Iago (Aladdin)
Encyclopedia
Iago is a fictional character
in Disney
's Aladdin franchise, starting out as a secondary villain
and comic relief in the original film, and later supporting protagonist in the film's sequels and related TV series. He is nominally part of a royal menagerie
in fictional Arabian city, Agrabah.
“... that has been one of those things that lives on,” he said. “That seemed to open the door for other voiceover jobs.”
Gottfried's unique onstage persona led to him being cast as the wise-cracking Iago. Gottfried is often referred to as "the Iago guy" and similar terms, being more known by his voice role than by name.
and reared him as his accomplice in crime. In the first movie he resents living under the Sultan and Jasmine as much as his owner Jafar does, though he contrasts Jafar's dark brooding with angry, sarcastic ranting. Iago often says how he hates crackers
which the Sultan always gives him. The Sultan seems to not know until the end of the first movie that Iago can fully comprehend and coverse in human speech and is evil. In the end Iago is dragged into Jafar's lamp with him at the end of the movie and is banished to the Cave of Wonders.
of The Return of Jafar. Having escaped from the lamp, Iago switches sides, mostly because he is fed up with being pushed around by Jafar. Over the course of the film, Iago slowly warms to the idea of friendship after Aladdin saves him from the Sultan's wrath in return for Iago unintentionally saving him from Abis Mal, finally risking his life to kill Jafar by pushing his lamp into molten lava. After his heroic deed, he is welcomed into Aladdin's extended family.In the Film Iago performed the song "I'm Looking Out for Me."
and chooses to depart Agrabah with Aladdin's father Cassim at the end instead of staying with Aladdin and Jasmine on the grounds that he could not handle the "lovey-dovey" stuff. Cassim's sense of thievery is more in line with Iago's, as well. However, he does promise to visit the couple frequently. He is last seen with Cassim waving farwell to the newly wed Aladdin and Jasmine as they ride off to the night.
that Iago requires. He and the rain-bird Thundra had feelings for one another, although Iago was hesitant at first, admitting his manipulative personality made appealing to others difficult. Aladdin has occasionally exploited this, since antagonists are more willing to accept Iago as being ruthless and amoral than he is. Like Genie, Iago commonly references modern things for humor, even though he does not have a logical excuse like Genie does. Additionally, due to his time with Jafar, Iago possesses extensive knowledge of various magicks, which proves useful as Genie's otherwise superior knowledge is ten thousand years out of date. In one episode he mentions that he has a brother named Othello; a reference to the play where his name may have come from.
and he performs a musical number called "Peacock Princess" with Princess Jasmine
.
he is initially Jafar's sidekick, but then later is used by the player to assist in defeating Jafar. His Japanese voice actor in Kingdom Hearts
is Akira Kamiya
, and his voice actor in Kingdom Hearts II
is Tōru Ōkawa. Gilbert Gottfried reprises his role in the English versions of both games. (An in-joke
on an episode of the TV animated series has Iago running in panic after his face is turned into that of Gilbert Gottfried
).
In Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories
he makes a brief cameo appearance during the Boss battle against Jafar's genie form. During the battle, attacking Jafar has no effect. Rather, the lamp must be hit which is held up high by Iago, à la The Return Of Jafar. It can therefore be assumed that Iago is on the side of the good guys again.
In Kingdom Hearts II
, like in The Return of Jafar, Iago leaves Jafar and returns to Agrabah in a slump after failing to make amends to Aladdin and Jasmine. When he unintentionally assisted Sora
in the task of beating the Heartless
and retrieving Jafar's lamp, he manages to gain everyone's trust. But that trust is soon shattered when Iago is forced to help Jafar yet again in keeping Sora and the others occupied at the ruins. Despite losing faith, Iago redeems himself by intentionally getting shot by a spell that Jafar intended to shoot at Aladdin. He survives and was forgiven after Jafar's defeat.
