13 Disturbing Disney Moments That Ruined Your Childhood

Just because it's animated, doesn't mean it's nice...

Ursula The Little Mermaid
Disney

The House of Mouse has made a lasting mark on childhoods the world over, but you know, it's not always for the right reasons.

As much as Disney loves bringing animated animal magic to life, full of awe and whimsy, they're also the company that had that strange dark moment in the 1980s that saw films about zombies, haunted carnivals, and undead children lost in time. But the less said about that, the better. Let It Go, right guys?

Remembering some of the scariest moments that scarred our young minds then, here's the horrible rotten bits sprinkled within the films that made us who we are. No wonder we're so messed up.

13. The Spindle - Sleeping Beauty

Ursula The Little Mermaid
Disney

Whilst Sleeping Beauty for the large part is a beautifully rendered love story, it's the scene that gives the drowsy princess her name that serves to be one of the film's most frightening moments. Cursed to die by her 16th birthday after touching a spinning wheel, three fairy guardians manage to alter her fate to that of a deep sleep - but cannot stop the sinister actions from playing out.

In this scene, Aurora is drawn by powerful magic to touch a conjuring up spindle, led by the luminous green light of Maleficent to her inevitable doom. Punctuated by alarming soundtrack spikes and cast in an eerie green glow, the event is remarkably ominous, made all the worse by the unconscious body of the princess left on the floor after Maleficent's dark intervention.

Always knew that sewing was a bad idea.

Contributor
Contributor

Horror film junkie, burrito connoisseur, and serial cat stroker. WhatCulture's least favourite ginger.