25. Arthur Pendragon - Merlin

The son of Uther Pendragon, the prince and eventual king, and the man destined to unite the land of Albion.

Perhaps one of the most famous kings in fantasy history, Arthur is an honorable and good natured man, despite his arrogance and spoiled attitude. Unlike his father, Arthur doesn’t show as much disdain for sorcerers, and even defends them on occasion. There are many incarnations of King Arthur, but Merlin shows us more about his struggles and character development, and is iconic in my opinion.

Arthur is a highly skilled warrior. Strong and resilient, and while a sword is his favored weapon, he can adapt. Only a handful of people have beaten him. Aside from his combat capabilities, Arthur is an excellent leader and strategist.

What I like about the Merlin adaptation of Arthur is it shows his growth. He was spoiled and arrogant. We get to see him grow, struggling as he realizes things aren’t as simple as his father led him to believe. One day, he’ll rise again and the world will know peace!
Arthur is most known for:

• Being a king of legend, depicted in many fantasy pieces as the king who would unite the land of Albion in an era of peace.
• Defying tradition by refusing to marry nobility as he was supposed to, instead choosing to wait and marry Guinevere, a servant.
• His skill as a warrior. He’s strong, resilient, and nimble. Many regard him as the greatest warrior in Camelot.
• Strong leadership. Many swore their loyalty to Arthur, believing he would be a good king.

24. Giselle - Enchanted

A beautiful girl from the fantasy land of Andalasia, Giselle met Prince Edward and was set to become queen… well. Until Narissa pushed her down a well to New York City.

She may not be an official Disney princess, but Giselle has all the grace and beauty to convince us otherwise. Arriving in real-world New York from a sewer tunnel somehow linked to Andalasia, Giselle spreads kindness wherever she goes in true Disney princess fashion. Whether it’s calling forest animals to clean a dirty NYC apartment or starting a massive singalong in the streets, it’s hard not to love her.

She’s a strong character in spirit, and isn’t bad with a sword either. (Seriously, how did she throw that sword and catch Robert!?) Her natural charisma wins over many, and while it wasn’t the one she originally imagined, she did get her happily ever after.

It is absolutely criminal that Giselle is not an official Disney princess. True, she didn’t marry Edward, but still. I think what sets her apart from the typical trope is watching her slowly lose her rose colored glasses when it comes to fantasy life while still retaining her whimsical princess-like wonder.
Giselle is most known for:

• Being one of the only Disney characters that ends up in the real world, coming to New York City when pushed down a well.
• Breaking the stereotypical “happily ever after” trope, like asking Edward on a date to see if they like each other and not automatically joining in his rendition of “I’ve been Dreaming of a True Love’s Kiss”.
• Bravery. She doesn’t even hesitate to follow Narissa in a thunderstorm on a skyscraper to save Robert.

23. Bean - Disenchantment

Princess Tiabeanie, more commonly known as Bean. A strong willed woman who defies any attempt to control her and actively fights the status quo.

Bean is the Princess (later the Queen) of Dreamland. She has mommy issues, a drinking problem, a demon, and an elf. Unlike Giselle, there is nothing princess-like about Bean other than her lineage. This is what sets her apart. She’s defied both her parents’ attempts to control her. In doing so, she begins to mature and forge her own way of doing things.

Bean is strong, relatively skilled in hand-to-hand combat and weaponry, teaching herself to fight. Due to her mother’s lineage, she also has magic, but doesn’t really use it often.

Bean may not seem like a good contender for a hero, but she is strong and straightforward. She is surprisingly good with diplomacy and despite her debauchery, she does have a relatively good moral compass.
Bean is most known for:

• Being essentially the opposite of a normal princess, actively rebelling against all of the decisions made for her.
• Her Maruvian lineage, which is the source of her magical abilities.
• Being extremely strong willed, refusing to marry either Prince Guysbert or Prince Herkimer, refusing to dress as a princess, etc.

