12 Animated Movies that Messed Me Up By Jeff Totey l Disney Movies l Disney Entertainment l Movies That Pull Your Heart Strings l Animated Movies

Animated movies, the ones made by Disney in particular, have always found a way to pull on our heart strings. What parent doesn’t tell their child when seeing one that, “It will get better - trust me.” However, the scenes that made you cry when you were little may not make you shed a tear later in life. In turn, after becoming a parent, different scenes can have a bigger impact on you than your children. Some scenes are not necessarily sad, but instead are very beautiful.

How to Train Your Dragon 2 has one of those scenes and it is that scene in particular that moved me to write this piece. Although there are many more, here are 12 scenes from of animated movies that messed me up. (Warning: Spoilers ahead!)

How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014)

When Hiccup’s father see his wife for the first time in 20 years.

Hiccup has just been reunited with his long, lost mother Valka and they two are trying to catch up on lost time when Stoick, Hiccup’s father, comes along and sees his bride for the first time. He says nothing but walks toward her. Fearing that he will be angry, Valka tries to explain her absence, that she sees the error in her ways for not being there for him and her son and begs for his forgiveness. He’s a Viking after all and could probably kill her. Instead he gently embraces her and says, “You even more beautiful than the day I lost you.” It is a perfect example of God’s love toward us that is shown in the biblical parable of the prodigal son story.

The Lion King (1994)

The beginning and the death of Mufasa

The Lion King has one of the most dramatic beginnings of any Disney movie. The sun rises in Africa and all the animals are aware of an important announcement – the king’s son has been born. The whole scene is reminiscent of the nativity story. The other moving scene is when Mufasa saves his son, Simba, from a stampede of water buffalos. Instead of getting help from his brother Scar, the angry brother lets Mufasa fall to his death. Simba runs to his side waiting for his dad to wake up. He snuggles under his father’s paw, but there is no response from his dad. It is heartbreaking. What’s worse is when Scar convinces Simba to run away and never come back.

Tangled (2010)

When Rapunzel’s parents lights the lantern and when they are reunited

There is a beautiful scene in the movie where the king and queen light a lantern and release it in sky. This is a tradition that they do every year on their anniversary of their daughter’s birthday. The lighting of the lantern is symbol of their kingdom’s search for the missing Rapunzel. Soon, the lantern is joined by hundreds of other lanterns from the townspeople. It is clear by the parent’s faces that they aren’t really expecting to find their daughter at this late date and yet, they send out a lantern, (or prayer) in obedient faith. Soon, their “prayer” is joined by hundreds of other “prayers.” At the end of the movie, the king and queen are reunited with Rapunzel and again that is a beautiful scene of disbelief and then joy.