Disney has a reputation for light, wholesome family entertainment, but some of the studio’s animated classics have scenes which could be ripped from horror movies. Many ofDisney’s best animated movies, particularly the older ones, have images that could terrify audiences of any age.
Disney’s animated villainsare behind many of the studio’s most terrifying scenes from throughout the years. Having some scary moments can make the movies more engaging, and the villains more detestable. Disney usually knows how to strike the right tone, but some scenes have the power to haunt audiences for years, especially if children watch them while they are too young.
10Pinocchio’s Trip To Pleasure Island
Lampwick’s Transformation Draws On Body Horror Tropes
The grotesque, twisted smile of the clown that greets the boys who arrive on Pleasure Island should serve as some indication of the hell they are about to endure, but their first night of debauchery passes without incident. It’s only in the harsh light of morning that the consequences of their actions come home to roost.
Lampwick runs around screaming for help and his mother, knowing that there’s nothing he can do.
The scene in which Lampwick slowly transforms into a donkey in front of Pinocchio’s eyes is pure body horror,without any humor or distraction to soften the blow. Lampwick runs around screaming for help and his mother, knowing that there’s nothing he can do as his body contorts into the form of a donkey and his voice is stripped from his throat.
9Dumbo’s Psychedelic Hallucination
Pink Elephants On Parade Doesn’t Need To Be So Frightening
After Dumbo inadvertently drinks some champagne, he starts to hallucinate a swirl of bright pink elephants, although this is really just the beginning. The “Pink Elephants On Parade” sequence is a masterpiece of creative animation, with plenty of fluid motions, kaleidoscopic colors and unexpected twists, but it’s also intensely creepy.
The lyrics to the song seem to capture the strange terror of the sequence, as voices repeat “look out” while a barrage of twisted imagery dances across the screen. There are moments of sheer beauty to balance out some of the creepier visuals and macabre faces, butthe vibrant crescendo into bright lights and noise can feel like an assault on the senses.
8The Barracuda Attack In Finding Nemo
Finding Nemo Doesn’t Hide Nature’s Dark Side
Finding Nemodelivers one of themost heartbreaking Pixar momentsin its first few minutes, as Marlin sees his wife and all but one of his children devoured by a barracuda. While this scene is remarkably sad, it’s also the biggest scare of the movie, with the barracuda bearing down on the tiny fish with a macabre grimace spread across its razor-sharp fangs.
It’s important that this scene has an impact on the audience, because it sets up the entire emotional arc ofFinding Nemo.While younger fans might relate to Nemo on his thrilling adventure, older audiences tend to gravitate towards Marlin. His grief, guilt and fear of losing Nemo make his story deeply emotional, but it wouldn’t be as tragic without the power of the first scene.
7Dr. Facilier Being Dragged Into Hell In The Princess & The Frog
It’s Easy To Start Feeling Sorry For The Villain
Dr. Facilier’s mastery of voodoo gives him the appearance of a horror movie villain, even thoughThe Princess and the Frogis a completely different genre. His smug swagger is quickly stripped away for his death scene, however, as he is reduced to a victim of the powers that he previously sought to manipulate.
Seeing such a fiendish character begging for his life drives home the terror of this scene, as enchanted artifacts dance all around him. His own song is turned against him to emphasize the way that his control over his powers has been shattered, and he finally gets a taste of his own medicine.Even Tiana seems disturbed, as if she didn’t anticipate such a gruesome sight.
6Clayton’s Death In Tarzan
Clayton’s Shadow Is Enough To Give The Full Picture
Tarzanhas a few scary moments, as it paints a dark picture of life in the jungle. However, the single most disturbing scene comes from Tarzan’s final confrontation with Clayton. The villainous poacher tries to get rid of Tarzan once and for all, but he ends up hanging lifelessly from some jungle vines.
Although Clayton’s dead body is never shown on-screen,the image of his shadow hanging down against a tree might be even more disturbing. There’s a jerking movement capable of evoking a visceral reaction, especially as his long knife sticks out of the ground to create another upsetting symbol of his death.
5Hellfire - The Hunchback Of Notre Dame
Frollo Is One Of Disney’s Most Evil Villains
TheDisney renaissance of the late ’80s and 90sbrought the studio back to the summit of the animation industry. Disney recaptured its magic, and the influx of memorable villains was key to this. Frollo sticks out as perhaps the most evil and morally depraved, despite his belief that he’s a religious man.
The song “Hellfire” is a succinct summary of what makes Frollo so terrifying. It centers around his lust for Esmeralda, framed here as an unequivocal sin without any romance. Frollo’s lust is rooted in his racism and his desire to dominate people, andthe nightmarish visuals of “Hellfire” prove to be the perfect accompaniment.
4Night On Bald Mountain - Fantasia
Fantasia Ends With A Captivating Nightmare
Fantasiais one of Disney’s most creative and beautiful movies, but it mixes in some disturbing imagery alongside its playful humor. Each of the segments are designed to correspond to the classical music, and the final sequence captures the frantic, arresting power of Modest Mussorgsky’s “Night on Bald Mountain”.
The demon Chernabog leaves a lasting impression, even though he doesn’t get nearly as much screen time as other Disney villains. The fact that he doesn’t speak makes him even more threatening and mysterious. Aside from him,“Night on Bald Mountain” is also filled with the disturbing imagery of skeletal figures streaming across the sky, darkness enveloping a vast landscape and bodies being tossed aside into a bottomless inferno. The perfect synergy between the animation and the music is what makes it so hard to forget.
3Sid’s Tortured Toys Emerging From Under The Bed - Toy Story
Sid’s Toys Have The Same Eerie Quality As Frankenstein’s Monster
Toy Storyremains one ofPixar’s best movies, even though it was the studio’s very first attempt at a feature-length film. Pixar nailed their trademark balance of humor and heart at the first attempt, butToy Storyalso has a couple of moments which could belong in a horror movie.
The idea of toys coming to life is an old horror trope, so it was a challenge forToy Storyto subvert this into a friendly children’s movie. The one scene that indulges this trope takes place when Woody discovers Sid’s tortured toys, and their disfigured, near-human forms evoke Frankenstein’s monster and dozens of body horror movies.
2Mother Gothel’s Rapid Aging In Tangled
Mother Gothel’s Death Is An Extreme Punishment For Her Crimes
Disney has a reputation for softening the harsh edges of some classic fairy tales, and removing most of the material that could be too disturbing for children. This is the case forTangled,which is a more child-friendly version of theRapunzelstory, but some elements of darkness still poke through.
Mother Gothel is particular dark for a Disney villain, since her whole plan revolves around kidnapping, imprisoning and relentlessly gaslighting Rapunzel. Her death scene turns the tables on her, as Rapunzel’s hair is cut and Gothel loses her regenerative powers in an instant. She ages rapidly before tumbling from the tower’s window.By the time she hits the ground, she’s no more than a puff of dust.
1The Horned King’s Entrance In The Black Cauldron
Disney’s Forgotten Gem Has Divided Opinions
The Black Cauldroncould be the closest thing that Disney has ever created to a full-blown horror movie, with plenty of dark scenes that could upset younger children. Made during a fallow period for the studio,The Black Cauldronstands out as an oddity, but it has amassed a cult following over the years.
There are several scenes that could frighten audiences inThe Black Cauldron.
There are several scenes that could frighten audiences inThe Black Cauldron.Usually, anything involving the terrifying figure of the Horned King is a good candidate. His introduction is one of his scariest scenes, as everyone around him falls silent in anticipation of his arrival. Once he shows up, his malevolent presence and haunting features live up to his billing.
