10 Most Gruesome Deaths From Kids' Movies
3. Artax Drowns In The Swamp Of Sadness- The Neverending Story
One of the most heart-breaking animal deaths in film, Artax's death scene in The NeverEnding Story is deeply moving, often leaving audiences sobbing in distress. This fantasy film, based on the 1979 novel of the same name, follows the adventures of Bastian Bux (Barret Oliver), an unpopular boy who stumbles upon an enchanted book.
The book centers on Atreyu (Noah Hathaway) who lives in Fantasia, a fantasy land threatened by an evil force. As their ruler falls ill, Atreyu attempts to discover a means of curing the Empress.
During his travels, Atreyu discovers the Swamps of Sadness. While Atreyu is able to traverse the swamps safely, his horse, Artax, becomes trapped. As the horse slowly sinks deeper and deeper, Atreyu desperately tries (and unfortunately fails) to keep the animal afloat. Screaming his horse's name as the animal slowly succumbs to the Swamps, Atreyu's heartbreak is distressingly apparent.
Ultimately, Artax cannot escape the Swamps of Sadness, and the horse literally drowns in despair and unhappiness. This tragic death is deeply unnerving: the thought of an innocent animal drowning in front of its heartbroken, helpless owner is seriously upsetting.