voiced by Donald Glover and Beyoncé, Simba and Nala are the cutest couple in the animal kingdom. They grew up together, and years after he’s exiled from the Pride Lands, the two reconnect in the jungle. Nala is his moral compass and, ultimately, the spark that helps him embrace his rightful destiny as Mufasa’s successor.
3. Belle and the Beast in ‘Beauty and the Beast’
Although Belle wants more than her provincial life, falling for a cursed Beast probably wasn’t what she had in mind. They start off at odds, but over time, the unexpected pair learn to see past first impressions. The rest is history.
4. Penny and Kareem in “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder”
While “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder” isn’t exactly romance-driven, Penny Proud and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Brown’s relationship is among the show’s many highlights. The show introduces us to a 14-year-old Penny, who, like most teens her age, is figuring out what it means to like someone. Their bond makes for one of Disney’s most refreshing portrayals of young Black love.
5. Raven and Devon in “That’s So Raven”
Justice for Devon. We were first introduced to his relationship with Raven back in “That’s So Raven.” Somewhat controversially, the high school sweethearts reappeared in “Raven’s Home” as a once-married couple who had since divorced. The good news is they still share a great bond and two children, Booker and Nia.
"I like the relationship that Raven and Devon have right now. He’s very involved in the kids' lives, he’s right there, he’s successful in his own way, and yeah, things are changing and it’s OK," Raven-Symoné explained to MTV.
6. Nani and David in ‘Lilo & Stitch’
Between Nani’s stress over raising Lilo and David’s seemingly endless patience, the two had what we all hope for in a partner: someone who understands what you're going through. They’re one of the best parts of Lilo & Stitch — aside from, you know, the alien situation. All that aside, Nani and David had a romance worthy of its own spin-off.
7. Chad and Taylor in ‘High School Musical’
Forget Troy and Gabriella. The sweetest couple in High School Musical was surprisingly Chad (Corbin Bleu) and Taylor (Monique Coleman). While their best friends struggled with all the attention and pressure, the two had their own thing going on. Across the original trilogy, we see them figure each other out, go to prom together, and the two of them graduate from East High side by side.
8. Roxanne and Max in ‘A Goofy Movie’
For a film titled A Goofy Movie, viewers were treated to a surprising amount of screen time devoted to the titular character’s son, Max, and his crush-turned-girlfriend, Roxanne. Max spends a good chunk of the movie trying to impress her, lying about knowing Powerline and nearly derailing his father-son trip just to get noticed. The catch, of course, is that Roxanne never needed persuading. She liked him from the start.
9. Lady and Tramp in ‘Lady and The Tramp’
Another Disney classic, Lady is a cocker spaniel who falls for Tramp, a stray mutt with a soft side. Their adventures take them all over town, but nothing tops their spaghetti dinner at Tony’s Restaurant.
10. Aladdin and Princess Jasmine in ‘Aladdin’
Aladdin and Jasmine couldn’t come from more different worlds, but they were made for one another. For many, they were also one of Disney’s earliest examples of real representation.
11. Ariel and Prince Eric in ‘The Little Mermaid’
The Little Mermaid has had a few retellings over the years, but none more iconic than the animated 1989 original, or more culturally important than the 2023 live-action remake starring Halle Bailey and Jonah Hauer-King. In both versions, Ariel falls for Prince Eric after saving him from a shipwreck, then gives up her voice to be part of his world. The romance plays out across land, sea, and despite the odds, ends happily ever after.
12. Robin Hood and Maid Marian in ‘Robin Hood’
“Love” doesn’t have to mean ball gowns, castles, or grand gestures. Sometimes, it’s just two foxes sneaking around the forest, like in Disney’s Robin Hood. Robin and Maid Marian were meant for each other in all the ways that matter, including species.
13. Izzy Daniels and Mary Thomas in ‘Jump In!’
Another Disney movie starring Corbin Bleu, this time as the son of a Golden Gloves champ who turns out to be really good at jump roping. As Izzy, he teams up with Mary Thomas, played by Keke Palmer (yes, she had both Disney and Nickelodeon in a chokehold). Together, they bicker, train, fall in love, and go on to win their Double Dutch tournament. It’s a cult classic for a reason.
14. WALL-E and EVE in ‘WALL-E’
Animation has rarely captured a love story as pure or as touching as WALL-E and EVE. Assigned with vastly different missions (he collects garbage, she searches for signs of life), the two robots initially clash in an adorable misunderstanding. However, they eventually end up navigating space, all sorts of danger, and, most importantly, companionship. Pixar proved you don’t need dialogue — or even humanity — to create romance.
15. Carl and Ellie in ‘Up’
If you're in the mood to cry over animated love again, revisit Carl and Ellie’s opening montage from Pixar’s Up. They’re childhood crushes with dreams of exploring Paradise Falls, except she passes away before they ever get the chance.