13 Disney Animated Characters With Surprisingly Large Kill Counts

Disney films are known for their family atmosphere, but some of Disney’s most popular characters kill their enemies. This isn’t exactly in keeping with Disney’s image of magical family entertainment, but it just proves that Disney can get surprisingly dark sometimes. While it’s not too shocking to see Disney villains with murderous tendencies, some beloved heroes have killed other characters as well.

The charming animation style of Disney films can often hide a lot of darkness and violence that wouldn’t be as appropriate for younger audiences in live action. The fact that so many Disney characters rack up imposing kill counts without being known as killers highlights how the studio puts a magical sheen on most things. However, when some films are examined more closely, some beloved Disney icons turn out to be killers.

13

Mulan

Mulan (1998)

Disney’s canonical princesses are supposed to embody the cheerful goodness upon which the studio builds its image. However, not all princesses are so sweet and innocent. Mulan is a more active and adventurous character than Aurora or Snow White, and she is not afraid to go into battle to defend her people. Mulan may start out as a charming musical, but it gets quite dark as Mulan faces the realities of war. When she uses fireworks to cause an avalanche, she exterminates hundreds of soldiers from Shan Yu’s Hun armyas well as their horses.

12

Mushu

Mulan (1998)

Mulan is one of Disney’s darkest films, so it’s not a huge surprise that Mulan isn’t the only character to have killed some people. Although Shan-Yu is the deadliest character of all, Mushu also gets his hands dirty. Mulan’s wee dragon companion mostly goes along for the ride as comic relief alongside Cri-Kee, and he gets more than his fair share of Mulanbest quotes. He’s not as fearsome and deadly as most dragons, but he sets off the fireworks that kill Shan-Yu in the climactic battle. Mushu also destroys the great stone dragon which is supposed to help Mulan, though it’s unclear if this counts as him killing the guardian.

11

Pascal

Tangled (2010)

Mushu isn’t the only cute Disney sidekick who shows a surprisingly violent streak when things get heated. Pascal is Rapunzel’s chameleon companion in tangled, and he accompanies her wherever she goes. It provides some Tangledone of the funniest moments, but the main difference between him and Mushu is that he remains silent throughout the film. In the final confrontation with Mother Gothel Pascal trips the villain and makes her fall out of the tower window. After Rapunzel’s hair is cut short, Mother Gothel appears to age quickly, so she dies and turns to dust before she even hits the ground. It may not technically be Pascal’s death, but it’s still a cold-blooded move by the reptile.

10

Hercules

Hercules (1997)

According to Greek myth, Disney’s Hercules sees the titular hero facing a series of deadly trials to earn his place on Mount Olympus with the gods. He racks up a large kill count by killing the hydra, the cyclops, and many other monsters sent by Hades. ONE Hercules Easter Egg also suggests that Hercules killed Scar from The Lion King at some point, because he wears the lion’s skin in a brief scene. It’s debatable whether any of these deaths should contribute to Hercules’ death count, but punching Hades in the River Styx is at least one death. It remains to be seen what the next live-action will be like. Hercules will deal with all the violence for a young audience.

9

Little Toot

Hour of Melody (1948)

Melody time is one of Disney’s forgotten animated films. Disney used to produce many more short films than it does today, and Melody time is an anthology that features seven such segments. The film’s divisive critical reputation has a lot to do with the uneven quality of the segments, but Little Toot is full of Disney charm. The titular tugboat causes chaos in New York Harborwith all the mischievous excitement of a child. Little Toot’s antics are harmless at first, but he soon drives an ocean liner into a densely populated apartment block, potentially causing hundreds of victims. The weight of this tragedy is lifted as the song continues.

8

Closet

Beauty and the Beast (1991)

Beauty and the beast It has some of the elements of a horror film. While Belle’s imprisonment is often seen as frightening by modern audiences, the plight of the Beast’s domestic staff is even more horrific. Due to the Beast’s curse, they are turned into furniture and other household items, although they seem to make the most of their situation. When Gaston and his mob storm the castle, the team springs into action to defend their home. There are many creative ways that Lumière, Mrs. Potts and co. ward off invaders. The Wardrobe takes a simpler approach as he crushes one of the men to death.