's animated films, Iago made recurring appearances on Disney's House of Mouse
, he also sings "A Parrot's Life For Me" at the House of Mouse where the movies' continuity did not seem to matter, and Iago was depicted as either Jafar's sidekick or exhibiting his protagonist behavior.
At Walt Disney World, along with Zazu from the Lion King
, he was introduced as one of the hosts of The Enchanted Tiki Room (Under New Management)
in 1998. In 2011 the two were removed as the attraction reverted to its earlier format as The Enchanted Tiki Room. Reports had described the 1998 format as "unpopular" and Iago as "annoying."
Iago was often described as being the real star of the film: "The plot thickens when Aladdin becomes indebted to Jafar's former sidekick, Iago (a wisecracking parrot), for saving his life. Struggling with issues of honesty and loyalty, Iago becomes the film's focus as he grapples between standing by Aladdin or succumbing to Jafar's evil pressures."
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
in Disney
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
's Aladdin franchise, starting out as a secondary villain
Villain
A villain is an "evil" character in a story, whether a historical narrative or, especially, a work of fiction. The villain usually is the antagonist, the character who tends to have a negative effect on other characters...
and comic relief in the original film, and later supporting protagonist in the film's sequels and related TV series. He is nominally part of a royal menagerie
Menagerie
A menagerie is/was a form of keeping common and exotic animals in captivity that preceded the modern zoological garden. The term was first used in seventeenth century France in reference to the management of household or domestic stock. Later, it came to be used primarily in reference to...
in fictional Arabian city, Agrabah.
Voice acting
Gilbert Gottfried has said that his voiceover career really began after voicing the character in the 1992 film.“... that has been one of those things that lives on,” he said. “That seemed to open the door for other voiceover jobs.”
Gottfried's unique onstage persona led to him being cast as the wise-cracking Iago. Gottfried is often referred to as "the Iago guy" and similar terms, being more known by his voice role than by name.
Aladdin
According to a piece of conversation in Return of Jafar, Jafar had picked up Iago in Agrabah's bazaarBazaar
A bazaar , Cypriot Greek: pantopoula) is a permanent merchandising area, marketplace, or street of shops where goods and services are exchanged or sold. The term is sometimes also used to refer to the "network of merchants, bankers and craftsmen" who work that area...
and reared him as his accomplice in crime. In the first movie he resents living under the Sultan and Jasmine as much as his owner Jafar does, though he contrasts Jafar's dark brooding with angry, sarcastic ranting. Iago often says how he hates crackers
Cracker (food)
A cracker is a baked good commonly made from grain flour dough and typically made in quantity in various hand-sized or smaller shapes. Flavorings or seasonings, such as salt, herbs, seeds, and/or cheese, may be added to the dough or sprinkled on top before baking...
which the Sultan always gives him. The Sultan seems to not know until the end of the first movie that Iago can fully comprehend and coverse in human speech and is evil. In the end Iago is dragged into Jafar's lamp with him at the end of the movie and is banished to the Cave of Wonders.
The Return of Jafar
Iago serves as the deuteragonistDeuteragonist
In literature, the deuteragonist is the second most important character, after the protagonist and before the tritagonist. The deuteragonist may switch from being with or against the protagonist depending on the deuteragonist's own conflict/plot.-History:Greek drama began with simply one actor,...
of The Return of Jafar. Having escaped from the lamp, Iago switches sides, mostly because he is fed up with being pushed around by Jafar. Over the course of the film, Iago slowly warms to the idea of friendship after Aladdin saves him from the Sultan's wrath in return for Iago unintentionally saving him from Abis Mal, finally risking his life to kill Jafar by pushing his lamp into molten lava. After his heroic deed, he is welcomed into Aladdin's extended family.In the Film Iago performed the song "I'm Looking Out for Me."
