< Pocahontas

Pocahontas/Characters


The Good Guys

Pocahontas

Voiced by: Irene Bedard (speaking), Judy Kuhn (singing)

  • Action Girl: Sort of.
  • And Zoidberg: Because of her being in Braids, Beads, and Buckskins, she sort of has a hard time blending in well with the other princesses with their pimped out dresses. As such she is almost always the one who gets cut out of merchandise.
    • The sequel does give her a reasonably pimped out dress when she first arrives in England, this is almost always the outfit used in accessories.
  • Beauty Is Never Tarnished
  • The Chief's Daughter
  • Daddy's Girl
  • Dating What Daddy Hates
  • Does Not Like Shoes
  • Dramatic Wind: With her army of leaves at the ready.
  • Earn Your Happy Ending: She was the only one who could prevent the plot from going into a bloody massacre.
  • Friend to All Living Things: She's shown communing with several different types of animals, but her animal sidekicks are Flit, the hummingbird, and Meeko, the raccoon. Later Percy, the pug, is added.
  • Generation Xerox: According to her father, she takes after her mother.
  • Indian Maiden
  • Inexplicably Awesome: Her shamanic powers go unnoticed for most of the characters, but she actually accomplishes quite the feats with them; she talks to trees, summons up spirits, leaps over ravines through neigh levitating, survives crashing down in the water from a cliff, and.. learns English within three seconds.
  • "I Want" Song: "Just Around The Riverbend".
  • Missing Mom: DVD commentary states that the wind that travels around her is meant to be the spirit of her mother.
  • Ms. Fanservice
  • Official Couple: With John Smith.
    • She did in fact get together with John Rolfe at the end of the DTV sequel, but Disney merchandising (as well as a disproportionate amount of the fans) keeps her with Smith.
  • Rebellious Princess: She laughs at her father's assumption that the river is steady.
  • Shiny Midnight Black
  • Star-Crossed Lovers: With John Smith, until she marries John Rolfe.
  • Statuesque Stunner: And how. Definitely (alongside Aurora of Sleeping Beauty), the tallest of the Disney Princesses.
  • Tall, Dark and Bishoujo
  • The Power of Love: Utilizes it to stop a genocidal war.
  • Tempting Fate: "Should I choose the smoothest course?" She should not.
  • Took a Level In Badass: Under the guidance of Grandmother Willow, she goes from whining about her problems and sitting around, to taking action and defying her (very!) authorative father.
  • Tragic Keepsake: Her deceased mother's necklace. Even more so after Kocoum destroys it while falling to his death.
  • Wise Beyond Their Years: The only person in the entire movie, besides Grandmother Willow, to understand that war is not a plausible option, as it will leave both sides devastated and even farther away from a peaceful resolve. Her father comes close to saying this trope word for word describing her. "My daughter speaks with wisdom beyond her years."
  • Unexpected Successor: It's implied that she is taking Kocoum's place as her father's successor, especially in the closing scene.
  • Younger Than She Looks: Many fans indicate her age as 25 years old, enabling her romance with Smith (close to his thirties in this adaption) furthermore. In actuality, the fact that she was still unmarried makes her 17-19 years old at best.
    • Ironically, the real life figure she was based on was 9-11 years old at the time this story (allegedly) took place.

John Smith

Voiced by: Mel Gibson

"I've been through worse scrapes than this. Can't think of any right now, but.."


  • Badass
  • Blue Eyes
  • Break the Haughty: It's not done negatively, but he is forced to see the negative implications of his original behavior.
  • Character Development: Goes from pointing his gun at Pocahontas to trying his hardest not to kill Kocoum, a very strong warrior, who attacked him.
  • Closer to Earth: Especially next to Ratcliffe, he is a far more competent, wise and benevolent leader. He pales in comparison to Pocahontas, however, who tries very hard to put him off his self-righteous attitude. It works.
  • Dumb Blonde: When he's trying not to be insensitive to Pocahontas, but still describing her as a savage.

Pocahontas: Savages?

John Smith: No, not you..

Pocahontas: Just my people.

