Saddest Disney movie?

[Timstuff]

Disney's movies aren't necessarily the saddest animated flicks around (after all, it was Don Bluth who gave us An American Tale and The Land Before Time), but most of us still probably remember a movie or two from Disney's stable that made us a bit teary eyed back in the day. So here's a thread where you can discuss and debate what you think is the saddest Disney movie is. Just as a ground rule let's try and keep this to their animated films (so that means no Old Yeller). Perhaps once I've read enough suggestions I'll add a poll.

Personally, my vote goes to The Fox and the Hound. People talk about Bambi's mom dying as being an all time saddest Disney moment, but let's face it-- that was a shock value moment. It was a sad moment, sure, but overall it's a fairly cute and happy movie. The Fox and the Hound though-- from the first time I saw it, it stabbed me right in the heart. What makes the movie especially sad though, is how it gets the viewers' hopes up that things are taking a turn for the better, only for it to get worse. And unlike many movies, it did not end with everyone getting what they want. It was a difficult but realistic story about a friendship that was doomed by prejudice, and most of the happy moments in the movie are there to make the sad moments even sadder, unlike many movies where it's the other way around. I've always loved the movie, but darn if it isn't a downer.

 

[Kurosawa]

Fox and the Hound for me no question. But it's hard to discount 'Old Yeller.

 

[CBGB]

I have to go with Bambi. I haven't watched the Fox and the Hound in a long time. But Bambi left a permanent mark on me as a child.

 

[Sawyer]

The Lion King.

Bambi? Psssh... the hunter was doing his ****ing job!

 

[CBGB]

Bambi? Psssh... the hunter was doing his ****ing job!

*Tear*

 

[Episode29]

Dumbo, hands down. That scene with him visiting his imprisoned mother, with "Baby Mine" playing, reduces me to a quivering mass of heaving misery every time out.

 

[BloodyWolverine]

Bambi for The Lion King and and Dumbo too the parent scene from it. I get sad when in Tarzan the poppa gorilla dies.

 

[Majik1387]

Are we only talking animated movies here?

 

[Timstuff]

Yup.

 

[Prison Mike]

The Fox and the Hound, The Lion King, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame were all sad IMO.

 

[Kane52630]

Lion King

 

[Majik1387]

Hmm, Bambi, Dumbo, and Lion King have already been said.

I don't know if it counts but I remember feeling sad a lot through the movie The Brave Little Toaster, though not technically a full Disney movie, but I first saw the movie on the Disney Channel back when they didn't have commercials.

 

[Blindfighter]

I love how the lion kings is a complete rip off of a Japanese movie. I am going to go with The Fox and the Hound.

 

[Project862006]

lion king hands down

 

[Prison Mike]

the lion king is Hamlet for kids

 

[Angel_Faerie]

Except everyone doesn't die at the end...

 

[Spider-Vader]

Does Pixar count? I mean they're owned by Disney now. If so Wall.E had some sad moments, I heard Up was sad too.

Out of classic Disney, I'd say 'Fox & the Hound'. 'Bambi' & 'Lion King' did nothing for me (though Lion King was my favorite movie for a period of time).

 

[Franklin Richards]

 

[Max J Power]

I haven't seen The Fox and the Hound since I was little and I don't remember much about it, and I haven't seen Bambi and Dumbo at all. So, for the ones I actually remember, I'd narrow it down to these:

Toy Story 2. The whole montage and song about Jesse's owner not loving her anymore was rather depressing.
Up. Similarly, the montage and song about the wife dying was sad.
The Lion King. Mufasa got trampled to death by wildebeests.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame. In retrospect, this was probably too dark a story to make into a Disney movie.

 

[Sawyer]

Except everyone doesn't die at the end...

Hence the "for kids" part. Could you imagine the looks on the children's faces as they leave the theatre after all the characters are killed? It would be madness...

 

[CGHulk]

When I was five, back in 1981 I saw Fox and the Hound in theaters and I cried my guts out.

 

[Diamondhead]

I've waited for so long to see a Cyrano de Bergerac traditional animation movie from Disney like beauty and the beast or little mermaid
it seems like nobody ever thought of doing it
would have been nice to see this story ends well like they've done for little mermaid and so many others
ah tell ya'll it would have been one of the greats.

 

[Episode29]

I haven't seen The Fox and the Hound since I was little and I don't remember much about it, and I haven't seen Bambi and Dumbo at all.

Check them out, they're incredibly great.

 

[Lone]

UP...mostly the first 20mins.

 

[jmc]

Toy Story 2. The whole montage and song about Jesse's owner not loving her anymore was rather depressing.

That is such a sad scene, so heartbreaking.