Even though the actual shooting happens off-screen, many generations cite that moment as scarring for their childhood. In addition to the dark premise, the film had murder, mild swearing, heavy adult themes and a climax depicting Hell straight out of Dante’s Inferno. In a majority of Disney animated films, the woods are a setting where good and dark magic resides, which is true with Brave as well. That appeal to our imagination is the reason why the Disney brand is trusted and approved by parents. However, many stories have a dark undertone, and the animators and scriptwriters of the time delivered some unforgettable moments that remained etched - perhaps scarred - in our minds. What started out as a cult film has now become a money-making machine for Disney, constantly churning out merchandise and even taking over The Haunted Mansion seasonally at the Disney theme parks. Cauldron belongs on this list and if when they live-action reboot it properly for Disney+, I’ll be the first in line to see it. After the success of Star Wars in 1977, most Hollywood studios jumped to capitalize on that wave of interest in science fiction adventure films. The fact that it came right before the holiday season is even better. The ever-so-positive Buzz Lightyear giving up and trying to comfort his friends in their final moment together sends a lump to your throat so fast you’d think you were watching your childhood memories burn along with them. What was marketed to be a fun space adventure, ended up being one of Disney’s darkest cinematic offerings. Years later that dark reality would be revisited in The Lion King, with Simba and the loss of Mufasa. The “happy ending” here is that Dumbo and his mom get their own circus car. Catching the imaginations of two boys, Will and Jim, the pair uncover the carnivals true intent which is collecting souls. 10 Dark Moments You Wouldn't Expect In Light Hearted Disney Movies! That example amongst the many other sinister moments is why Mr. The real versions of the Disney fairy-tales are a little different from the Disney movies, and even the tales that we commonly hear. It's time to put your Disney villain IQ to the ultimate test! The infamous incinerator scene at the end of the film, shocked viewers in just how horrifying and brutal it was. Once again, this is the company that brings joy and happiness to the world, creating the most psychopathic, misogynistic, genocidal murderer in animated movie history. Gaston is a walking nightmare and his misogynistic advances come off super predatory, but he’s nowhere near as bad as the Beast. From drinking, to smoking and getting into fights, the boys get seduced by this fantastical place that ends up revealing its true evil nature by turning them into donkeys. Here, Disney created a dark thriller that was scary at times but not at the level of a horror film. It should come to no surprise that this memorable segment is now being turned into a live-action film by Disney. However, when looking back at many of the shows on Disney Channel, I realize that many of these classic Disney Channel shows are dark. To this day, we still call him Dumbo, too, which was the name given to him by the bullies. From the beautiful animation, to the haunting music and wonderful character designs, the film is perfect as a campfire scary story. Based on the Austrian book, Bambi, A Life in the Woods, this would be the first time Disney would present the idea of death and losing one’s parent in a chilling yet tangible way that kids could understand. While the title character Darby O’Gill (played by Albert Sharpe) spends his days drinking and telling stories of leprechauns, he also warns of the darker spirits that lurk in the town and nearby ancient ruins. For nearly 100 years, they’ve been sheltering us from the horrors of the world with tales of princesses, singing animals and happy endings. From Wikipedia: Walt Disney Pictures is an American film production company and division of The Walt Disney Studios, owned by The Walt Disney Company. While most of Fantasia’s segments are fun and light-hearted pieces -with dancing flowers, hippos and alligators - children didn’t expect that Disney had some frightening sequences in-between. Disney obviously planned this and honestly, who isn’t going to subscribe to their childhood for $7 a month. If that isn’t enough, the rest of the movie is an analogy for nuclear war destroying the world. The medieval story about a young princess named Merida who uses a spell to transform her mother into a bear, was a commercial and box-office hit. 2.Moana. Everyone knows The Nightmare Before Christmas, Alice in Wonderland and anything else ever involving Tim Burton were designed to be that way. The Black Cauldron was based on a very good series of books written by Lloyd Alexander called The Chronicles of Prydain. Just bring up the word banshee to someone who’s seen the film and watch how quickly they cringe in fear. Disney+ grants us all access to a massive library of Disney classics, many of which our children will soon be watching for the first time. Powered by Minute Media © 2020 All Rights Reserved. Imagine if the movie was called Dumbo but the main character was nicknamed “stupid idiot elephant.” I’m pretty sure we wouldn’t refer to him as that. Francis Ngannou’s coach to launch ARES Fighting Championship this year, Alabama needs to swallow its pride and root for Auburn to beat Georgia, Noelle is a Christmas movie that has the twinkle thanks to Anna Kendrick, No. We see all our favorite characters that we grew to love over the years, sliding down to their doom as they're holding hands together accepting their own fatal death. He’s taken away from his mother, who is caged for protecting him. The Watcher in the Woods was the first major offering of this new era and Disney’s first true horror film. Walt Disney — his name simply says everything about the man, his work, and the entertainment powerhouse he created. Oogie’s spooky black-light musical number recalls the psychedelic nightmare that is Dumbo’s ‘Pink Elephants on Parade’. Positioned as a Disney princess story, the filmmakers played around with the storytelling, incorporating adult themes of betrayal, selfishness and redemption. 