Some of the best animal companions, steeds, and familiars are found in TV shows of a variety of genres. Talking animal sidekicks are frequent in Disney movies. However, fictional animals who do not speak (at least in any human language) are usually depicted as having a relationship with humans based on intuition rather than explicit definitions. These stories send important messages about relationships of mutual respect with animals.
Animal sidekicks provide emotional support as well as practical assistance. They may also reveal something about a human character, such as how the animals in Game of Thrones are often associated with a character’s family. However, the best storylines concerning non-human characters are the ones that recognize animal sidekicks not just as the helpers of humans, but as independent beings with their own personalities and needs.
12 Kitty-Cat
The Addams Family (1964-1966)
Kitty-Cat is one of the frightening pets of the Addams Family in the original series, who occasionally wanders around in the background of their mansion and startles visitors. In season 2, episode 26, the family is challenged when they seek veterinary help for Kitty, but the summoned Dr. Gunderson is understandably too nervous to approach a lion. Kitty compliments the Addams’ kooky and spooky lifestyle because almost anything can be found within their walls—why not a fully-grown lion?
11 Vincent
Lost (2004-2010)
Vincent initially belonged to Walt and was the only non-human passenger aboard the fateful Ocean Flight 815, but came to belong to all the survivors living on the island. Vincent provides emotional support to the characters in the darkest moments of the series and occasionally warns the group of an incoming attack from predators on the island. Vincent is one of the few characters to appear in all six seasons. At the end of Lost, he is adopted by Rose and Bernard, who are living a quiet life on the island.
10 Momo
Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005-2008)
Aang, Katara, and Sokka discover Momo, a winged lemur, in the ruins of Aang’s childhood home, the Southern Air Temple. This episode (season 1, episode 3) turns dark when Aang finds the body of his mentor, Monk Gyatso. Yet Aang decides to adopt Momo. Momo is not the most useful animal sidekick: He struggles to care for Katara and Sokka while they are sick in season 1, episode 13, and causes more strife for the “Gaang” by leading Mai’s infant brother Tom-Tom out of Omashu in season 2, episode 3. Nonetheless, Momo is a beloved member of the group who reminds Aang of home.
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9 Salem
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018-2020)
The black cat Salem was changed significantly from previous iterations of Sabrina the Teenage Witch for Netflix’s new show. In the past, Salem was a witch cursed to spend 100 years as a cat who made lots of sarcastic comments. In Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Salem is Sabrina’s familiar and does not speak. The exceptions to this are when he tells Sabrina that he has answered her summons in the Pilot while in his true form and when Sabrina travels to an alternate reality that resembles the previous Sabrina the Teenage Witch series in season 4, episode 7.
Most of the time, Salem protects Sabrina from assailants and communicates with her without speaking. Even though Salem helps Sabrina, their relationship is one of equals. In the Pilot, Sabrina insists that she wants to have a partnership with her familiar, rather than having a familiar who serves her, as is typical among witches on the show.
8 Waddles
Gravity Falls (2012-2016)
Mabel Pines wins Waddles in a carnival game in season 1, episode 9, and declares that he is her soulmate. Throughout the show, Mabel’s relationship with her twin brother Dipper is about them striking a balance between respecting each other’s different interests while always being there for each other. Waddles provides constant emotional support for Mabel and helps Mabel with her own projects while Dipper is buried in a book. Waddles also occasionally cheers up the other characters on the show, including Dipper and Grunkle Stan.
7 Milo
Shadow and Bone (2021-2023)
The Crows acquire Milo the goat prior to crossing the Fold and are forced to give him away once they reach the other side. Jesper attaches a bullet on a piece of string around Milo’s neck as a memento of their time together before giving him to a barmaid in Kribirsk. Jesper then spends the rest of season 1 lamenting about missing Milo, to Kaz and Inej’s annoyance.
However, later in the season, Mal is being held captive at the Darkling’s camp in Kribirsk when he happens to notice a goat wandering around and uses the bullet around its neck to break open his handcuffs. Milo is an animal friend (at least to Jesper) and the basis of a hilarious running joke but also helps the heroes in a vital yet plausible way. Unfortunately, Milo does not appear in season 2.