  • Establishing Character Moment: Saving Thomas while others were willing to consider him lost.
  • Gentleman Adventurer: He's more interested in exploring than mining for gold.
  • Heel Face Turn: Somewhat. While not a bad guy at heart, his intentions to steal the Virginian land and "civilize" the "savages" are midly villainous at worst and thorougly short-sighted and inconsiderate at best. Pocahontas turns him around to make him realize the natives are fine on their own, and the land is not, in fact, under British ownership.
  • Heterosexual Life Partners: With Thomas.
  • Hidden Depths: "I've never really belonged anywhere." Which gives a whole new meaning to the entire exploring obsession he has.
  • Historical Hero Upgrade: To the point where critics agree this is the version of John Smith the actual Smith would have wanted history to see him as.
    • In reality, John Smith was much more of a Jerkass, with one of his well-documented actions being taking a Native leader captive so that the leader's tribe would provide him with plentiful resources.
  • I Come in Peace: Incredibly subverted, and not even in We Come in Peace, Shoot to Kill terms. One is left to wonder just what he might've done if Pocahontas hadn't been a girl..
  • Nice Guy: It takes some time to come to the surface, but at heart he is quite understanding, friendly and interested in other cultures. Grandmother Willow cunningly remarks that he has a good heart.
  • Official Couple: With oh guess who.
    • Due to this, it is deemed very unsafe to mention the sequel, where Pocahontas is paied with.. squick.. John Rolfe to Pocahontas fans. Thankfully, Disney itself affirms the Official Couple status of Pocahontas and John Smith on their merchandise.
  • Small Name, Big Ego
  • Star-Crossed Lovers: With Pocahontas.
  • Taking the Bullet: For Powhatan.
  • Tall, Blond and Handsome
  • White Man's Burden: Initially. After talking to Pocahontas, he realizes that the natives don't really need their help.
  • You Are Worth Hell: The premise of If I Never Knew You.

John Smith: I'd rather die tomorrow than live a hundred years without knowing you.

Chief Powhatan

Voiced by: Russell Means (speaking), Jim Cummings (singing)

  • Berserk Button: Killing his daughter's intended fiancé and most precious warrior.
  • Beware the Nice Ones: Under his genuinely nice and peaceful demeanor, he is revealed to be quite an effective leader. In fact, his opening scene has him coming back from winning a war.
  • Calling the Old Man Out: Pocahontas does it to him, criticizing his "path of hatred".
  • Children Raise You: Gets taught a valuable lesson by his own daughter.
  • Disappointed in You: "Because of your foolishness, Kocoum is dead!"
  • Fantasy-Forbidding Father: Well, he doesn't outright forbid Pocahontas' dreams.. but he doesn't like her rejection of Kocoum.
  • Historical Hero Upgrade: The real-life Powhatan was nothing short of a genuine Jerkass - despite naming Pocahontas his favorite daughter, he did not try to save her once she was kidnapped by the English. As John Rolfe, she berated him greatly for this decision and it made her decide to stay with the British. [1]
  • Meddling Parents: Did he really give Pocahontas a choice on marrying Kocoum?
    • Russell Means cited this as being against the Native American tradition of always listening to your children, but stated the film redeemed itself in the scene where Pocahontas talks her father down, saying it was very realistic that a Native American dad would drop everything and seriously consider their children's words.
  • Open-Minded Parent: After he realizes John Smith really was a good guy, he has no problems with Pocahontas kissing him.. right in front of him.
  • Papa Wolf: Among the more powerful Disney dads, including Mufasa and King Triton. Especially in the 90s, Disney fathers were prone to being small, bumbling or old and invalid.
  • Reasonable Authority Figure: At least until the death of Kocoum, after which his xenophobia overtakes his wise side.
  • You Are Grounded: When he tells Pocahontas she should have stayed in the village.
  • What the Hell, Hero?: Pocahontas does it to him in her speech.

Nakoma

Voiced by: Michelle St. John

Kocoum

Voiced by: James Apaumat Fall

"But he's so.. serious."


  • Chick Magnet: Both in-universe and out. A sizable bout of the Pocahontas fandom prefers him over John Smith.
  • Clingy Jealous Guy: Probably. From his point of view, one of the white invaders that shot his friend in the leg was defiling his fiancée.
  • The Comically Serious
  • Designated Villain: While actually, for the bits of his character we do get to see, he seems to be an allright, nice guy.
  • Dogged Nice Guy: While a tad less xenophobic than John Smith, a whole lot more responsible and caring than the latter. For one, he actually wants to settle down.
  • Killed Off for Real
  • Proud Warrior Race Guy: And he is called out for it.

Kocoum: Honorable Powhatan, I will lead our troops to the river! We will defeat them just like we did the Massawomecks!
Powhatan: Kocoum, in that battle we knew how to fight our enemy.

Grandmother Willow

Voiced by: Linda Hunt

  • Big Good: Of this movie. Doubles with The Obi-Wan as she does teach the main characters some really valuable lessons.
  • Breakout Character: Most often seen on Pocahontas merchandise and posters. She seems to be the one character that is generally liked regardless of people's opinions on the movie she is in.
  • Cool Old Lady: "Kocoum? But he's so serious!"
  • Dawson Casting: Reversed; Linda Hunt was playing an ages-old spirit tree at the age of 49.
  • Hyper Awareness: Probably comes with being a spirit of nature.
  • Morality Pet: She teaches John Smith a lesson about getting things done.

Grandmother Willow: Sometimes, the right path is not the easiest one.

