TEACHER’S PETS

These teachers and mentors form a special bond with their young charges.

MERLIN and WART

Film: The Sword in the Stone (1963)
Voice Actors: Karl Swenson and Rickie Sorenson/Robert Reitherman
DVD: Available

Through a little “higitus figitus,�? the befuddled wizard teaches the future King Arthur a few things about life, like how to pack efficiently, how to avoid an amorous female squirrel and, most importantly, how to use your head.

FLIK and DOT

Film: A Bug’s Life (1998)
Voice Actors: Dave Foley and Hayden Panettiere
DVD: Available

She’s the spunky little princess who idolizes the idealistic would-be inventor, some thing he doesn’t fully realize until its almost too late. But all is well when she presents him with … a rock. Must be an “ant thing.�?

UNCLE REMUS and JOHNNY

Film: Song of the South (1946)
Actors: James Baskett and Bobby Driscoll
Song of Friendship: “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah�?
DVD: Not yet …

Young Johnny is enthralled by the fantastical tales of the Briar Patch as told by the kindly Uncle Remus. But amidst all the comical adventures of Bre’r Rabbit and company, valuable life lessons are learned … and that’s “mighty satisfactual!�?

THE TOP 10 DISNEY FRIENDSHIPS

An elephant and a mouse.
Two trailblazing adventurers.
A deer and a rabbit.
A wooden puppet and a cricket.
A pair of chipmunks
A cowboy doll and a space-aged action figure.
A boy and a bear.
A meerkat and a warthog.
A street rat and a magical lamp-dweller.
And two real-life Disney Legends.

These are the Top 10 Disney Friendships, friendships to cherish for generations past, present and future.

(c) Disney

 

MOWGLI and BALOO

Film: The Jungle Book (1967)
Voice Actors: Bruce Reitherman and Phil Harris
Song of Friendship: “The Bare Necessities�?
DVD: Available

With one look at the scrawny man cub, the boisterous, be-boppin’ bruin coins him “little britches�? and sets out to make him into a proper bear. In return, the boy calls him “Papa Bear,�? a true testament to their lasting relationship.

(c) Disney

 

FRANK THOMAS and OLLIE JOHNSTON

Film: Frank and Ollie (1995)
DVD: Available

Two of the celebrated artists behind a lot of the characters on this list are featured in this loving documentary, which focuses on their great friendship that spanned their lives and, concurrently, the history of Disney animation.\