What Is The White Cat’s Name In Aristocats?

In the 1970 Disney animated film “The Aristocats,” the white kitten's name is indeed Marie. She is one of Duchess's three kittens, along with her brothers Toulouse and Berlioz. Marie is known for her sweet and charming personality, as well as her love for singing and romance.


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The white cat in the Aristocats is named Marie.

Answered from Susan Stark


 

Marie is the name of the beautiful white kitten in Disney's classic animated film The Aristocats. With her fluffy fur, blue eyes, pink bow, and sweet singing voice, Marie stands out as the most graceful kitten among Duchess' trio of kittens.

The Story of Disney's The Aristocats

Released in 1970, The Aristocats was the last film project approved by Walt Disney himself before his death in 1966. It follows a family of aristocratic cats – mother Duchess and her three kittens Berlioz, Marie, and Toulouse – who live a pampered life in Paris in 1910.

After their wealthy owner Madame Adelaide prepares her will leaving her fortune to Duchess and the kittens, her scheming butler Edgar finds out and drugs the cats, kidnapping them to abandon in the countryside. Duchess and her kittens must make their way back home to Paris with the help of alley cat Abraham de Lacy Giuseppe Casey Thomas O'Malley and his band of jazz-playing cats.

Along their journey, the Aristocats meet quirky characters like two English geese Abigail and Amelia and a bohemian artist Lil' Toulouse. After scary encounters with dogs Napoleon and Lafayette and a runaway mill, they eventually outwit Edgar and return home safely. Madame Adelaide then leaves her inheritance to the cats as originally planned.

Reviewing The Aristocats' Key Characters

Duchess

As the mother of the kittens, Duchess maintains a very proper, elegant bearing as suits her aristocratic status. She is protective of her kittens and aims to raise them with good manners. Though distressed at first when catnapped, she keeps her composure and leads her family on their journey home.

Duchess was voiced by iconic actress Eva Gabor, who brought a graceful warmth and charming Hungarian accent to the role.

The Three Kittens

Duchess' three adorable kittens each have distinct personalities and traits:

KittenDescription
MarieA pristine white Turkish Angora with blue eyes, pink bow, and the most graceful femininity. Voiced by Liz English.
BerliozThe eldest gray kitten who is bold, adventurous, and mischievous. Voiced by Clarence Nash.
ToulouseAn orange kitten who is most creative, artistic, and musical of the three. Voiced by Bobby Driscoll.

The kittens complement each other well – Marie's femininity balances out the rambunctious energy of her brothers. But Marie's beauty and talent give her special status.

Edgar

The villainous butler Edgar comes up with a scheme to catnap Duchess and the kittens and steal Madame Adelaide's inheritance. Though cunning at first, he becomes increasingly frantic and incompetent as his plan unravels. He provided the necessary antagonism and drama to motivate the Aristocats' journey.

Edgar was voiced by the talented Paul Winchell, who also voiced Tigger in Winnie the Pooh.

O'Malley

The alley cat O'Malley helps guide the Aristocats on their way home while falling for Duchess. His street smarts and knowledge of the countryside proved invaluable. And hisSmooth-talking and confident, O'Malley added a charming roguishness.

O'Malley was fittingly voiced by Phil Harris, known for voicing similar fun-loving characters like Baloo in The Jungle Book.

Introducing Marie, the Elegant White Kitten

Of Duchess' three kittens, Marie stands out as the most proper, refined, and simply beautiful. Here are some key facts about Marie:

Appearance

  • Fur: All-white Turkish Angora fur giving her a pure, pristine look
  • Eyes: Large blue eyes that stand out against her white fur
  • Accessories: Wears an oversized pink bow around her neck, occasionally adds hair bows or bonnets
  • Movement: Graceful, elegant walk and gestures due to her breeding

Marie's striking white coat and innocent eyes lent her an angelic quality. The blue of her eyes and pink of her bow also designated her high, refined femininity according to color symbolism.

Personality

  • Feminine: Ultra-girly, focused on beauty, fashion, and romance
  • Well-Mannered: Polite, graceful, with perfect etiquette befitting an aristocratic pet
  • Naive: Wide-eyed and innocent, still childlike as the youngest kitten
  • Optimistic: Maintains a cheerful outlook despite the ups and downs of adventure
  • Artistic: Reveals her creative side through singing, dancing, and music

Marie maintained a sweetness and optimism even when the family was in peril, providing an uplifting spirit.

