10 Disney Films With Shockingly Dark Source Material

For years now, Disney have had the monopoly on much-loved, family friendly films. So many childhoods were littered with these movies- songs were sung and Halloween costumes bought in bulk so kids could live out their collective Disney fantasies.

So I think it would surprise most to learn the pretty horrific tales that these movies have often spawned from. From grim fairy tales to bleak novels, Disney have lifted inspiration from some of the most galling stories ever written, wrapped it all up in a nice animated package and sent it out to every nations children.

Mercifully much of the darker details have been left out from these stories, to the point where you wouldn't quite believe how many of them started off their lives.

From genocides to torture to all manner of death and diseases, Disney must have themselves a pretty messed up library over in Mickey Mouse HQ.

Ahhh Cinderella, a lovely story of a down-trodden young woman who uses the magic of her loving fairy godmother to improve her luck and her life. What could possibly make this story dark or disturbing? Excessive mutilation, perhaps? Yeah, that'd probably do it.

In Charles Perrault's original story- after the Prince finds her slipper and searches the land over for her, he eventually arrives at Cinderella's home. Her wicked step sisters are the first to try on the slipper and, in a slightly misled attempt to marry the Prince themselves, when it doesn't fit them they desperately cut off their own toes to force the issue and fit into the slipper anyway.

Their cruel treatment of a young Cinderella of course eases the blow of this pretty brutal effort to undermine her, so maybe it's not all bad. What's that, Charles? Oh, they also have their eyes plucked out by pigeons at their step-sisters eventual wedding to the Prince? Okay, cool man. Thanks.