10 Heartbreaking Moments in Disney and Pixar Films We’ll Never Forget

For decades, Disney and Pixar films have provided truly moving moments. Beginning in the 1930s and 1940s, when Disney pioneered Western animation, the studio developed a reputation for its power to create emotionally devastating moments. Disney is also known for humor and lively animation, but it wouldn’t be the same without some heavy moments.

Both Disney and Pixar have enough respect for their young audiences to show them the unhappy side of life. Some of his classic films feature the deaths of beloved characters and other tragic moments. These scenes represent universal human experiences and, for many children, are the first exposure to such feelings. Disney and Pixar are able to get away with such depressing themes because they balance them with hope and personal growth, often teaching their audiences the complexities of grief and sadness.

10

Scar kills Mufasa

The Lion King (1994)

The Lion King begins with Simba as a cub, learning the ways of the world from his wise father, Mufasa. The film does enough in these early scenes to show how much Mufasa means to Simba, so it’s a cruel moment when he’s murdered by Scar. This scene is already tragic, as Simba watches his father fall to his death amid a stampede of wildebeests, but it’s even sadder when Simba gently nudges his dead father, begging him to get up.

It says a lot that Simba tries to wake up his father by telling him that they have to go home, because Simba no longer has a home like he used to. With his father’s death, Scar seizes the moment to send Simba into exile. In just a moment, Simba’s life is destroyed beyond repair. In another cruel twist, Simba feels guilt over his role in Mufasa’s death, even though it was orchestrated by Scar.

9

Carl and Ellie’s life

Above (2009)

The opening of Above can bring the audience to tears before the main story even begins. Carl and Ellie’s relationship plays out like a brilliant short film, with a montage that touches on their early years as young lovers, their unfulfilled dreams of travel and fatherhood, and, eventually, Ellie’s death. Michael Giacchino’s score swings from giddy optimism to melancholy in an instant, and brings out new waves of emotion when it returns later. Above.

Although the music does much of the work, the precision and efficiency of the AboveThe opening scene is also impressive. In just a few moments, Above gives the audience enough character detail to form a deep emotional bond with Carl and Ellie, and enough relatable imagery to make them sympathetic. The true story that inspired Abovethe opening montage is equally thrilling, so it’s no surprise that Pixar fans often cite this as one of the most moving scenes in the studio’s history.

8

Marlin loses his family

Finding Nemo (2003)

Above isn’t the only Pixar film that begins with a moment of heartbreak. Finding Nemo it’s so emotional at the beginning, when Marlin’s wife Coral is killed by a barracuda, along with all but one of her eggs. Coral dies protecting her eggs from the barracuda, and Marlin is left to mourn only Nemo, the last egg. This tragic moment explains why Marlin is so protective of Nemo, because he is all Marlin has left.

Finding NemoThe opening scene is devastating enough, but it takes on an added layer when it’s seen as the motivation behind Marlin’s actions throughout the film. Losing her only remaining child would be her worst nightmare, so every exasperated conversation he has with Dory and every time he puts himself in danger is a result of his pain and trauma. The end of Finding Nemo eventually teaches Marlin to live his life without being ruled by his fears, but they will always be a part of him.

7

Dumbo sees his mother

Dumbo (1941)

Dumbo is one of the old Disney classics with troubling content, but it’s a great story when the crow scene can be left out. Dumbo is an adorable baby elephant who struggles to fit in due to his huge ears, and his curious personality doesn’t help matters. Dumbo doesn’t deserve the bullying he receives from other elephants and human visitors to circuses, and his mother is the only one who protects him.

DumboMrs. Jumbo’s saddest moment is being locked in a small trailer for protecting her son from some antagonistic human boys. Dumbo visits her, but she can only extend her trunk through the bars. The beautiful animation makes the mother’s love evident, even with only the trunk visible. As much as Dumbo depends on her, she also depends on her son for comfort in the cruel circus. Dumbo You don’t need to show your face to convey your deep sadness.

6

Andy goes to college

Toy Story 3 (2010)

Toy Story 3 it almost ends with the toys being incinerated, but that might not even be the saddest moment in the film. After the toys narrowly escaped and returned to Andy, he gifted them to a young girl named Bonnie before leaving for college. It’s a bittersweet moment for the toys, as they have to say goodbye to their friend, but they know they are getting a new home with a new child to care for and love them.

