Mentors come in all shapes and sizes. They can be dedicated teachers who face their student’s challenges beside them. They can be wistful characters who come in and out of the story with impactful words of advice. However they appear, there is no underscoring the importance that mentor characters have in our favorite films.
After all, the hero’s journey contains an “old man” trope that’s purpose is to lead the main character from their known world into the unknown world. They are the characters that equip the protagonist with the tools they need to survive the new world they are about to enter. Sound familiar?
20Uncle Ben
We all came to know Peter Parkeras an exceptionally intelligent teenager in the many versions ofSpider-Man’s origin story. After incurring one mean radio-active spider bite and super human powers to boot, Peter matches his intelligence with his newfound strength to create an alter-ego. At first, he decides to use his power for personal gain, as he enters a wrestling tournament with intent to win the grand prize.
Perhaps Spider-Man would have been nothing more than Peter’s side hustle if it were not for the mentor in his life, Uncle Ben. Growing up without a father, Uncle Ben was there for Peter as his adult male role model. Spider-Man’s philosophy was forever shaped by Uncle Ben’s short but meaningful six word phrase, “with great power comes great responsibility”.
The wisecracking dragon guardian to titular characterMulan, Mushu is afun-loving sidekickwho aids Mulan on her adventures. At first, he helps Mulan to reclaim his position as protector of the Fa family after being briefly disgraced. Eventually he chooses to fully embody his role and chooses to help Mulan out of the goodness in his heart, not because his job is on the line. Good for a laugh and the occasional elder’s word of advice, Mushu is a widely beloved deuteragonist.
18Haymitch
A former champion ofThe Hunger Games, Haymitch is tasked to advise Katniss and Peta on their journey through the games. After losing his whole family and being forced to kill during his own hunger games, Haymitch has bad post-traumatic stress disorder. What’s worse is that he self-medicates with alcohol, a solution he offers to Katniss who finds herself going along with it a bit before taking up her role as the Mockingjay. Problematic at times, Haymitch is a hurt individual who does his best to mentor the young champions he feels so much empathy for.
17Coach Boone
Brilliantlyportrayed by Denzel Washington, Coach Herman Boone was a real life football coach whose astounding career served as the basis for the filmRemember the Titans. Working as a physical education teacher and football coach in Williamston, North Carolina, his team went on to be called the number one football team in America before Boone would leave the program due to the high school’s local not taking too kindly to a black football coach.
Moving on to a new career at T.C Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia, Boone was tasked with coaching one of the very first integrated football teams in America. That team would go on to garner national media attention, and theirsuccessful football season is the plot of the film.
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16Mary Poppins
Who else but her could teach us to brighten up the drab parts of life with just a spoonful of sugar?Mary Poppinsis one of the most iconic characters in fiction. The perfect Nanny who comes floating in on a warm breeze and leaves you and your children with a smile on your faces and a lightness in your hearts. To parents, she is a priceless caretaker. To children, she is the ultimate mentor of how to do life merrily all the way.
Poppins teaches the Banks' children how to look after their bedrooms, their health and hygiene allwith a song and dance they won’t soon forget. Together, they engage in play and flex the muscles of their imaginations, an important lesson to all, young or old. Just like that warm breeze she came in on, she leaves just as fast, but they’ll never forget how pleasant it was just to meet her.
15Professor Keating
The brilliant and vivacious English teacher John Keating encourages the Welton Academy students to rebel against their parents and other professors. His name is reminiscent of the great English Romantic poet John Keats, whose celebration of life and creativity may have served as an inspiration for Keating’s. Keating, a brilliant Rhodes scholar and former Welton student, starts teaching at the school in 1959 and quickly leaves an impression on his students, who aren’t used to such engaging, fascinating classes. Keating encourages his kids to “seize the day”—that is, accomplish amazing, unique things as opposed to just copying their parents and professors. The pupils are motivated by his example to resurrect theDead Poets Society, a covert organization that Keating formerly belonged to.
14Master Shifu
Master Shifu is a red panda who was once a pupil to the great Master Oogway in theKung-Fu Pandaseries. Somewhat stern, Shifu takes the martial arts very serious as they are the means by which the valley of peace remains protected. When Po was chosen to become the dragon warrior, Shifu was flabbergasted and doubtful. However, as Shifu came to better understand Po and his great potential, he became more supportive and stepped up to the plate as a great mentor to the dumpling loving pandaplayed by Jack Black.
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Representing shamanism in Disney’sThe Lion King, Rafiki is an eccentric figure whose wisdom can come as a shock to those who don’t know any better. Not only is he the one who blessed Simba’s birth and anointed him Prince of the pride lands by famously lifting him up, presenting him to the kingdom, but he is also the one who helped guide Simba back home in his hour of need. Carrying around a stick that rattles as he walks and frequently painting the faces of himself and others, Rafiki can seem like agoofy character. The truth is, he is a sage with a powerful connection to nature and the elements.
The faithful Butler of the Wayne family, Alfred Pennyworth is a lifetime servant to theBatman. After the death of Bruce Wayne’s parents, Alfred was all Bruce had in terms of family. A father figure and wise mentor, Alfred has always been there in times of doubt, for both the Batman side of things and theeveryday life of Bruce Wayne. A true English gentleman, Alfred is always prepared with a word of advice in the form of a witty quip or anecdotal analogy.
Robin Williams naturally has a knack for playing mentorship roles, even in the animated form. This is the second time one of his characters makes an appearance on this list, and it won’t be the last. Genie fromAladdincomes out of the magic lamp with a spectrum of personality that is to be expected from Williams as a comedic actor. Aside from making a spectacle of himself, Genie is held in a predicament of captivity to the lamp from which he was trapped.
Alladin cleverly earns Genie’s trust and friendship by using one of his wishes to buy Genie’s freedom. The two are bonded by this. Though Genie is much older and more infinitely wise than Alladin, he is taken aback by the boy’s natural sympathy and cleverness. While Genie is more the traditional mentor in the relationship, they share a healthy back and forth of care for each other.
