10 Disney Animated Deaths That Scarred You For Life

1. Ellie (Up)

Bing Bong Death
Pixar

Beautifully condensing adult life down into a few brief minutes, the opening scenes of Pixar's Up are heartwarming, then sad, then funny, then uplifting, then outright depressing. It's a roller-coaster of emotions that perfectly mirrors the ups and downs of just living, reminding you how short life really is and compelling you to make the most of every single happy moment you're lucky enough to have.

We see Carl and Ellie get married, move into and decorate their first home, lose a child, repair a flat tyre, go to work, dance, grow old and then... Ellie just ends. In an instant. Not only does she die, but in a way, Carl dies with her, losing that sense of feeling young, free-spirited and adventurous that the rest of the movie sets him on the path to reclaiming.

This death is incredibly impactful because it's incredibly relatable. We all have relationships, and ups and downs within those relationships - perhaps some people have even endured some of the hardships that ultimately befell Carl and Ellie. But worst of all, this heartbreaking montage is a harsh reminder that while today could be the happiest day of your life, tomorrow could be your worst - and that's the reality of the world we live in.

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Did any of these moment strike an emotional chord with you? Let us know your miserable stories in the comments below!

Contributor
Contributor

Danny has been with WhatCulture for almost nine years, and is currently Doctor Who Editor and WhoCulture Channel Manager, overseeing all of WhatCulture's Whoniverse coverage. He has been writing and video editing for 10+ years, and first got a taste for content creation after making his own Doctor Who trailers and uploading them to YouTube (they're admittedly a bit rusty by today's standards). If you need someone to recite every Doctor Who episode in order or to tell you about the making of 1988's Remembrance of the Daleks, Danny is the person to ask.