When searching for a Disney character whose name starts with E, you quickly come across Elsa, and then not much else. However, the letter E encompasses heroes with very different profiles: a queen with ice powers, an elephant capable of flying, a surgeon fish with a faulty memory, or even a villain from Coco.
Each of these characters has marked a generation, sometimes several, and their presence in the Disney universe remains much more active than one might think.
Elsa, Eudora, Edward: Disney characters with E in very different roles
We spontaneously associate the letter E with Elsa, the Snow Queen. Her journey in the two films of the franchise has established her as one of the most recognizable Disney characters in the world. Her sister Anna plays the protagonist role in the first film, but it is Elsa who captures the audience’s attention, thanks to her signature song and her narrative arc centered on self-acceptance.
Less visible, Eudora appears in The Princess and the Frog as Tiana’s mother. Her role is brief, but it anchors the main character in a concrete family reality: a seamstress raising her daughter alone in New Orleans. This type of secondary character adds depth to the story without taking center stage.
Edward, the prince from the film Enchanted, operates on a different register. He is an overt parody of the classic charming prince, naive and enthusiastic, thrown into contemporary New York. His disconnection from the real world creates the essence of the film’s comedic spring. By exploring Disney characters starting with e, we see how this letter covers varied narrative registers, from drama to comedy.
Dumbo and the Elephant character: when Disney tells the story of exclusion through animals
Dumbo does not start with an E, but his real name, Elephant Junior, places him in this category. The 1941 film remains one of Disney’s most direct narratives about rejection and difference. Dumbo does not speak. Everything is conveyed through looks, situations, and the cruelty of other elephants.
This narrative choice contrasts with the current trend of Disney characters verbalizing their emotions. Dumbo acts, suffers, and then triumphs without dialogue. For a film aimed at children, it is a radical choice that continues to resonate with new generations.
Disney has also revived the franchise with a live-action film, a sign that the character retains intact commercial potential. His lack of dialogue makes him universal, understandable without translation or dubbing.
Ernesto de la Cruz in Coco: a Disney villain in E that the parks are bringing back to light
Ernesto de la Cruz is the main antagonist of Coco, released in 2017. A beloved musician, he turns out to be an impostor who stole the songs of his former partner and caused his death. The twist works because the film patiently builds the viewer’s admiration before turning it on its head.
What distinguishes Ernesto from classic Disney villains is the absence of supernatural power. His cruelty is human, motivated by ambition and vanity. No black magic, no spectacular transformation: just a man willing to do anything for glory.
On the park side, Disney continues to keep this character alive outside of screens. According to Disney Food Blog, Ernesto de la Cruz is among the confirmed characters for the Oogie Boogie Bash 2026 at Disney California Adventure. This presence at a seasonal event shows that Disney is betting on niche villains to refresh the experience for regular visitors.
Why E villains are returning to Disney events
Disney’s strategy in 2026 is to bring out characters rarely seen in meet-and-greet. Alongside Ernesto, figures like Hades or Yzma appear in these limited events. The goal is twofold: to create a sense of rarity for fans and to offer an alternative to the usual encounters with princesses or Mickey.
This approach is based on a simple observation. Visitors who return multiple times a year to the parks have already encountered the main characters. Offering them an Ernesto de la Cruz or a Judge Doom generates engagement on social media and word-of-mouth.
Forgotten Disney characters in E: Edgar, Esmeralda, Elliott
Some characters starting with E deserve attention, even if they do not top search results.
- Edgar Balthazar, the butler from The Aristocats, is one of the few Disney villains motivated by financial inheritance. His plan to get rid of Madame de Bonnefamille’s cats is both petty and comical, making him an atypical antagonist.
- Esmeralda, in The Hunchback of Notre Dame, carries a discourse on social justice that is rare in Disney’s catalog of the time. Her song “God Help the Outcasts” directly addresses the persecution of the Romani people by Frollo.
- Elliott, the invisible dragon from Pete’s Dragon (1977), functions as a tangible imaginary friend. The original film is less known than its 2016 version, but the character of Elliott embodies a simple idea: protection through a fantastic creature.
These three characters share a common point. They occupy films that are not part of the most widely distributed “classics,” making them less visible in usual lists.
What the letter E reveals about the diversity of the Disney catalog
Exploring Disney characters by their initial produces an unexpected effect. We step away from rankings by popularity or era to discover figures that the recommendation algorithm does not highlight. Elsa dominates the letter E, but behind her are a greedy butler, a rebellious dancer, a protective dragon, and a murderous musician.
The richness of the Disney catalog lies in these secondary characters as much as in its headliners. Events in the parks, like the Oogie Boogie Bash, confirm this: Disney knows that its most loyal fans seek beyond the obvious. The letter E alone covers decades of storytelling, from the silent Dumbo to the ambiguous Ernesto.