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6 Lassie
Lassie (1954-1974)
The treasured Collie of the Martin family constantly helps Timmy out of dangerous situations. Lassie is passed on to different human owners throughout the series and serves each one loyally. She is given minimal character development of her own, she is undoubtedly the best friend a person could ask for. Lassie is generally recognized as one of the most iconic dogs on TV. Because the series ran for so long, Lassie was played first by the trained Collie Pal and his descendants later on.
5 Ghost
Game Of Thrones (2011-2019)
All the direwolves are defensive of and loyal to the Stark children, with Nymeria protecting Arya from Joffrey and Summer saving Bran from an assassin. Jon Snow’s direwolf Ghost is one of only two from his litter to survive the series (Nymeria is the other), and the only one to remain with his respective Stark, presumably for the rest of his life. Ghost is Jon’s partner throughout the series, accompanying him on various missions.
Jon struggles with whether he is a real Stark, first thinking he is Ned Stark’s illegitimate son and later realizing he is Ned’s sister Lyanna’s son. Ghost symbolizes Jon’s irrefutable connection to House Stark, by blood and his bond with Ned’s children. Additionally, similar to Daenerys Targaryen and her dragons, the Stark children recognize that the direwolves are not pets. Towards the end of the series, Jon sends Ghost away to live with Tormund Giantsbane, believing Ghost is better suited for a life north of the wall. However, Jon and Ghost are reunited when Jon rejoins the Night’s Watch in the series finale.
4 Owlbert
The Owl House (2020-2023)
In The Owl House, a Palisman is the familiar of a witch who forms the head of their witch’s staff. A Palisman helps a witch perform stronger magic and provides transportation since the witches ride their staffs like broomsticks. Eda has an important history with her owl Palisman Owlbert, who she carved with help from her father. Owlbert appears to be a sweeter, kinder soul who balances out Eda’s sharp personality. Luz also learns a lesson about respecting the Palismen in season 1, episode 10, when she and her friends accidentally injure Owlbert and he temporarily takes refuge with the Bat Queen.
3 Drogon, Rhaegal, & Viserion
Game Of Thrones (2011-2019)
Dany’s relationship with her dragons is an unparalleled one. In season 7, episode 6, she tells Jon, “The dragons are my children. They’re the only children I’ll ever have.” However, they are still powerful beasts who cannot be controlled. As Dany very memorably puts it, “A dragon is not a slave.“ Dany must reckon with her connection to the dragons in the series, imprisoning Rhaegal and Viserion at the end of season 4, so they cannot harm anyone. They are later freed when Dany finally voyages to Westeros at the end of season 6.
At this point, she has realized that the dragons are inseparable from her, even if they enable the most violent parts of her. However, their relationship is a meaningful one. When Dany sees Drogon again in season 5, episode 2, it is clear how much she has missed him. Drogon also carries Dany away after her death. Drogon arguably understood the Game of Thrones’ story better than anyone: He could have killed Jon in revenge for his mother’s death. Instead, he melted the Iron Throne, the true symbol of the conflict that led to so much death.
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2 Twig
Hilda (2018-2023)
Twig is a deer-fox and a friend and fellow adventurer of Hilda. When Hilda and her mother move from the wilderness to the city, Twig comes with them. Twig is one of Hilda’s best friends and is there for her and her human friends throughout the series. However, Hilda’s environmentalist themes frame Twig as a member of a rare species. In season 2, episode 9, Hilda and Twig discover other deer-foxes. Hilda realizes she must let Twig stay with his own kind if that is what he wants. He chooses to return to Hilda, demonstrating the strength of their relationship.
1 Appa
Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005-2008)
Appa the sky bison is incredibly useful to the main Avatar characters, being their primary mode of transportation. He also grew up with Aang. Appa and Aang bonded at a young age and Aang fled the Southern Air Temple with Appa, leading to them both being trapped in an iceberg for 100 years. Aang is devastated when Appa is captured by Sandbenders in the Si Wong Desert. Appa and Aang’s relationship is one of the best between a person and an animal friend, as it is practically beneficial yet based on a deep emotional connection.
