Iago is a major character in the Aladdin franchise. He was the secondary antagonist of the first film, and is the redeemed main protagonist of the second film, the tertatagonist of the third film and one of the main characters in the animated series.
He is a loud-mouthed greedy male parrot who used to work for the evil sorcerer Jafar in the first film, in the sequels, Iago reforms and joins the heroic thief Aladdin and his friends and becomes good. Later on, he becomes the companion to Aladdin's father, Cassim, but returns to the group in Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your Dreams.
In all of his appearances, he is voiced by the late famous comedian/actor, Gilbert Gottfried, until his death in 2022, who also voiced Digit from Cyberchase. In the Japanese dub from the movie, series and game, he is voiced by Akira Kamiya and Tōru Ōkawa. From 2023 onwards, starting with LEGO Disney Princess: The Castle Quest, he is now voiced by Barrett Leddy. In Once Upon a Studio, he is voiced by Piotr Michael.
Iago resembles to that of a scarlet macaw. He can speak fluent English and has the ability to perfectly mimic other characters' voices, possibly due to Jafar's influence. He also possesses a fine knowledge of magical lore learned from Jafar, which often comes in handy as Genie's magical knowledge is 10,000 years out of date. He's easily frustrated and openly vocalizes his frustrations. Although he denies it, he actually has a good heart, and his guilt from abandoning his friends or leaving them to deal with a crisis usually makes him return to intervene, and he even sometimes come out as a hero, but almost every time at the expense of losing something of value, which he without fail berates himself for afterwards.
Interestingly, Iago often displays a certain fondness for Princess Jasmine, being generally unhappy when he disappoints her, and often helping her out in smaller matters. In the Return of Jafar, it seems to be her compassion towards him that increases his guilt to the point of near-confession, and then her anger and disappointment that prompts him to release Genie to save Aladdin.
Iago will do almost anything to keep out of danger or at least try and talk with Aladdin or the others out of attempting something he deems crazy or impossible, usually both. And yet, he is willing to do Jafar's dirty work, such as retrieving Genie's lamp at times. His loyalties to Jafar either pertain out of true loyalty of a Promised reward (like in the first film), or out of fear (the second film). He's very clever, and makes witty, art-alecky remarks constantly. But he's also very stingy, which sometimes makes him gullible if he thinks there's a treasure to be found. In other words, he's a wacky bird that can make anyone laugh.
But above all that, he's shown he truly cares for his friends like how he, like the others, was happy and relieved that Genie and Eden had survived the explosion of the philosopher's stone and high fives Abu for that. He also expresses concerns like when Genie was kidnapped by Mozenrath or when the Lamp was gone by Mozenrathwhen the group first meets the young sorcerer.
And even though he sometimes shows reluctance, he will save the day and do what's right. when it is sometimes down to him.
Quotes
“
Iago: You know something? You're nothing without me. Jafar: What?! Iago: Who comes up with all the good ideas? Me! Who does all the work? Me! Jafar: If it weren't for me, you'd still be in a cage at the bazaar, squawking, "Polly want a cracker!"
„
~ Iago realizes that he always has more than Jafar, before being insulted once too often by his ungrateful former master.
“
Iago: That kid saved my life. Nobody's ever looked out for me before. Now, it's like I owe him. Nah! Genie: Just let your conscience be your guide. Iago: Conscience? Never had one. Never. [Genie turn into Genie in the box] Hoo! What are you trying to do, give me a heart attack? Genie: A-ha! You do have a heart! An itty-bitty one, but it is there. Iago: Can you quit with the hocus pocus already? Genie: Look at him. Would it kill you to do something nice for him? Iago: Possibly. I don't do "nice". Genie: Oh, come on! It'll be fun! Iago: I don't do fun, either! Genie: We have to get Al and the princess back together! Iago: Look, I definitely don't do mushy stuff! It's not me! Genie: I know, but it's going to be tricky. Iago: Tricky is good. Tricky I can do.
„
~ Iago agreeing to help put Aladdin and Jasmine back together (In his way).
“
Iago: Come on, Princess! Don't waste your tears on him. Jasmine: You! Get out of here! Iago: Hey, don't take it out on me! He's the creep. I never should have saved his life. Jasmine: Saved his life? Iago: Yeah. He owed me one. That's why he stood up for me. Jasmine: But he didn't have to lie to me. Iago: You are so right. [Start "Forget About Love"]
„
~ Iago to Jasmine.
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Jasmine: What are you doing now? Iago: Oh, what does it look like I'm doing? I'm trying to free the chump genie so he can save your chump boyfriend!
„
~ Iago trying to free Genie so he can save Aladdin.
“
Iago: Okay. You've seen the thieves' quarter. Now can we go back to the palace? Jasmine: No. Do you know what Aladdin called me? Princess! Iago: Offend not my delicate ears with such language! Jasmine: Look. I have to do this. Aladdin and I will be married some day! I have to understand this part of his life! I’m spending the entire day as a street rat if it kills me! Iago: Which it just might-Oh!
„
~ Iago and Jasmine in the thieves quarter.
“
Jasmine: I, I feel so strange! (Examines herself) My hands! My face! My... tail? Iago: Uh, princess... do I look different to you? Jasmine: [Gasp] You’re a lizard! Iago: You're a rat! Jasmine: That merchant! He said mysterious forces punish those who did wrong! Iago: So why did I get zapped? You're the one who stole the... Both: The mirror! Jasmine: I said I was a street rat! Iago: And I said I was a frilled lizard! Jasmine: We have to tell it to change us back! Look! I'm a princess. A princess! Iago: I'm a parrot! A devilishly good-looking parrot. [The mirror sparks for a moment but stops.] We just got seven years bad luck! Jasmine: Rats and lizards don't live that long...
„
~ Iago after turning into a lizard and Jasmine after turning into a rat.
Trivia
Iago is the first villain in Disney history to lastingly reform in a sequel other than his debut film. Among the few other characters to have this distinctions are Anastasia Tremaine and Captain Gantu.
Originally, Iago was meant to be a snobbish parrot with a British accent. However, to further the comedy, his character was changed drastically to what animator Will Finn calls "Gilbert Gottfried as a parrot".
Iago was deliberately given teeth to give more resemblance to Gilbert Gottfried.
Danny DeVito was considered for the role of Iago, but was unavailable during production. However, DeVito would later voice Philoctetes in Disney's 1997 animated film, Hercules.
Although Iago was absent in the Hercules crossover with Aladdin, he was mentioned by Jafar.
Heroes
