Hello, Disney Bracket friends!

Thank you for participating in our special summer Disney+ bracket to find the ultimate best friends forever. So, who reigns supreme with the summertime hangout vibes? Who spends all their time together, watching the stars, munching on snacks, taking hikes through the jungle, and coparenting an abandoned predator?

TIMON & PUMBAA took out HAN & CHEWBACCA by exactly ONE VOTE in the championship matchup!! Kids, every vote DOES count.

Okay but who SHOULD have won?!

Everyone who voted in the final championship got the chance to tell me who SHOULD have won. The envelopes, please…

Who SHOULD have won Region 1: In medias friendship?

• Timon & Pumbaa, 10 votes

• Mickey, Donald, & Goofy, 6 votes

• Winnie the Pooh & Piglet, 5 votes

• Kermit & Fozzie, Robin Hood & Little John, Kim Possible & Ron Stoppable, 3 votes each

• Max & PJ, Hawkeye & Black Widow, Steve & Bucky, Mike & Sully, 1 vote each

Who SHOULD have won Region 2: Making friends??

• Buzz & Woody, 12 votes

• Lilo & Stitch, 11 votes

• Todd & Copper, 3 votes

• Ralph & Vanellope, Kuzco & Pacha, 2 votes each

• Marlin & Dory, Jack & Will, Hiro & Baymax, Remy & Linguini, 1 vote each

Who SHOULD have won Region 3: We are family?

• Shadow, Sassy, & Chance, 8 votes

• Anna & Elsa, Huey, Dewey, & Louie, 6 votes each

• Thor & Loki, 4 votes

• Mabel & Dipper, 3 votes

• Phineas & Ferb, 2 votes

• Luke & Leia, Hallie & Annie, Mirabel & Antonio, Miguel & Hector, 1 vote each

Who SHOULD have won Region 4: Colleagues & Partners in Crime?

• Han & Chewbacca, 13 votes

• Yzma & Kronk, 8 votes

• Cogsworth & Lumiere, 3 votes

• Jafar & Iago, Mandalorian & Grogu, the Seven Dwarfs, 2 votes each

• C3PO & R2D2, Anakin & Obi-Wan, the Muses, Ling, Chien Po, & Yao, 1 vote each

Who SHOULD have won the whole thing??

• Timon & Pumbaa, 9 votes

• Han & Chewbacca, 5 votes

• Winnie the Pooh & Piglet, Buzz & Woody, 3 votes each

• Yzma & Kronk, Mickey, Donald, & Goofy, 2 votes each

• Mike & Sully, Kermit & Fozzie, Rocket & Groot, Hawkeye & Black Widow, Todd & Copper, Thor & Loki, Cogsworth & Lumiere 1 vote each

Who SHOULD have been included but wasn’t?

• I was going to say Ariel and Flounder but she ditched him for a prince...

• Well if anyone on Disney+ counts for this, what about that wacky Egyptology couple who dress in vintage clothing while walking us through the ruins of Karnak and shit

• What, this thing isn’t bloated enough? There isn’t enough antacid in the world that is gonna fix the existential heartburn this Bracket gave everyone

• Lafayette & Hamilton, Joy & Sadness

• Nah, I think you got it

Observations about the results

This bracket had many plot twists that I never could have predicted, but in the end, the championship came down to the two friendships that I personally expected to make it to the finale: Timon & Pumbaa and Han & Chewie. Both are absolute ICONS, instantly recognizable and inseparable pairs from top tier IP. They are both friendships that were already cemented before the Main Character ever entered their fictional lives, and friendships that endure way past the ending credits. Other relationships come and go, but these guys are forever.

The final vote was a real nail biter - the votes were literally within 1-2 points of one another and often tied throughout the week. I suppose it was finally time for a contender from The Lion King to finally take the crown, after Lion King contenders in previous brackets dominated early rounds but then failed to advance to any Final Four positions.

One thing I did NOT see coming was the strong performance by Shadow, Sassy, & Chance in the family region! WOW what a one-two punch of nostalgia + cute animals. I haven’t seen Homeward Bound since I was a kid - maybe this bracket is a sign that it’s time to watch it again, and maybe share it with my own kids.

What’s next?

Disney Bracket will be on break until March madness. I’m still ruminating on options for the next bracket - if you have Strong Opinions, let me know!

I’m toying with the idea of running a non-Disney bracket around the holidays. Keep an eye on your inbox for a newsletter invitation to participate around Thanksgiving.

Thanks for playing!

This bracket had me laughing out loud all summer long. Thank you for being a friend!

-The Mouse Czar, aka Emily

You get the final word: quotes from the final bracket

“Han & Chewbacca are great, but are they even Disney?”

“Han and Chewie being here at all is a stretch. I'm glad they made it this far. Now step aside for the REAL Disney characters.”

“Jessica from Indiana is done with us.”

“Rosencrantz and Guildenstern versus a boy and his dog
(The dog is Han)”

“The good news is, Jessica from Indiana isn't done with us. So we got that going for us. Which is great.”

“Well, this is an insanely hard choice. Both Han and Chewie and Timon and Pumbaa are brilliant duos in different ways. Timon and Pumbaa are some of the best secondary characters ever (drive the plot in character-centric ways), and Han and Chewie are part of one of the best ensemble casts of all time. I think I have to Let the Wookie Win.”