Thomas

Voiced by Christian Bale


The Villains

Governor Ratcliffe

Voiced by: David Ogden Stiers

"Think how they'll squirm when they see how I glitter!"


  • Authority in Name Only: Although he does command the mission, he isn't very highly regarded back in England. Not at all, actually..
  • Badass Cape: Part of his outfit in "Savages".
  • Bavarian Fire Drill: Waging war against the natives. Sure, Smith was in very real mortal peril (although there was no way Pocahontas was going to let him die) but Ratcliffe actually didn't give a rat's ass about Smith's life. In fact, he wanted to rid himself of Smith.
    • Also, he ordered for anyone who wouldn't shoot a native at sight to be hanged for treason. So by his own laws, Smith would have to be considered a bloody traitor.
  • Big Bad: But because of his weak showing in terms of villainy, he is overshadowed by the themes of hate and xenophobia, which become the overlapping Bigger Bad.
  • Corrupt Corporate Executive
  • Color Coded for Your Convenience: Wears purple, and later, dark red-shining black. Though the purple is at least a bit ironic, since that was the color for nobility and royalty.
  • Greed
  • Evil Counterpart: To Powhatan. Both are commanders of a group of warriors and both have someone prone to overshadowing them (Smith for Ratcliffe, Kocoum for Powhatan). What really sets Ratcliffe apart from Powhatan is his motivation; greed and expansion as opposed to preservation and protection.
  • Evil Is Petty: A xenophobic and horrifyingly racist, elitist bastard.. and also a bully to Thomas.
  • Evil Is Stylish
  • Faux Affably Evil: Oh, so much.
  • Failure Is the Only Option: Well, if your Get Rich Quick Scheme was to find gold in Virginia.. yeah.
  • Fat Bastard
  • Fat Idiot: He's kind of this too
  • Historical Villain Upgrade
  • If I Were a Rich Man: Combined with I Just Want to Be Special.
  • Implausible Deniability: Denies to himself that there is no gold, just to reassure himself he won't have to return to England having failed his last assignment.
  • Ironic Echo: "And he came so highly recommended." Ratcliffe says it of Wiggins after perceiving the latter to be inept; Wiggins utters the very same line tearfully after seeing Ratcliffe being taken away for his crimes.
  • It's All About Me: "This is MY land! I make the rules here!" ..Even though he did absolutely nothing besides shooting Nanutek.
  • Jerkass Woobie: Somewhat redeems himself with his worries about the Virginia Company being his last chance at fame and glory.
    • And then destroys it completely by still wanting to kill the Indians after it has been proven to him a hundred times that there is no gold.
  • Large and In Charge
  • Moral Event Horizon: Crosses it by trying to shoot Chief Powhatan, in-universe. For the audience, he could have crossed the line way earlier for his disregard of other cultures and their significance, but to be fair.. every single British person in the movie thought like that.
  • Names to Run Away From Really Fast: Ratcliffe. Ironically, his real-life counterpart did bear that name.
  • Politically-Incorrect Villain
  • "The Reason You Suck" Speech: To Thomas.

Ratcliffe: Oh, and Thomas... you've been a slipshod sailor and a poor excuse for a soldier. Don't disappoint me again.

  • Sissy Villain: "Remember when Disney used to make COOL villains?"
  • Smug Snake: Overconfident? Check. Sarcastic? Check. Not that much of a villain? Double check..
  • Talking to Himself: He and Wiggins were both voiced by David Ogden Stiers.
  • Villain Song: Mine, Mine, Mine and most of Savages.
  • Villain with Good Publicity: Doubles for a 0% Approval Rating. While his men and underlings greatly trust and admire him at least at first, everyone in the palace, as Wiggins denotes, thinks of him as a pathetic social climber, whose last chance of glory is a semi-prestitious journey they actually deem doomed to fail. Ratcliffe even fantasizes about proving those "royal backstabbers" wrong by returning with eons of gold.
  • The Unfavourite: Of all Disney Renaissaince villains. It doesn't help that he's squeezed between two of the most evil villains Disney has ever created.

Wiggins

Voiced by David Ogden Stiers

Ben and Lon

"It could look like Ratcliffe's behind for all I care."


Ben (or Lon): Smith was right all along!

Ben: We shoot ourselves an Injun.. or maybe two or three!

Animals

Meeko

John Smith: Is this bottomless pit a friend of yours?

Flit

  • Absolute Xenophobe: Despite what you might think.. this hummingbird is the most racist character in the movie.

Pocahontas: Flit doesn't like strangers.

Percy

  1. ↑ Alternatively this could be an inaccurate representation of history - one could argue Powhatan had his reasons not to attack the British camp for just one of his seventy children when there was a war at hand. But then again, this is up for historical debate.
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