Disney might be known for adapting fairy tales, but they’ve also had quite the history of adapting famous myths from around the world, from the Greco-Roman pantheon to figures from Australasia. It also helps that classic myths have been a source of inspiration for storytellers and artists throughout history, meaning retellings adopted by Disney have retroactively become part of its canon. Because of this, various gods have appeared in Disney stories.
Some mythical figures have actually appeared in multiple Disney media in different forms. Zeus, for example, has appeared in Hercules, Fantasia, Ducktales, Marvel properties, and even as a Muppet, causing fans to wonder if any versions are related or not. Out of all the male gods featured in Disney pictures, some are far stronger than the rest.
10 Pluto’s Rules A Fiery Inferno, But His Wife Is His Weakness (The Goddess Of Spring)
In The Goddess Of Spring, like in the myth, Pluto takes Proserpina to the Underworld to be his queen. In a relatively unflattering portrayal, he looks like a costumed devil from a production of Faust, with his underground kingdom resembling a classical depiction of hell. Despite this, his portrayal is surprisingly sympathetic. He willingly allows Proserpina time to return to earth and create the seasons.
Pluto is a strong, horrifying entity, but he has a weakness and her name is Proserpina. Granted, he must be commanding for her to agree to return, considering he doesn’t even have to try anything with a pomegranate this time around.
9 King Neptune Has The Oceans At His Command (Silly Symphonies)
In Roman mythology, Neptune was the god of water. In Disney’s Silly Symphonies series, he was something of a recurring character. He first appears in his namesake 1932 short, where he rules the ocean and protects his mermaid daughters from pirates.
The giant sea king would make other appearances, like in the Mickey Mouse short Thru The Mirror. Sometimes, he’s a cruel, powerful tyrant of the seas. Other times, he’s basically an underwater Santa Claus. But, with the seas at his command, he proves a force to be reckoned with.
8 The Human Race Owes Maui A Big Thank You (Moana)
Maui is a figure who appears in various Polynesian mythologies. Although generally considered more of a folk hero than a god, Disney split the difference by dubbing him a “demigod” in Disney’s Moana. Maui was born human but after his parents abandoned him, he won the sympathy of the gods.
By the time he’s appeared in Moana, he’s accomplished many a great deed, like creating coconuts from eel guts. For this, he feels like the human race owes him some gratitude. On the other hand, his stealing of the heart of Te Fiti caused the main conflict of Moana. Whether causing harm or good, his feats are certainly impressive.
7 Hades Lost In His Movie, But Might Just Get The Last Laugh (Hercules)
In Disney’s Hercules, Hades, the god of the dead, is a classic Disney villain. He schemes to overthrow his brother as the new top god, going so far as to make his nephew, Hercules, mortal to avoid Hercules interfering in his plans. Considering he can make gods mortal, he’s certainly a threat, though there must be some limitations considering he never tried that on Zeus.
Being a god, he isn’t killed in any climatic battle. The last viewers see of him is him getting trapped in a whirlpool of ghosts. With Hercules becoming mortal in Hercules, many fans pointed out that Hades will probably get the last laugh when it’s his time to die. Much of these contradictions come from the fact that Hades wasn’t really much of a villain to his nephew in the myths, whose main nemesis was his stepmother Hera.
6 Hercules Switches Between God And Demigod, But Is Always Strong (Hercules)
In Disney’s version of events, Hercules is born the divine son of Zeus and Hera, only to be turned mortal by his villainous uncle, Hades. He attempts to regain his divinity by proving himself as a hero. His divine status is complicated: Hercules seems to treat him as mortal, but the animated series considered him a demigod.
Still, he always proves to be strong and a force to be reckoned with. Hercules ends with Hercules regaining his godhood while saving Meg from the Underworld, but he throws it all away to stay with her. Though Hercules possesses god-like strength, even the ancient Greeks couldn’t agree if Hercules was a god or a hero. For example, he is somehow both a ghost in Hades and a god on Mount Olympus in The Odyssey.
5 King Triton Has Untold Powers Through His Trident (The Little Mermaid)
In Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Triton is the ruler of the seas and the father of seven mermaid daughters. His youngest daughter is Ariel, the titular little mermaid. Most of his power is illustrated by his trident, which is even powerful enough to turn mermaids into humans. He’s undeniably strong – except for that brief moment when Ursula turned him into a polyp.
Whether he counts as a god is complicated. Triton is named after one of Poseidon’s sons, but Disney goes back and forth on whether they’re the same person. A separate Triton appears in the Hercules animated series, but some Disney media outright states King Triton’s father was Poseidon. According to the animated series, Neptune might have been his grandfather.
4 The Moon God Khonshu Is Kind Of An Outcast In Need Of An Avatar (Moon Knight)
Moon Knight features a god from the Egyptian pantheon: Khonshu, the god of the moon. In the Moon Knight canon, he is the source of the titular hero’s power.
In the Disney+ series, however, he appears to be something of an outcast among the gods, explaining his need of an avatar in Marc Spector. Despite this, Moon Knight still possesses great strength, the ability to drain people’s lives, and is an excellent fighter.
3 Zeus Is The King Of The Gods, But Not All Powerful (Hercules)
In Disney’s Hercules, Zeus is the ruler of the gods. He has power over lightning and is the father of the titular hero. He knows his way around a thunderbolt and took down the Titans, which, according to the animated series, included his own father. With the exception of Hades, Hercules makes it clear that other gods generally support his rule.
Unfortunately, he’s not all powerful, considering he can’t do anything about his son’s situation. The animated series also shows even he’s susceptible to a lot of spells, like Lethe water-erasing his memory. Despite this, he’s got superhuman strength, the power of teleportation, and is omnipotent. He’s even able to give life to objects and powers to other beings.
2 Chernabog Commands The Dark Forces, But Fears Michael Eisner (Fantasia)
Chernabog is the Slavic god of the night who appears in Disney’s Fantasia during the Night on Bald Mountain/Ave Maria segment. His name can be translated as “black god.” He is powerful and can summon his minions, which include demons, ghosts, witches, and harpies, on Walpurgis Night.
His minions dance in tribute to him until they are scared off by church bells and the rising sun. According to one famous ad, he also has one more weakness: Michael Eisner. However, there is some debate whether he is a god like his name suggests or if he’s a demon. Even the narrator outright calls him “Satan.”
1 Thor Is An Avenger (MCU)
Thor Odinson, based on the god of thunder from Norse mythology, is a superhero in the Marvel canon. Thor notably appears in The Avengers films and his own titular projects. He’s a powerful Asgardian and an Avenger who is worthy of wielding the powerful Mjolnir hammer.
Mjolnir is an enchanted hammer that has power over storms and can create vast energy blasts. Thor has superhuman strength, agility, and speed. As in Norse myths, he isn’t exactly immortal. However, with him being one of the few surviving members of his family, barring alternate versions, he proves his strength and greatness.
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