Iago is the parrot sidekick in Disney’s 1992 animated film Aladdin.
Iago works for Jafar, the Sultan’s ambitious royal vizier, and serves as both his accomplice and comic foil. Unlike a conventional silent animal companion, Iago speaks fluent English, complains constantly, schemes enthusiastically, and can mimic voices. His sharp sarcasm contrasts with Jafar’s more controlled and theatrical villainy.
The character’s name is a reference to Iago in William Shakespeare’s Othello, another manipulative figure associated with betrayal and self-interest. In the original animated film, Iago was voiced by Gilbert Gottfried, whose high-pitched, angry delivery became one of the character’s defining traits.
Viewers sometimes choose Abu or Rajah because both are important animal characters in Aladdin. Abu is Aladdin’s kleptomaniac monkey companion, while Rajah is Princess Jasmine’s tiger. The Genie is a magical ally rather than a parrot. Iago begins as a villainous sidekick but gradually becomes more sympathetic in the sequels and television series.