9 Disney Movies With Upsetting And Dark Moments

Murder, Demons, and Necromancy. All from the child-friendly world of the House of Mouse.

By Martin Shore /

No production company is more synonymous with childhood than Disney. The House of Mouse effectively holds a monopoly on children's entertainment, be that through their purchases of nearly every beloved franchise or their wide-ranging cast of beloved characters, it's safe to say that nearly everyone has fond memories that were created whilst in front of a Disney movie.

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However, Disney do have a dark side. Besides the rumoured hidden sexual references like the more-than-slightly phallic turrets of The Little Mermaid's Atlantean hometown, there are plenty of their movies that slipped some really shocking moments past their child-friendly certificates. If you think about your favourite Disney film, it's almost certain there is a tonal shift at some point that's really dissonant.

Rather than rely on putting across a really simple moral tale, Disney appears to trust that child audiences are more comfortable with adult predicaments, giving them more credit than most other studios. Across their huge body of work of both live action and animated movies, Disney has proven to be no stranger to popping the bubble of a friendly kids' movie with a truly shocking moment.

9. Dumbo Is Separated From His Mother- Dumbo

Dumbo may well be getting a live action remake, but the emotional force of the 1941 classic is going to be hard to beat. Disney animation humanises its animal protagonists in ways that simply aren't replicated, and the moment in question is just after Dumbo has been separated from his mother.

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After Mrs Jumbo's imprisonment for being a "mad" elephant for defending her son, he sneaks out to visit her and they hold trunks through the bars of her cell. After seeing the little guy ridiculed for most of the movie, this is a rare emotional high for Dumbo, as his mother gently rocks him to the lullaby "Baby Mine" sung by Betty Noyes.

It's truly a gut-wrenching moment, as Disney anthropomorphise Dumbo through his expressive face (and subsequent tears after they part) so that you really feel for the little guy. When she starts rocking him through the bars, I challenge anyone not to shed a tear, especially set against the montage of other circus animal families sleeping soundly together. I don't blame the poor guy for getting dizzy on champagne outside the clowns' tent, this separation would be hard on anyone.

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