Aladdin and the King of Thieves
He has a supporting role in Aladdin and the King of ThievesAladdin and the King of Thieves
Aladdin and the King of Thieves is a 1996 animated film that is the second direct-to-video sequel to the Disney animated feature Aladdin...
and chooses to depart Agrabah with Aladdin's father Cassim at the end instead of staying with Aladdin and Jasmine on the grounds that he could not handle the "lovey-dovey" stuff. Cassim's sense of thievery is more in line with Iago's, as well. However, he does promise to visit the couple frequently. He is last seen with Cassim waving farwell to the newly wed Aladdin and Jasmine as they ride off to the night.
Aladdin TV series
In the series he provides a sarcastic, realistic, or cowardly perspective on events and is only really willing to face danger if great reward is promised. However, he is sometimes forced to battle his conscience, and generally does the right thing even when he doesn't have to; when Sadira used a memory sand that somehow caused her and Jasmine to switch lives, with Iago, Abu and Rajah the only ones unaffected, Iago led the three animals in finding Jasmine to restore the world to normal when he could have just as easily left the city altogether. Iago's common schemes involve trying to sell anything with any value (real or not), trying to steal things, and trying to treasure-hunt. He can usually convince Abu to be his partner in crime, but Abu is more likely to leave at the first sign of danger and often lacks the finesseFinesse
In contract bridge and similar games, a finesse is a technique which allows one to promote tricks based on a favorable position of one or more cards in the hands of the opponents....
that Iago requires. He and the rain-bird Thundra had feelings for one another, although Iago was hesitant at first, admitting his manipulative personality made appealing to others difficult. Aladdin has occasionally exploited this, since antagonists are more willing to accept Iago as being ruthless and amoral than he is. Like Genie, Iago commonly references modern things for humor, even though he does not have a logical excuse like Genie does. Additionally, due to his time with Jafar, Iago possesses extensive knowledge of various magicks, which proves useful as Genie's otherwise superior knowledge is ten thousand years out of date. In one episode he mentions that he has a brother named Othello; a reference to the play where his name may have come from.
Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your Dreams
Iago appears as a supporting character in the straight-to-DVD movie Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your DreamsDisney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your Dreams
Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your Dreams is a 2007 direct-to-video animated feature produced by DisneyToon Studios. It is the first film in a planned new Disney Princess Enchanted Tales series of direct-to-video films, each featuring new stories about the Disney Princesses...
and he performs a musical number called "Peacock Princess" with Princess Jasmine
Princess Jasmine
Princess Jasmine is a fictional character and one of the main characters of the 1992 film Aladdin and its sequels, The Return of Jafar and Aladdin and the King of Thieves . She is voiced by Linda Larkin, with her singing voice performed by Lea Salonga in the first film and Disney Princess...
.
Kingdom Hearts
In the video game Kingdom HeartsKingdom Hearts
is an action role-playing game developed and published by Square in 2002 for the PlayStation 2 video game console. The first game in the Kingdom Hearts series, it is the result of a collaboration between Square Enix and The Walt Disney Company. The game combines characters and settings from Disney...
he is initially Jafar's sidekick, but then later is used by the player to assist in defeating Jafar. His Japanese voice actor in Kingdom Hearts
Kingdom Hearts
is an action role-playing game developed and published by Square in 2002 for the PlayStation 2 video game console. The first game in the Kingdom Hearts series, it is the result of a collaboration between Square Enix and The Walt Disney Company. The game combines characters and settings from Disney...
is Akira Kamiya
Akira Kamiya
is a Japanese voice actor. He has been represented by Theater Echo, Aoni Production, and others. He is currently represented by Saeba Shoji.-Career:Kamiya made his debut on Mahou no Mako-chan in 1970 while working for Theater Echo...
