Do you recall watching
Disney movies when you were young and liking them? Did a look of awe and amazement cross your features as you watched the magic unfold on the screen? It's possible that you were the lyric master behind The Little Mermaid and The Lion King.
You remember loving these movies when you were younger and expecting your children to feel the same way about them. You can't wait to show them to them! But, there are nuances in life that an adult spectator can pick up on that a younger observer would have to. We've compiled a list of some of the most unsettling moments that took things too far into the shadows.
1. Toy Story: Sid Torturing Toys
Source: Disney
What would happen if the toys from your childhood suddenly came to life? That's the premise of Toy Story. The story's protagonist, a preteen kid named Sid, also shows the grimmer aspect of childhood. For some reason, Sid enjoys dismantling toys and reassembling them in bizarre configurations. To illustrate, consider the mechanical spider with the human baby's head. It's only natural that we become giddy when the toys finally get even with their tormentor.
2. The Lion King: Scars Death
Source: Disney
The primary antagonist usually meets a tragic end in Disney films. After being beaten by his nephew Simba in battle, Scar falls into a hole, ambushed and torn apart by his hyena cronies. Though the killing scene is obscured by darkness, a gruesome mental image is nonetheless imprinted on us.
3. Aladdin: Jasmine Forced into Marriage
Source: Disney
Arranged weddings are not unheard of in other cultures. It's just not what most people anticipate from a Disney movie. Even more, cringe-inducing is the fact that Princess Jasmine is a minor. The attempt of Jafar to seduce the young princess is equally memorable.
4. Dumbo: Dumbo Gets Drunk
Source: Disney
How does a young elephant react when he "accidentally" drinks too much and starts to see pink elephants dancing in his head? We could see some strange things if we're grownups and drink too much. But, it's possible that kids won't get this... also, they shouldn't.
5. Toy Story 3: Incinerator Scene
Source: Disney
You never know if the main character will make it through a tense circumstance in a movie, Disney or otherwise. They keep trying and succeed, just like in the movies kids watch. Instead of fighting their inevitable demise in Toy Story 3's massive incinerator, Woody and his pals join hands and accept each other's company.
6. Mulan: Destroyed Village
Source: Disney
In Mulan, a young woman named Mulan dreams of a life as a warrior but is denied the opportunity due to her gender. Thus, to engage in combat, she assumes the identity of a male. One scenario has her returning to her town with her fellow warriors only to find that it has been destroyed and everyone has been slaughtered. The moment is even more frightening because a lengthy musical piece precedes it.
7. Snow White: The Huntsman Scene
Source: Disney
As we mentioned, Snow White and her stepmother do not get along very well. Queen Elizabeth II originally planned to poison her stepdaughter with an apple but instead had a huntsman take Snow into the woods, remove her heart, and return it to her. We think it's safe to say that seeing a family counselor won't improve the current dynamic. The huntsman's compassion is much appreciated.
8. Finding Nemo: The Barracuda
Source: Disney
Nemo's mother gets slain by a barracuda while trying to save her eggs. Because of this, her husband raises Nemo on his own. Young viewers with heightened sensibilities may find this disturbing. There's no denying that the loss of a parent is a common motif in Disney films.