Top 20 Disney Moments That Surprised Us Most
There's a reason they call it the magical world of Disney! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most notable times Disney movies took our breath away, whether for fun, charming, emotional, or even scary reasons.
Transcript
00:00 "But the thing that makes Woody special is he'll never give up on you. Ever."
00:06 Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most
00:12 notable times Disney movies took our breath away, whether for fun,
00:16 charming, emotional, or even scary reasons. Beware of spoilers ahead.
00:21 "Your mother can't be with you anymore."
00:26 Number 20. Flying to Neverland – Peter Pan
00:30 Everything in Peter Pan feels like an adventurous dream come to life.
00:34 From swashbuckling fights against pirates or the many wonders of Neverland, it's practically
00:40 designed to enchant audiences. However, the film truly gets viewers in its grasp
00:46 during the character's first flight. "Think of all the joy you'll find,
00:50 when you leave the world behind and bid your cares goodbye.
00:55 You can fly, you can fly." Helped by a rousing track, we shared the excitement that Wendy and
01:01 her brothers feel as they let themselves soar through the London skyline. It appeals to the
01:06 inner child in everyone, as the audience is encouraged to leave their troubles behind,
01:11 just like the protagonists. At this moment, it's as if we can all fly with just some faith,
01:17 trust, and a little pixie dust. "Think of all the joy you'll find,
01:22 when you leave the world behind and bid your cares goodbye.
01:25 You can fly, you can fly."
01:31 Number 19. Callahan is Still Alive – Big Hero 6
01:36 Tadashi Hamada is killed in an explosion while trying to save his mentor, Robert Callahan.
01:42 Tadashi's brother Hiro seeks out a masked man named Yokai, who stole his microbots and caused
01:48 the fire. Just as Hiro confronts the villain, though, everything comes crashing down.
01:53 We learn that Callahan was Yokai all along.
01:57 "It's over, Cray."
01:58 "Professor Callahan?"
02:08 The antagonist shows zero remorse for what he did, even as a distraught Hiro reminds Callahan
02:14 that Tadashi died for him. This major shock flips the film's entire premise,
02:19 as it means Hiro lost a sibling who meant the world to him for nothing.
02:24 "Tadashi, you just let him die."
02:27 "Give me the mask, Hiro."
02:30 "He went in there to save you!"
02:31 "That was his mistake!"
02:33 Although his attempt at eliminating Callahan is out of character,
02:36 the impact of the latter's betrayal makes it easy to empathize with the protagonist's anger.
02:42 Number 18. Dumbo and his mother are separated.
02:46 Dumbo. There are plenty of tear-jerking moments in Dumbo amid the main character's search for
02:52 acceptance, but the separation from his mother is among the biggest injustices. She retaliates when
02:58 he's mistreated by the circus's horrid crowd, only to be locked up. The young protagonist later
03:04 visits his incarcerated mom after being largely ostracized. As the "Baby Mine" lullaby plays,
03:11 this stolen moment between the two is heart-wrenching to watch.
03:14 Despite being in a cage, she tries her best to comfort him, displaying the unbreakable bond
03:28 between mother and child. The combination of the cruelty they're suffering and the strength
03:33 of their love can put anyone at a loss for words.
03:36 "You're so precious to me." "Cute as can be."
03:42 "Baby of mine." "Baby mine."
03:47 We're glad we at least see their joyous reunion by the film's conclusion.
03:51 Number 17. Coco remembers. Coco. The song "Remember Me" is heard a few times in the film,
03:58 but the enormity of its importance is felt in its climactic moments. It's a ballad written by
04:04 Hector, who is revealed as the father of protagonist Miguel's titular great-grandmother.
04:09 "Remember me. Don't let it make you cry. For even if I'm far away, I hold you in my heart."
04:21 As the elderly Coco fades away, so does Hector in the Land of the Dead. Since remembering her
04:27 father is the only way to save him, everything hinges on this song. By this point, we know all
04:33 about Hector's tragic backstory, so hearing the ballad and what it means hits particularly hard.