, and his voice actor in Kingdom Hearts II
Kingdom Hearts II
is an action role-playing game developed by Square Enix and published by Buena Vista Games and Square Enix in 2005 for the Sony PlayStation 2 video game console...
is Tōru Ōkawa. Gilbert Gottfried reprises his role in the English versions of both games. (An in-joke
In-joke
An in-joke, also known as an inside joke or in joke, is a joke whose humour is clear only to people who are in a particular social group, occupation, or other community of common understanding...
on an episode of the TV animated series has Iago running in panic after his face is turned into that of Gilbert Gottfried
Gilbert Gottfried
Gilbert Gottfried is an American actor, voice actor and stand-up comedian, best known for his trademark comedic persona of speaking in a loud, grating tone of voice. He has played numerous roles in film and television, perhaps most notably voicing the parrot Iago in Disney's Aladdin , and...
).
In Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories
is an action role-playing game developed by Square Enix and Japanese studio Jupiter and published by Square Enix in 2004 for the Game Boy Advance. The game serves as an intermediary between the two larger-scale PlayStation 2 games in the Kingdom Hearts series. It was one of the first GBA games to...
he makes a brief cameo appearance during the Boss battle against Jafar's genie form. During the battle, attacking Jafar has no effect. Rather, the lamp must be hit which is held up high by Iago, à la The Return Of Jafar. It can therefore be assumed that Iago is on the side of the good guys again.
In Kingdom Hearts II
Kingdom Hearts II
is an action role-playing game developed by Square Enix and published by Buena Vista Games and Square Enix in 2005 for the Sony PlayStation 2 video game console...
, like in The Return of Jafar, Iago leaves Jafar and returns to Agrabah in a slump after failing to make amends to Aladdin and Jasmine. When he unintentionally assisted Sora
Sora (Kingdom Hearts)
is a fictional character and the main protagonist of Square Enix's best-selling Kingdom Hearts series. Introduced in the series' first game in 2002, Sora is a cheerful teenager who originates from Destiny Islands and has been best friends with Riku and Kairi since early childhood. When they plan to...
in the task of beating the Heartless
Heartless
-Books:*Heartless , a 2011 novel in the New York Times best-selling "Parasol Protectorate" series by Gail Carriger*Heartless , a 2010 novel in the "Pretty Little Liars" series by Sara Shepherd-Film:...
and retrieving Jafar's lamp, he manages to gain everyone's trust. But that trust is soon shattered when Iago is forced to help Jafar yet again in keeping Sora and the others occupied at the ruins. Despite losing faith, Iago redeems himself by intentionally getting shot by a spell that Jafar intended to shoot at Aladdin. He survives and was forgiven after Jafar's defeat.
Other appearances
Like most characters from DisneyThe Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
's animated films, Iago made recurring appearances on Disney's House of Mouse
Disney's House of Mouse
Disney's House of Mouse is an American animated television series, produced by Walt Disney Television, that originally aired from 2001 to 2003-Premise:...
, he also sings "A Parrot's Life For Me" at the House of Mouse where the movies' continuity did not seem to matter, and Iago was depicted as either Jafar's sidekick or exhibiting his protagonist behavior.
At Walt Disney World, along with Zazu from the Lion King
The Lion King
The Lion King is a 1994 American animated film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It is the 32nd feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series...
, he was introduced as one of the hosts of The Enchanted Tiki Room (Under New Management)
The Enchanted Tiki Room (Under New Management)
The Enchanted Tiki Room , was an updated version of Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room at Disneyland, which was an attraction located in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort.-History:...
in 1998. In 2011 the two were removed as the attraction reverted to its earlier format as The Enchanted Tiki Room. Reports had described the 1998 format as "unpopular" and Iago as "annoying."
Reception
In reviews for The Return of JafarThe Return of Jafar
The Return of Jafar is a 1994 American animated film that is a direct-to-video sequel to the 1992 animated film Aladdin, both produced by The Walt Disney Company. The film was released on May 20, 1994 and serves as the origin of the Aladdin animated series...
Iago was often described as being the real star of the film: "The plot thickens when Aladdin becomes indebted to Jafar's former sidekick, Iago (a wisecracking parrot), for saving his life. Struggling with issues of honesty and loyalty, Iago becomes the film's focus as he grapples between standing by Aladdin or succumbing to Jafar's evil pressures."