7

Tarzan

Tarzan (1999)

Tarzan tries to prevent Clayton’s death, as the villain accidentally hangs himself from some long vines. However, Tarzan kills at the beginning of the film. His first and most important death comes when he strikes down Sabor with a broken spear. Sabor is responsible for the deaths of Tarzan’s parents, as well as several gorillas, so It is extremely impressive that Tarzan manages to kill the leopard in hand-to-hand combat. Just before Clayton’s death, Tarzan also kills one of his men just as he sneaks up on Jane. The man suddenly leaves the scene, but it seems safe to assume he is dead.

6

Mister Incredible

The Incredibles (2004)

Pixar films have some heartbreaking deaths, like Ellie in Above and Coral in Finding Nemo, but it is extremely rare for any character to be murdered. The Incredibles is a little different in that it features a lot more action and violence than most other Pixar films. The film’s number one killer, as Edna Mode will tell anyone who will listen, are the covers. Syndrome, one of Pixar’s best villains, also kills many heroes while perfecting his Omnidroid. However, what is most surprising is that Mr. Incredible himself kills several people. He’s not the kind of hero who refuses to take a life like Batman, like he dispatches several of Syndrom’s henchmen while infiltrating his base.

5

Arlo

The Good Dinosaur (2015)

The Good Dinosaur doesn’t usually make it into the conversation for Pixar’s best films, and it was a rare box office flop for the studio. There’s still a lot to like, including the breathtaking landscapes and the brave main character, Arlo. Arlo is a young Apatosaurus who befriends a human child in an alternate history where dinosaurs were never wiped out by an asteroid. When Spot is surrounded by pteranodons, Arlo rushes into battle to defend his new friend. He throws each of the pteranodons into the river. They are not seen dying, but they certainly do not appear to be able to escape the rapids.

4

Yzma

The Emperor’s New Groove (2000)

It’s not entirely uncommon for an evil Disney villain to cause a few deaths. Scar murdering Mufasa is one of Disney’s most iconic moments from the 1990s, for example. However, Yzma isn’t operating on the same level of malevolence as Scar, Ursula, or Maleficent. His plan is to assassinate Kuzco, but this is just a political move. So it comes as a surprise that she kills several people in The Emperor’s New Groove. Yzma uses her potions to transform some of the guards into animals like Kuzco, and they fall to their deaths from the high palace walls.

3

Milo Thatch

Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)

Atlantis: The Lost Empire is among Disney’s most underrated films. It was released shortly after the height of Disney’s renaissance in the 1990s, when the studio was gradually transitioning to a new style of animation and storytelling. The steampunk adventure story follows Milo Thatch, a bookish linguist in search of the lost city of Atlantis. At the end of the film, he has no choice but to get his hands dirty. Vinny is the character who kills the most in the final battle with Rourkebut since he’s a mercenary with a penchant for explosives, this isn’t as surprising as Milo killing Rourke by turning him into a crystal.

2

Moana

Moana (2016)

Moana is one of Disney’s most action-ready princesses, as she proves time and again on her journey across the ocean with Maui. When they are ambushed by the coconut-shaped Kakamora, Maui and Moana have to fight off the pirates even though they are heavily outnumbered. Moana proves to be just as capable in a fight as the demigod Maui. She uses an oar to repeatedly launch Kakamora into the sea. It’s difficult to confirm any of these deaths since, after all, coconuts float in water, but if even a fraction of these Kakamora die, then Moana could rival Mulan for the title of deadliest Disney princess. The next Moana 2 provoked Kakamora’s return.

1

Flora, Fauna and Merryweather

Sleeping Beauty (1959)

Flora, Fauna and Merryweather are the three good fairies who try to rescue Aurora from Maleficent’s curse, but being good fairies doesn’t stop them from killing when necessary. As Prince Phillip fights his way to Aurora, the fairies accompany him and cast spells to nullify the attacks Maleficent sends his way. In a more aggressive move, Merryweather chases the raven Diablo and turns him to stone. Moments later, Flora enchants Prince Phillip’s sword before he launches it into Maleficent’s heart. This gives the three good fairies a final kill count of two, which is higher than the image suggests.