2010’s Toy Story 3 finds Woody, Buzz and the rest of our favorite toys fighting to stay together. That’s not fun, that’s acid. Carl was dead all along – Up The company controlled the genre until the 1980s, when the genre finally became too … In Tarzan, when Clayton fell … 1. Toy Story 3 wouldn’t be on this list if not for one scene in the movie that is about as deeply disturbing a scene as the darkest of Disney’s creations: the trash compactor/incinerator scene. He then keeps her around until she “falls in love” with him. What was so dark in Moana and other disney movies that you didn't notice? Includes Disney+ originals. Robby Benson and Paige O'Hara in Beauty and the Beast (1991). Uncle murders brother, sends nephew off to die. Even with an amazing PG and family friendly standard, every so often there are sinister anomalies that make their way through the Disney machine. Even the directors and production team for the film doubted whether it would work as a Disney movie when they pitched it. Explore Disney Movies to find new, classic and upcoming films, Blu-rays, DVDs, downloads, and much more, including favorites, news and watch online. One of the most successful Disney movies in recent years, Moana, is one which hasn’t strayed too far from its historical roots.Rather than being pure fiction, the movie is based on ancient Hawaiian, Mangarevan, Tahitian, Tongan, Samoan, and Polynesian mythology and in particular the figure of Maui. With the use of special effects and lighting, the wailing hooded Banshee is a hideous evil spirit that makes Ghostface look like a chump. There was no need to show it, either. From the wicked queen to her creepy magic mirror, and the various attempts of murder on poor Snow White, how could this classic not be on our list?! pic.twitter.com/ck9Mn1jT1K, — Crimson Mayhem (@mayhem_crimson) November 14, 2018. Overall, everyone is still suffering. Having the nicest cell in prison is great, but you’re still in prison. After a failed murder attempt on Snow, the Evil Queen goes to extreme measures to do the task herself, transforming into an ugly witch and thus creating one of the most chilling scenes in Disney history. Sometimes unnecessarily so. The iconic dark devil, with massive bat wings that rises from the top of the mountain, is often associated with Satan but is actually another dark deity that goes by the name of Chernobog. The combination of Burton’s visual style, director Henry Selick’s stunning stop-motion animation, and Danny Elfman’s musical numbers, instantly made this a Halloween and Christmas must-see for all. Families expecting to return to the colorful fantasy world of the Judy Garland masterpiece, were greatly disappointed when they saw Return to Oz. See also: 10 nightmares from 1980s fantasy movies and TV shows Bambi could have been separated from his mother for no apparent reason, or, at least, the shooting could have been implied without the harrowing scene. For more than 70 years, Bambi, and that particular scene, still packs a powerful, heart-wrenching punch on audiences as Bambi’s beloved mother/protector dies at the hands of a deer hunter. While staying more faithful to L. Frank Baum’s books, this 1985 visit to the land of Oz was more bleak and terrifying. Phoebus knows right from wrong, so Frollo sentences him to death. Here's how Disney's Movies Guide describes the flick: However, that sequence was eventually cut, and viewers were left in the dark. Kids and adults got teary-eyed seeing these classic characters that we’ve all come to love, almost meet a fiery end. Belle “fell in love” without really having a say, which is pretty dark. The Hunchback of Notre Dame When it comes to awful, dark and evil themes, Hunchback takes the cake. Up to that point, the studio had made silly, bland fantasy films like Flubber or The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes. The build-up to the Horseman’s appearance is masterfully done, creating tension and fear in young viewers. Arguably the most talked about and traumatizing moment in Disney’s cinematic history is the death of Bambi’s mother. Perhaps a lesser-known movie compared to the others on this list, but make no mistake, Atlantis belongs here. 13 Shockingly Dark Scenes in Disney Movies. Until now, that is! Wanting to be the “fairest one of all”, the Queen is driven to jealously when Snow White’s beauty threatens hers. Okay. This is a deeper darkness that Disney rarely waded into. Dark, who brings his travelling carnival to the small town of Greentown, Illinois. Now, being a Disney horror film you won’t find slashers, gore, demons or blood in it. While Bambi certainly has lighter moments and cute furry creatures like Thumper, the film has a somber tone throughout. Read through this list and dig up all the scars from your childhood. It’s easy to snicker when someone suggests that a family fantasy movie can be just as unsettling and scary as a regular horror film. A list of upcoming movies from Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Animation, Pixar, Marvel Studios, and Lucasfilm. It turns out Disney movies are full of dark and na In the movie, plucky princess Moana seeks out the demi-god Maui and together … Set during the dark ages, the film centers on a young boy Taran who along with a group of brave friends, tries to stop the evil Horned King from obtaining a powerful cauldron that will give him world domination. Movies May Have a dark place ( we ’ ve all been there ) in Woods. 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