In the 1994 animated musical fantasy film Thumbelina, directed by Don Bluth and Gary Goldman, Charo provided the voice for Mrs. Toad, the mother of Grundel and his two brothers, Mozo and Gringo.

Mrs. Toad is depicted as a glamorous and famous Spanish singer who leads the “Singers De España,” and she becomes a central antagonist of sorts by kidnapping Thumbelina, desiring her to join the act and to marry her son Grundel. The character is drawn into the story early: after hearing Thumbelina’s singing, Mrs. Toad wants to include her in her performance troupe and pushes her son’s interest, thereby creating conflict through both guardianship and performance rivalry.

Noted the Austin Chronicle, “Charo not only voices Mrs. Toad, she is Mrs. Toad … She’s sexy and funny and, contrary to appearances, nobody’s dumb blonde.”

In the 2020s, Mrs. Toad has seen a resurgence in popular culture via social media. Mrs. Toad remains one of the more memorable roles in Thumbelina for a segment of audiences, particularly those revisiting childhood animation or exploring “cult classics” in animation on social media.