Not every Disney character is a princess seeking freedom from the perfect life laid out for her or a beggar boy hoping to be a prince. If you look closely, you’ll find that some much-loved Disney characters manifest highly sensitive personalities. A few of them also have introverted characters.
Highly sensitive Disney characters are often the sidekicks, the shy and unobtrusive ones. But sometimes you’ll find them playing lead roles.
These highly sensitive Disney characters are some of the most complex personalities. Some might be a little crusty and some more than a little cute … but all are unforgettable.
Which of these highly sensitive Disney characters to you empathize most with?
1. Flower (Bambi)
No one who’s watched the classic Disney cartoon Bambi can forget the iconic character who didn’t even have the nerve to introduce himself correctly.
Instead, he simply stated, “You can call me Flower if you want to … I don’t mind.”
In fact, we never even discover his real name. We know the blue-eyed skunk from Bambi is bashful and seems to hate attention. But this highly sensitive character proves himself as a faithful friend … except when he wants to sleep (all winter long).
And yes, we know how much HSPs need their sleep!
2. Bailey (Finding Dory)
This highly sensitive Disney character has a keen (and probably overwhelming) sense of hearing (any HSPs out there relate?) and lacks confidence in himself.
It takes a close friend (Destiney) and a crazy newcomer (Dory) to convince Bailey that maybe there is life beyond his safe spaces.
But we’re pretty sure he’ll always be on the shy and sensitive side, no matter where he might end up in the big, wide world.
3. Sadness (Inside Out)
First of all, raise your hand (or just nod slightly) if you cried more than once while watching this movie.
And another nod if you could totally relate to Sadness, a softspoken and sensitive character whose personality is the exact opposite to Joy.
Sadness is certain that she ruined things by affecting one of Riley’s core memories with … well … sadness. But her sensitive nature proves to be a vital part of Riley’s psyche.
Sometimes you just need someone to cry with, and Sadness, with her highly sensitive personality, knew how to do just that.
4. Kristoff (Frozen)
This might seem like a stretch, but remember his song to Sven: “Reindeer are better than people …” even if people do smell better than reindeer.
If you’re a highly sensitive person, you’ve doubtless had moments (or long seasons) where you’ve preferred animal company to humans.
And when Olaf the snowman sang his famous song about summer, Kristoff was deeply concerned about Olaf’s innocence and repeated, “Someone needs to tell him.”
However, he was too sensitive to state outright, “Dude, you’re gonna melt.”
5. Bashful (Snow White)
If you’re a highly sensitive person, Bashful is probably your favorite dwarf (though depending on your mood, Grumpy might be a close second).
Bashful has a secret crush on Snow White, but can rarely stammer out much more than “Oh, gosh,” when he finds himself the subject of her attention.
He loves sugar and flowers, plays an instrument, and appreciates beauty. Need we say more?
6. Jiminy Cricket (Pinocchio)
Speaking of appreciating beauty, Jiminy Cricket surely had a crush on the lovely Blue Fairy, who dubbed him Pinocchio’s conscience.
Although reserved and realistic, Jiminy Cricket still embraced the task wholeheartedly.
As an HSP, you’ve likely held the uncomfortable position of serving as “conscience” to a friend or family member, whether you’ve wanted to or not.
If nothing else, you’ve probably thought it: That’s not the right way to go and they’ll end up disappointed or hurt. But you stayed true to your friend no matter what they chose. You can likely relate to Jiminy Cricket, who stuck by Pinocchio … even when he turned into a donkey.
7. Archimedes (The Sword in the Stone)
Archimedes might come across as a crusty old owl who wants nothing more than a bit more sleep … but if you’re a highly sensitive introvert, you’ve undoubtedly had those days where you were more than a little grumpy because you were tired.
He is easily offended, such as when he and Merlin are given the coldest, draftiest room in the castle.
However, when Arthur’s life is in danger, Archimedes risks his own safety to rescue the boy. When Merlin asks him about it though, he acts as though he did nothing of the sort.
Sometimes HSPs are unlikely heroes.
8. Milo (Atlantis)
This Disney film from 2001 might not have been the most popular (possibly due to the lack of a Disney princess).
But Milo, the lead character, held his own as an awkward, highly sensitive genius.
A linguist and cartographer who finished high school at 11 and declined both Harvard and Princeton, Milo Thatch is a dream-chaser, reluctant to give up his hopes that the lost city of Atlantis really does exist.
Eventually, he leads a group of scientists to Atlantis, not knowing everyone but him is in it for the money. In spite of his awkwardness, his sensitivity and honesty bring all but the biggest villains to his side, and his courage helps to renew a dying land.
9. Alice (Alice in Wonderland)
Any other HSPs love using their vivid imagination to escape the real world on a regular basis?
That’s Alice for you.
She loved reading, but not boring, visionless books. Alice wanted something that would capture her imagination and bring it to life … which is just what happens when she tumbles down the rabbit hole.
Alice cries a river … literally, and finds herself in adventure after adventure … all the while seeking a way to get back home.
Highly sensitive people are homebodies, after all.
10. Belle (Beauty and the Beast)
And yes, sometimes the highly sensitive person is the Disney princess, as Belle, the dreamer who is rarely seen without a book in her hands.
Even though no one could deny the truth of her name, the townspeople still state, “I’m afraid she’s rather odd–very different from the rest of us.”
Different … but that’s not necessarily bad. After all, she had the sensitive nature needed to see the beauty hidden deep within a terrifying beast, enabling him to transform into his true self.