Toy Story 3 could have been the perfect ending to the franchise, but Toy Story 5 shows that it’s popular enough to keep coming back. At the time, it was widely believed that Toy Story 3 it would be the end, then Andy’s farewell was tied to the audience’s farewell to the characters they had known and loved since 1995. The brief moment in which Andy moves slightly away from Bonnie reflects the audience’s difficulty in letting go.

5

Mulan finds the village devastated

Mulan (1998)

Mulan It starts off like many other Disney princess movies, with some cute animal companions, fun music, and lots of humor. Things take a dark turn when Mulan and the rest of Li Shang’s forces discover a village that has been decimated by Shan Yu’s Hun army. After this moment, the song almost fades out, as Mulan realizes the gravity of her situation.

Mulan There are some clever touches in this scene that deepen the human tragedy. The somber music and charred remains of buildings underscore the scale of the violence, but personal items left behind make it home. Mulan finds a small doll, assuming the owner was killed by Shan Yu’s men. It’s a grim reminder of her uncertain future and a symbol of what she’s fighting for.

4

Nick’s story

Zootopia (2016)

Zootopia is an allegorical story about the dangers of “otherization”, and there are some scenes that show the personal tragedy of divisive political ideologies. The city is occupied by herbivores and carnivores, but a new wave of crime means the prey begin to see their neighbors differently. Nick may seem like a cunning fox who wouldn’t care about the opinions of others, but a flashback to his children reveals that this callous nature is a defense mechanism.

Nick tells Judy about a time in his childhood when he tried to befriend a group of herbivores, but they cruelly gagged him and called him names. This is a poignant moment because it shows how harmful rhetoric can impact younger generations and shows a softer side to Nick’s character. The next Zootopia 2 will reunite Nick and Judy, presumably both as police officers with a new case to investigate.

3

Bing Bong disappears

Inside Out (2015)

After years of playing with the audience’s emotions, Pixar took the bold next step of showing those emotions on screen. From the inside outThe portrait of a young girl’s mind shows the chaos that comes with growing up, with conflicting emotions, important memories and many other peculiarities. Bing Bong has been Riley’s imaginary friend since she was much younger, and he wanders through her mind wishing to be remembered again one day.

Ultimately, Bing Bong sacrifices himself to let Joy find her way back to headquarters, and he disappears as another of Riley’s lost memories. He recognizes that Riley needs Joy more than she needs him, and her last act of love helps Riley grow. It’s remarkable that a character who is on screen for such a short time can have such an emotional impact. Riley might forget it, but one Inside Out 2 The Easter egg reveals that Joy never does.

2

Bambi’s mother dies

Bambi (1942)

The death of Bambi’s mother is among the most painful moments in Disney historyand it’s a scene that helped give Disney a reputation as a studio that can pack emotional punches. The wide-eyed young deer and his mother are forced to flee from a hunter, but while Bambi manages to escape into a thicket, he calls back to his mother only to realize that she wasn’t so lucky.

Without his mother, Bambi is alone in the world. The scene is beautifully drawn, with strong winds and torrential snow to reflect the uncertainty of Bambi’s new situation. You don’t have to lose a parent in real life to cry in this scene. It’s a simple but understandable situation, especially since the animation is so tender. Bambi It’s a very colorful film, but for a moment, Bambi stands alone in a field of gray.

1

Mama Coco remembers

Coco (2017)

Pixar’s track record has been a bit spotty over the past decade, but Coconut It has the same magic as the studio’s most popular hits. The story follows Miguel on his journey to the Land of the Dead in search of answers about his family’s history. He shares some sweet moments with Héctor, but the real emotional scene comes when he returns to the land of the living and plays a song for his great-grandmother.

The tender chorus of “Remember Me” is a beautiful songand it’s even more exciting with the weight of Miguel’s new discovery behind it. He realizes that Héctor wrote the song for his daughter a long time ago, before Ernesto stole it. Hearing the song awakens something in Mama Coco, and she has a rare moment of clarity. Coconut shows the power of music and family, and they come together in one of Pixar’s most moving moments.