However, that sequence was eventually cut, and viewers were left in the dark. Disney has basically the Devil himself summoning the undead and ghoulish forces of the night, to terrorize the living. We've grown up with Disney movies our entire lives. Oogie’s spooky black-light musical number recalls the psychedelic nightmare that is Dumbo’s ‘Pink Elephants on Parade’. Uncle murders brother, sends nephew off to die. That appeal to our imagination is the reason why the Disney brand is trusted and approved by parents. Toy Story is the foundation on which Pixar was built, with a rich history of memorable characters, hilarious scenes and emotional moments. The result ended up losing them a lot of money. The go-to source for comic book and superhero movie fans. Families expecting to return to the colorful fantasy world of the Judy Garland masterpiece, were greatly disappointed when they saw Return to Oz. Even with an amazing PG and family friendly standard, every so often there are sinister anomalies that make their way through the Disney machine. Throughout Disney’s long history, it hasn’t always been sunshine and rainbows. Based on the Austrian book, Bambi, A Life in the Woods, this would be the first time Disney would present the idea of death and losing one’s parent in a chilling yet tangible way that kids could understand. Disney movies are known for being a magical and safe escape for kids of all ages. Later, we’ll make them fight to the death. Disney is synonymous with family friendly entertainment but, uh, it shouldn’t be. Think you know every single dark or evil Disney animated character from the 40s through 90s? Last but not least, Simba and Nala are most likely related. One of the most successful Disney movies in recent years, Moana, is one which hasn’t strayed too far from its historical roots.Rather than being pure fiction, the movie is based on ancient Hawaiian, Mangarevan, Tahitian, Tongan, Samoan, and Polynesian mythology and in particular the figure of Maui. Like, super dark. The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad is essentially two half hour programs mashed together into one film. A lot to unpack with this Disney classic. Since just about every Disney movie has some aspect of darkness to it, we’ll leave out the intentionally dark movies to keep the list a little more interesting. Everyone here is on drugs. The Non-Disney Disney Film Full of Dark Horrors via The AV Club Ever since creating “The Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” in 1938, Disney ruled the roost in animated movies. In the movie, plucky princess Moana seeks out the demi-god Maui and together … 12 Super-Dark Origins Behind Your Favorite Disney Movies. Atlantis opens with the death of thousands of people. It turns out Disney movies are full of dark and na Don’t believe me? If that wasn’t traumatic enough, the new toys at the prison-like Sunnyside Daycare, headed by the twisted Lots-O’-Huggin’ Bear, are straight out of a horror film. Parents and children in 1940 didn’t go to Disney’s Pinocchio expecting to see a movie about child trafficking, indecency and moral corruption but that’s what they got, just told through beautiful animation. He does so, only in fear of God, and names him Quasimodo. This was an elevated project, a supernatural ghost story about a family that moves into an old English manor where the teen daughter discovers a ghostly secret. On the surface you might be asking yourself what’s scary about an animated movie about toys? A list of upcoming movies from Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Animation, Pixar, Marvel Studios, and Lucasfilm. As wholesome and endearing as the franchise is, the films also have disturbing characters and “cover your eyes” scenes that certainly give young children nightmares. As for the witch in the film’s title, there were none to be found but there was a funky '70s spaceship. The scene where he reveals his tattoos of the souls he’s captured is goosebumps-inducing. Here it is again if you’re some kind of monster who loves suffering (I’m so sorry). With that typical ominous music, a creepy narrator warns that something is in the woods, reminding the viewer that this is “no fairy tale.” Disney went so far as to put a disclaimer that the film is not for small children. Javier Cruz, who was an employee at Walt Disney World, lost his life in a tragic incident. In addition to the dark premise, the film had murder, mild swearing, heavy adult themes and a climax depicting Hell straight out of Dante’s Inferno. You have to admit, that's a bit creepy. Big Baby and the cymbals monkey are just plain freaky. We'll never pass along your email address to spammers, scammers, or the like. When the dark headless figure finally arrives on his horse, holding a flaming Jack-o-lantern, that iconic image is one of the reasons why this film is the closest thing we’ll ever get to an animated horror film from Disney. Wow. While the title character Darby O’Gill (played by Albert Sharpe) spends his days drinking and telling stories of leprechauns, he also warns of the darker spirits that lurk in the town and nearby ancient ruins. When Esmerelda refuses (hard to blame her, it was not the most romantic proposal), Frollo was ready to execute her. Watching the trailer, there’s nothing Disney about it as it’s pushed as a straight horror film. 1. From Dorothy receiving electroshock therapy, to Oz being a wasteland controlled by a sinister Nome King and a headless princess, kids barely sat through the movie. Dark, who brings his travelling carnival to the small town of Greentown, Illinois. Most Disney movies are heartwarming stories with sweet characters and happy endings. From Wikipedia: Walt Disney Pictures is an American film production company and division of The Walt Disney Studios, owned by The Walt Disney Company. Dark. Overall, everyone is still suffering. It’s an incredibly dark plot point, which addresses a taboo rarely raised in your standard Disney movie. That scene emotionally scarred every child, vilified every hunter and broke every heart in America. Scenes that disturbed you as a kid or gave you nightmares, may have also taught you about the perils of life and growing up. Claude Frollo hates gypsies and wants their entire race wiped out, yet he is also in love with Esmerelda, a gypsy woman. At the end of the film, Quasimodo pushed Frollo, the villain, off the roof of the cathedral, killing him. The movie that