Signature Scenes

Some of Marie's most memorable moments that highlighted her personality include:

  • Gazing adoringly at her own reflection in the mirror as she sings “Marie”
  • Having Edgar paint her nails a bright pink during the cat-napping
  • Getting covered in blue paint and disguising herself as a male kitten
  • Singing “Scales and Arpeggios” while dancing playfully in pink ballet boots
  • Developing a sweet crush on the alley cat Tom after he gives her a flower

Marie's scenes allow her to show off her varied talents and emotional range.

Singing & Dancing

Marie gets two solo musical numbers that showcase her artistic abilities:

  • “Marie” – Sings about her own beauty while gazing in the mirror
  • “Scales and Arpeggios” – Upbeat jazz number where she dances in ballet boots

Marie's beautiful singing voice is provided by Liz English, who auditioned specifically for the part. Marie's prowess at singing, dancing, and performing offsets her otherwise proper deportment.

Romance

A touch of romance is added to Marie's story when she forms a crush on the alley cat Tom while lost in Paris. Though their time together is brief, it shows Marie's openness to love. This adds some emotional growth and maturity to Marie.

Color Symbolism

The choice to make Marie white highlighted her feminine purity and innocence. Across various cultures, white cats symbolize:

  • Grace, manners, gentility
  • Purity, innocence, virginity
  • Softness, femininity, beauty
  • Happiness, good fortune

As Walt Disney said, “She’s all fluff and sugar—inside and out.” Marie encompasses all the positive traits associated with white cats.

Marie's Character Arc Throughout the Film

While Marie starts out extremely proper and pristine, she gains more adaptability and courage throughout her adventures. At first she is hesitant about roughing it in the countryside and disguising herself as a male kitten. But she ultimately adapts while retaining her innate gentleness.

Marie's character arc throughout The Aristocats shows she has more resilience than meets the eye. Her spirit and determination help drive the story forward as the cats make their way home. This dynamic growth gives her added dimension.

The Voice Behind Marie: Liz English

The speaking and singing voice of Marie was performed by veteran Disney actress Liz English. Some key facts about her voice work:

  • Auditioned specifically for the part of Marie at age 18 after enrolling in California Institute of the Arts.
  • Related to Marie's personality, saying “I’m a nice girl. I never scratched or bit.”
  • Had Disney voice roles stretching from 1967 to 1982, includingowl Hooty in The Rescuers.
  • Sang on multiple Disneyland records in the late 60s and 70s.
  • Brought out Marie's earnestness and purity with her vocal tone.

English's ultra-feminine, youthful voice was perfectly matched to Marie's character. And her memorable singing helped bring Marie to life.

Marie's Lasting Popularity and Legacy

Though she wasn't the main character, Marie went on to become the most popular and recognized of the Aristocats. Reasons for her enduring appeal include:

  • Unique beauty and adorable style
  • Talented singing and dancing
  • Optimistic, cheerful personality
  • Character growth and adventurous spirit
  • Embodiment of feminine poise and artistic spirit
  • Nostalgic feelings towards classic Disney animation style and songs

Marie has been ranked highly on lists assessing Disney characters:

  • #52 in Empire Magazine's 100 Greatest Movie Characters
  • #2 Disney Kitten behind Oliver (Buzzfeed)

A 2018 poll saw Marie ranked as the 9th most popular Disney kitten. And she has been featured or appeared in Disney merchandise, books, and apps ever since the film's release.

Full Aristocats Cast of Characters

While Marie takes center stage among the kittens, here's a quick look at the other main characters:

Duchess

The mother cat striving to maintain dignity and get her kittens home despite their ordeal.

Madame Adelaide

The wealthy former opera star who adores Duchess and her kittens.

Berlioz

The adventurous grey kitten constantly getting in mischief.

Toulouse

Marie's creative, artistic brother who plays piano and paints.

Edgar

The treacherous butler who hatches the cat-napping scheme.

O'Malley

The streetwise alley cat who helps guide the Aristocats' journey.

Roquefort

A brave mouse friend who assists the cats.

Why Marie Stands Out Among the Aristocats

With her snowy white fur, prim pink bow, musicality, and dancing skill, Marie is undoubtedly the most iconic of the Aristocats sisters. While her brothers have appealing personalities, Marie's beauty, talent, optimism, and adventurousness make her the heart of the film.

Marie represents the spirit of youth – sweet, artistic, open to romance, and learning about the world. She embodies many ideals young viewers look for in a character.

So in answer to the question “What is the white cat's name in Aristocats?”, the graceful Marie takes center stage through her charm, beauty, and enduring popularity.

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