Let's face it, thanks to the Genie in Aladdin, there have been dozens and dozens of Disney characters and sidekicks that have tried to imitate his manic charm but could never hope to replicate it. From Mushu to Olaf, there have been many imitators, but none will ever capture the genius of Robin Williams' portrayal of the big blue ball of pop-culture references.
Armed to the teeth with zany one-liners and improvised impressions, Williams practically loses himself in this role, much to the delight of the fans. The comedian certainly brought his A-game to the part, and to this day his Genie has set the standard for comedic Disney characters with his trademark humor.
10 A Few Provisos
Nearly everyone who has seen this film is familiar with the three rules about Genie's wishes. He can't kill anybody (so don't ask), he can't make anyone fall in love with anyone else, and he can't bring people back from the dead. This would be pretty cut and dry on its own, but not with Williams at the mic. His aptitude for funny voices paired with Eric Goldberg's mystifying animation makes simple instructions into one of his standup bits.
9 Made Ya Look!
Brevity is the soul of wit but even with Robin William's slipping in a last-minute gag before the credits roll, he still manages to get one more laugh from the audience before flying the coop. It's more of a visual gag courtesy of some creative animators, but it's still an image fans remember.
Given the persona of the character and the personality behind the man who played him, it's no surprise that Disney would want to give the genie the last word.
8 Tell Her The TRUTH!
If there's one thing Williams does frequently in this film, it's celebrity impressions. Again, this instance is another visual gag, but it's led by a slick Jack Nicholson impression followed by Genie's wild animated antics with a neon chalkboard.
Like the previously mentioned entry, it's the image that stays with the viewers, along with the Genie's sage advice. Need to make a good impression? Ya gotta be a straight-shooter and tell her the truth. Simple yet effective.
7 Making Aladdin A Prince
The entire sequence leading up to the "Prince Ali" number is rife with comedic gold. From Genie rapidly changing his forms to using his magic to morph Abu into various animals in the process of making royalty out of Aladdin, the one-liners and magical animation fly like fireworks at the oasis.
His over-the-top fashion designer persona would give Edna Mode a run for her money, and his comments on Aladdin's peasant attire are simply curt yet creatively comical.
6 An Out Of Movie Experience
It might be cheating to include a bit from one of the sequel films, but Aladdin and the King of Thieves did mark the return of Robin Williams to the series. That being said, he might have gone a little overboard with the various voices, not that anyone is complaining. But his sudden transformation into Lion King's Pumbaa is one that certainly got the Disney fans' attention. It was an "out of movie experience" that had him take the fourth wall with him after recording.
5 His First Introduction
First impressions are everything, as they say. In roughly two minutes, Genie goes through every element of his routine that makes him memorable.
Delightful visual gags animated by Disney magic, modern terms and references that only a '90s audience would understand in an ancient Arabian setting, and let's not forget those voices and impressions— all of these make their appearance in mere minutes of being freed from the lamp. What a way to leave a mark on the viewers in such a short time.
4 As The Merchant
Though he might be wearing the face of a pint-sized desert merchant, this character is undoubtedly the Genie, or at the very least Williams flexing his comedic chops. The merchant scene was supposedly all improvised with props in a recording studio, and even the bit about the broken hookah was improvised. When a studio signed on Robin Williams to play a character in their film, one thing they could certainly count on was his gift for improv humor.
3 "I’m History! No, I’m Mythology!"
Ever hear the phrase "it's funny 'cause it's true?" Not only does Robin Williams know how to make an entrance as this character, but he does quite a comedic exit as well. How many other Disney characters literally leave the movie?
After Genie makes his cartoonish farewells to Aladdin, Jasmine, and the rest, he calls out "I'm history! No, I'm mythology!" along with a few other choice phrases before exploding into fireworks. It's a zany, over-the-top grand exit only too befitting of the character.
2 Post Credits Antics
Those dedicated Disney fans out there who splurged for the Diamond Edition Blu-Ray of the Aladdin were treated to this little extra dosage of Robin Williams if they stayed for the post-credits. Since the Genie demolished the fourth wall with an iron-spiked sledgehammer, it makes complete and perfect sense he would stick around till after the movie was over to give one last goodbye to the viewers. A fitting contribution as the edition was released after William's untimely passing.
1 Itty Bitty Living Space
"Phenomenal cosmic powers, itty bitty living space." It might not be the most comedic line in the movie, but it's probably the most quoted one from the character. It's an ironic twist to accompany Genie's larger-than-life manner. He probably has the most magical abilities out of any magically imbued character in the Disney canon but is bound to the lifestyle of the lamp. At least he gets let out once every few millennia.
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