started it all for Walt Disney and his empire, also has a healthy dose of scares. The brother and sister tandem are the stars of the 1975 fantasy-adventure film, Escape to Witch Mountain. If you think you know Disney movies better than most fans, this ultimate character challenge is for you! Mombi alone deserves her own horror film, with her collecting living women’s heads in glass cabinets, for crying out loud! Build your custom FanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis on All Movies and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. Parents were a little taken aback when they saw how much graphic violence and how many intense scenes were found in this 2012 Pixar film. That sociopath kid set the table for bleak elements to popup in the series. But somehow, Disney gave them the green light, and they went on to make one of the greatest musical masterpieces of all time. The zombie-like creatures from the movie helped push the film to Disney’s first PG rating (spooky). Even the directors and production team for the film doubted whether it would work as a Disney movie when they pitched it. Why didn’t Simba’s mother try to find him? Frollo’s character in the 1996 Disney adaptation was based on Ralph Fiennes’ performance as concentration camp commandant Amon Goth in Schindler’s List. The entire premise of The Lion King is pretty dark. Quasi saves her, so Frollo chases them back to Notre Dame, tells Quasi about murdering his mother and then tries to kill them both again. In a majority of Disney animated films, the woods are a setting where good and dark magic resides, which is true with Brave as well. Perhaps a lesser-known movie compared to the others on this list, but make no mistake, Atlantis belongs here. Francis Ngannou’s coach to launch ARES Fighting Championship this year, Alabama needs to swallow its pride and root for Auburn to beat Georgia, Noelle is a Christmas movie that has the twinkle thanks to Anna Kendrick, No. Years later that dark reality would be revisited in The Lion King, with Simba and the loss of Mufasa. Let’s take two extremely lovable characters and make them best friends! You’ll thank me later. While most people's memories of Disney movies conjure up happy and magical times, we explore the darker films that were downright terrifying. 10 Dark Moments You Wouldn't Expect In Light Hearted Disney Movies! Read through this list and dig up all the scars from your childhood. — Double-Nut No Member (@Cognitive_Diss) November 13, 2019. Beast imprisons Maurice, Belle’s father, then uses him in a deal to entrap her. This is a “love story” in the same way Room is a love story. There’s also the creepy baddie of Oogie Boogie, the burlap sack-wearing boogeyman that’s made out of bugs and maggots. The title of the film was changed from the gloomy "Escape From the Dark" to the sunshiny "The Littlest Horse Thieves." If kids aren’t fazed by that, there’s a good amount eerie imagery of skeletons, shrunken heads, ghouls and goblins to keep them up at night. But when said family film is based on Ray Bradbury’s 1962 dark fantasy novel of the same name, Something Wicked This Way Comes is clinic in true horror. It's time to put your Disney villain IQ to the ultimate test! He then keeps her around until she “falls in love” with him. Another entry of Disney’s “dark ages” in the '80s, the film was poorly received at the box-office as audiences didn’t embrace the sinister edge. Frollo curses her to the Virgin Mary for putting a spell on him (of course, it can’t just be that she’s pretty) and ends up landing on, “She will be mine or she will burn.” That’s healthy. Bambi could have been separated from his mother for no apparent reason, or, at least, the shooting could have been implied without the harrowing scene. We asked the BuzzFeed Community to tell us which Disney movie moments went too freaking far. If you were in a castle far away from all other humans with a 7-foot-tall monster and a dancing candle, you’d do whatever it took to get out of there too. These insane Disney Movie theories connect many of your Disney faves in more way than one. Catching the imaginations of two boys, Will and Jim, the pair uncover the carnivals true intent which is collecting souls. Let us take a look at the Top 10 Dark Origins of Disney … Then there are the obvious choices such as Maleficent, centered on “evil” characters, which are also too easy to list here. If anyone is looking for a heart-warming story of a boy and his dog, Old Yeller is on Disney+. One of the most unique films in the Disney library is the 1940 fantasy classic Fantasia, a Walt Disney experiment merging classical music and beautiful animation. Way before social media was gushing over her, back in the 1970s Tony and Tia Malone were the unusual kids with paranormal abilities being hunted down by a sinister group. Before taking on the 007 mantle, Sean Connery starred (and sang) in this 1959 cult favorite about leprechauns. It is dark enough for you. Ah, Disney. As it turns out, replacing musical numbers with an overlying anti-capitalism theme doesn’t exactly brighten up the movie at all. However, many stories have a dark undertone, and the animators and scriptwriters of the time delivered some unforgettable moments that remained etched - perhaps scarred - in our minds. That example amongst the many other sinister moments is why Mr. Okay. He’s taken away from his mother, who is caged for protecting him. This list outlines that underlying Disney darkness that cuts a bit deeper. What was marketed to be a fun space adventure, ended up being one of Disney’s darkest cinematic offerings. In a majority of Disney animated films, the woods are a setting where good and dark magic resides, which is true with Brave as well. The Disney version was very loosely based on the first two books in the series but didn’t follow them strictly outside of names and places. Gaston is a walking nightmare and his misogynistic advances come off super predatory, but he’s nowhere near as bad as the Beast. Released in 1942, one can only imagine the effect it had on children of that era. Your privacy is safe with us. 11 of 33 Disney The names of the main characters in Frozen sound out the name of the author of the original story the movie is based on. These classic characters that we commonly hear elements stirring just below the surface ages, telling little children stories on... 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