Madam Mim: The Sword in the Stone’s Forgotten Sorceress of Disney

One of the last movies Walt Disney oversaw before his death was ‘The Sword in the Stone’, which came out in 1963. The movie, which was written by Bill Peet and directed by Wolfgang Reitherman, was inspired by T.H. White’s ‘The Once and Future King’, especially the first book. Despite not being one of Disney’s most famous movies, its fanciful adaptation of the Arthurian legend introduced viewers to Madam Mim, a cunning sorceress who is still one of the studio’s most fascinating yet underrated characters.

Madam Mim, Merlin’s quirky adversary, is notable for her witty repartee and shapeshifting skills. Many Disney villains have achieved long-lasting fame, but Mim has mostly lost attention. This may be due to the fact that ‘The Sword in the Stone’ isn’t as well-known as movies like ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ or ‘Sleeping Beauty’. Strong branding, standalone movies, and live-action adaptations have helped villains like Maleficent, Cruella de Vil, and Ursula. However, Mim has not yet been given the same acknowledgement.

Image Courtesy: Disney Movies 

Mim is still a powerful character in spite of her sparse appearances. Merlin’s cunning tactics, not her stronger ability, was the sole reason she lost her magical combat with him. She is on par with, if not better than, Merlin and other Disney villains due to her humorous flair, cunning, and transformational abilities. Mim and Yzma, another underappreciated yet amusing villain from ‘The Emperor’s New Groove’, can even be compared.

Disney has started to resurrect Madam Mim in recent years. She has appeared at Disneyland’s ‘Oogie Boogie Bash’ in 2022 and in animated programs like ‘House of Mouse’. Madam Mim may finally receive the attention she merits with the anticipated addition of new attractions to Disney Parks, like Villains Land, and a renewed emphasis on revisiting older characters. The only thing fans can hope for is that this mysterious witch finds her proper position among Disney’s evil elite.

–Farheen Ali 

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