You ain’t never had a friend like me — and no animated film had ever had a voice like Robin Williams as the Genie.
Released in 1992, Aladdin is a Disney animated film in which Williams voices the Genie, the magical being freed from a lamp by Aladdin, played in voice by Scott Weinger. The Genie grants wishes, cracks jokes and sings, all at a pace that feels like a stand-up show inside a fairy tale.
Williams improvised much of the role, filling it with impressions, references and energy that animators then drew around. The result changed animation: a supporting voice performance became the film’s star, and studios began casting comedians in animated roles in a new way.
It is a signature role even though Williams never appears on screen. His voice alone — warm, manic and kind — makes the Genie one of the most beloved characters in family cinema.