Animated children’s movies have a long history of beginning with a tragedy or death, usually involving a character’s mom. To make matters worse, most of those tragic deaths happen to an adorable, loving mother-like character of the animal variety.
Considering most animated children’s movies revolve around growing up and being independently adventurous, it makes sense that parents, especially protective mothers, are rarely in the picture.
However, there are some animated movies that nearly took the sadness too far, making childhood now seem more painful.
Take a look back at all the great children’s movies that aimed to tear us apart, while showing just how amazing moms can be.
“Bambi”
“Bambi,” which came out in 1942, is arguably one of the most classic animated animal movies ever made. But don’t be fooled, this film is basically just a tragedy, considering most adults still whimper at the thought of watching it.
Like many of its successors, “Bambi” pulls the heartstrings before the second half even begins.
No animated film is complete without a villain, and in this sentimental nature story filled with adorable forest creatures, a hunter is the forest’s worst enemy. Bambi’s mother is shot while protecting her fawn halfway through the film, in an unexpected twist to the film. There is no doubt Bambi’s mother is the original super mom.
“The Fox and the Hound”
The 1981 film “The Fox and the Hound” resembles “Bambi” in its tragic theme of man v. forest. But, rather than waiting to depress viewers, this movie packs a sad punch within the first few minutes of the film.
After Tod, a shy baby fox, loses his mother at the hands of a hunter, an old woman takes him in as her own.
While we didn’t get to see much of Tod’s mother, she is most definitely the fiercest fox mom on screen to date.
Animal or human, this film shows that mothers can be great in all forms.
“Finding Nemo”
“Finding Nemo” is well-known for depicting the loving relationship between a clownfish father and son, but the beginning of the 2003 film does nothing to make us laugh.
“Finding Nemo,” like most other movies, begins with the tragic death of Nemo’s mother due to a barracuda attack on the ocean’s reef.
Nemo and his father Marlin are the only survivors in the attack, as the mother stood up to the barracuda and helped them escape.
Considering Nemo loses him mom, gets lost in the ocean and almost dies trying to find his father, this movie might actually be the worst.
Hailey Stewart can be reached at [email protected]