5 Lessons About Friendship We Learned from Disney

5 Lessons About Friendship We Learned from Disney
July 21, 2015

Disney teaches us that friends don’t just make your life bearable-they make it enjoyable. Your friends lift you up when you’re feeling blue, and they stick up for you when problems arise.

All relationships take work, and even close friends can grow apart. Whether you’ve been friends practically since birth or since last summer, you’ll want to take care of your friendship so it can last a lifetime.

Take a look at these five Disney BFFs and learn valuable lessons about life and friendship.

1. Genie and Aladdin (Aladdin)

A ten-thousand-year age gap doesn’t stop Genie and Aladdin from forming an unstoppable team. When Aladdin gets carried away with his Prince Ali alter ego, Genie brings him back to reality and reminds Aladdin that his street-rat self can still win Jasmine’s heart:

Genie: No matter what happens, you’ll always be a prince to me.

Genie and Aladdin’s friendship endures the strain of romance gone wrong and Jafar’s evil regime so that both friends can live the life they’ve always wanted. This dynamic duo teaches us that friends stand by you-“no matter what happens.”

2. Carl and Ellie (Up)

Carl and Ellie share a love of adventure from the very start. When they first meet, Carl may have broken his arm, but he still makes a lasting impression on Ellie:

Ellie: You know, you don’t talk very much… I like you!

Their differences in personality don’t ruin their friendship-they enhance the bond between them even more. Because Carl and Ellie work together and have common goals, their friendship outlasts the hardships they encounter. Great friends-according to Disney Pixar’s Up-thrive on differences and appreciate what each person offers.

3. Anna and Olaf (Frozen)

Anna forgets for several years that Olaf even exists, but when they meet again, they have an unforgettable experience. Olaf shares his dream of experiencing his first summer with Anna, and eventually helps her realize the depth of her relationship with Kristoff. When Anna nearly freezes to death, Olaf brings her to the fire and says:

Olaf: Some people are worth melting for.

Even though it puts his own life at risk, Olaf puts Anna’s needs before his own-a lesson she needs to learn in order to save Arendelle. Olaf and Anna teach us that friendship is more than just a feeling. Friendship requires action, and even sacrifice.

4. Tod and Copper (The Fox and the Hound)

The food chain may have doomed Tod and Copper’s friendship from the start, but the years these two spent frolicking in the woods bring tears to any Disney fan’s eyes. The promise Tod and Copper make to one another at the beginning of the film illustrates an important principle of friendship:

Tod: Copper, you’re my best friend.

Copper: And you’re mine too, Tod.

Tod: And we’ll always be friends forever. Won’t we?

Copper: Yeah, forever.

Tod and Copper teach us that friendship is hard. Differences and outside pressures sometimes tear people apart. Even though Tod and Copper’s priorities change over the years, their shared friendship saves Tod’s life. The Fox and the Hound teaches us that true friendship should last forever and should take precedence over hatred or competition that threaten the best of friends.

5. Andy and Woody (Toy Story 3)

In Toy Story 3, Andy abandons his old friends to a dangerous day care center. But Woody remembers the bond that they shared and risks his life trying to come back. When the toys finally escape, Andy explains to Bonnie what their friendship has meant to him:

Andy: Now Woody, he’s been my pal for as long as I can remember. He’s brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind, and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special, is he’ll never give up on you… ever. He’ll be there for you, no matter what.

Even though Andy stands on the brink of his adult life, he recognizes the value of his old friends. He knows that true friendship means never giving up. Andy and Woody’s friendship inspires us to never forget old friends.

Remember-the next time you get in an argument with a friend or think about giving up, just recall that the best friendships last for a lifetime. Despite differences, life-threatening situations, and time apart, friendship can survive if you remember these five lessons.