22. Paarthurnax - The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

A former servant and lieutenant of Alduin, Paarthurnax has since cast off the shackles of the World Eater and devoted himself to tutoring humanity in the ways of the Thu’um.

The leader of the Greybeards, Paarthurnax is an ancient dragon who once served Alduin in the Dragon War during the Merethic era. In his own words, he committed horrible atrocities against mankind. However, he has since turned to teaching the Way of the Voice to the Greybeards and the Dragonborn to help in Alduin’s defeat.

He is powerful, like any dragon of his age would be. His true strength is his wisdom. Paarthurnax does not make excuses, openly acknowledging his actions in the past. But he wants to change, teach the dragons to overcome their violent nature in hopes that one day Dragons and mortals can coexist.

It can be hard to figure out what makes a hero. I mean, does Paarthurnax deserve the title of hero after the things he’s done? Personally, I think the fact that he wants to change things for the better at least puts him on the hero side. And the Blades have the audacity to order you to kill him. Honestly, who kills Paarthurnax?
Paarthurnax is most known for:

• His service to Alduin during the Merethic era. Acting as his lieutenant in the Dragon War.
• His betrayal, turning on Alduin and forming the Greybeards to teach the Way of the Voice.
• Teaching the dragons the Way of the Voice in hopes of eventually overcoming their violent nature so dragons and men can coexist.
• Having the same voice actor as Mario. It’s-a me, Paarthurnax!

21. Tidus - Final Fantasy X

Tidus is a blitzball player from Zanarkand and the main protagonist of Final Fantasy X. Until he can find his way home, he’s devoted himself to protecting Yuna.

Star player of the Zanarkand Abes, Tidus is transported to Spira after an encounter with Sin. That’s where he meets Wakka, Lulu, Yuna, and the rest of the main party. He’s made a guardian by Yuna, and travels with her on her pilgrimage. Definitely not the most popular protagonist, there is one thing that sets Tidus apart.

That. Horrible. Laughing. Scene.

His irritating personality aside, Tidus is at least fiercely loyal to Yuna. He’s a good swordsman and has good Blitzball stats as well. Too bad it’s all overshadowed by how whiny he is. I mean, I guess he gets better later in the story, but it’s still annoying.
Tidus is most known for:

• Blitzball. He’s an extremely skilled player for the Zanarkand Abes, and then the Besaid Aurochs.
• His father. Tidus is the son of Jecht, who was famous in both Zanarkand (for his Blitzball prowess) and Spira (for being Braska’s guardian).
• That awful laughing scene.

20. Zuko - Avatar: the Last Airbender

The prince of the Fire Nation, Zuko was banished by his father and given a mission to capture the Avatar. Eventually, he turns sides and joins the Avatar to take down his father.

Zuko has a troubled past, having been permanently scarred by his father in an agni kai, and losing his mother at an early age. Worst still is the emotional torture his sister likes to put him through. He’s probably one of the most famous villain-to-hero stories.

Zuko is a master firebender and lightning bender, having been trained directly by the dragons with Aang. He is capable of redirecting lightning, a feat not many can accomplish. He is also skilled with swords (specifically dual swords) and unarmed combat, seen several times throughout the show.

It’s hard to find a character more loved than Zuko. He had one of the best character arcs in animation history, in my opinion at least. Especially since he didn’t just reform overnight, like so many villain-turned-heroes tend to. He actually struggled, which makes it so much more meaningful. He’s the lovable, awkward fire prince who did the dancing dragon right into our hearts.
Zuko is most known for:

• His scar. It’s iconic. He was injured at the age of thirteen by his father during an agni kai.
• Character reformation. Zuko often struggled between following his heart and his orders, getting confused on how to regain his honor. It was a long battle, but in the end, he finally redeemed himself.
• Having a strong relationship with Iroh (another personal favorite of mine). Zuko and Iroh had more of a father-son relationship than Zuko and Ozai did, and Iroh was a big influence on Zuko.