The sidekick characters in animated movies deserve a movie of their own, in my opinion. Yes, the main characters are great as well, but they already have their own film. I’m talking about the ones who don’t but should, the sidekicks who are more than just comedic relief.
The sidekicks are the ones who do the things that the main characters wouldn’t, like breaking the rules when necessary and making jokes to lighten the mood in the darker moments. Think about it: there’s the Genie from Aladdin who bends the rules instead of breaking them, Olaf from Frozen, who’s known for his humorous jokes during tense moments, or Timon and Pumbaa from The Lion King, who are quite the hysterical duo and their carefree way of living, “hakuna matata.” They carry the story in a way that the main characters don’t.
These characters are also the ones who push the main characters to grow and teach viewers life lessons along the way. For example, the Genie teaches viewers about staying true to who they are rather than lying to look better, encouraging Aladdin to be honest and guiding him with advice and support. He wasn’t just there for his jokes and banter; he was an important partner to the story.
If studios paid attention, sidekicks could have their own films or spin-offs, where we can explore their backstories more. It would be both fun and a way to acknowledge other parts of movies that were important to the audience, too.
Sidekicks remind us of how important the power of friendship is. They show that a good support system is valuable, and that humor can help hard moments. These secondary characters deserve more attention than they’ve been getting.
