8 Tragic Pixar Moments That Are Totally Wasted On Kids

4. Everything About Dug from Up

There is a famously heartbreaking sequence early in Up. Over 4 minutes, we see an entire marriage play our between the protagonist, Carl, and his wife, Ellie. They struggle through financial trouble and infertility and it ends with Ellie dying, leaving Carl completely alone. Children everywhere were forced to squirm uncomfortably in their seats as their parents wept openly next to them and you'd think Up would stop there. The damage was already done. Give us an hour or so to recover with a lighthearted balloon adventure before we have to drive home. Instead, Up gives us Dug, the talking dog, who appears at first to be a comedy character. But as the movie goes on and it becomes clear that he's a force of pure optimistic id, he becomes a potent reminder that the world is not good enough for dogs. It's too cruel a place for an animal that will hide under your porch, despite being terrified, just because it loves you, unquestioningly and forever. Oh Dug, we're sorry. It is us, the humans, who should wear the cone of shame.