04:39 "Each time you hear a sad guitar, know that I'm with you the only way that I can be."
04:50 It shows just how moving a piece of music can be, as the return of Coco's memory unites the
04:56 family through generations in both the Land of the Living and the Dead.
05:01 Number 16. Marlon Loses His Family - Finding Nemo
05:06 Sadly for protagonist Marlon, his world is shattered in this film's opening minutes.
05:11 We're introduced to the clownfish when he waits excitedly with his wife Coral,
05:16 as expectant parents-to-be.
05:17 "I like Nemo."
05:19 "Nemo? Well, name one Nemo, but I'd like most of them to be Marlon Jr."
05:25 "Just think, in a couple of days, we're gonna be parents!"
05:27 "Yeah."
05:29 However, the dangers of the ocean catch up to them with a savage barracuda attack.
05:34 The movie leaves a long moment of silence for the horrible realization of what's happened to
05:39 sink in. It's hard to make sense of it due to the suddenness of it all, and we can do nothing but
05:44 watch Marlon in emotional agony. While one egg does survive, Coral and all the other eggs are
05:50 gone forever. Disney movies usually pack a punch from the beginning, but it's rare to see one
05:56 delivering such utter, ruthless distress so soon.
05:59 "Daddy's got you.
06:01 I promise I will never let anything happen to you, Nemo."
06:10 Number 15. Donkey Transformation - Pinocchio
06:14 The titular character's journey to becoming a real boy tests his mettle as a good person.
06:20 Unfortunately, Pinocchio finds the wrong kind of influence in Lampwick,
06:24 a brat who feeds into his worst impulses.
06:27 "Come in and pit the fight, boys."
06:28 "Oh boy, a scrap! Come on, let's go in and poke somebody in the nose."
06:33 "Why?"
06:33 "Oh, just for the fun of it."
06:35 "Okay, Lampy."
06:37 Tricked into going to Pleasure Island, the two learn the horrifying consequences of their behavior.
06:42 As it turns out, unruly boys are transformed into donkeys here,
06:47 which Lampwick learns the hard way. Even with his bad attitude,
06:51 being mercilessly transformed with no way out is a terrible fate to be subjected to.
06:56 "Help! Help! Somebody help! I've been framed! Help! Please, you gotta help me.
07:03 I'm a f---ing leopard. Call that fetus. Call anybody!"
07:07 The panic and hysteria are more than a little disturbing,
07:10 especially since the transformed boys are set to meet horrific fates.
07:15 For how frightening this scene is, it's easy to forget that it's in a children's movie.
07:20 Number 14. Dr. Facilier's Banishment. The Princess and the Frog.
07:25 Voodoo practitioner Dr. Facilier uses his friends on the other side to do his dirty work.
07:30 "I got voodoo, I got voodoo, I got things I ain't even tried. And I got friends on the other side."
07:38 The catch is that these spirits will get fresh souls to feed on.
07:41 This backfires on the villain after he can't make good on his promise.
07:45 Once Tiana destroys Facilier's talisman, the voodoo spirits arrive to claim their prize,
07:51 Facilier himself. There's an unsettling atmosphere throughout his reckoning,
07:56 as the spirits practically mock him before closing in to collect his soul.
08:00 "How am I ever gonna pay back my debt? Friends!
08:06 "Aren't you ready?" "No, I'm not ready at all!"
08:11 The bad guy's excuses and pleas are for naught, as his friends drag him to hell.
08:16 It's punctuated by a shot of Facilier's screaming face etched onto his tombstone,
08:22 completing what is one of the most nightmare-inducing sequences yet in a Disney movie.
08:26 Number 13. Blonde No More. Tangled. A main selling point of Tangled is the magic behind
08:34 Rapunzel's hair. Her long locks are seen in action during the film, complete with enchanting powers.
08:40 "Heal what has been hurt. Change the fate's design. Save what has been lost."
08:51 Because of this, not many would have anticipated seeing her as a brunette by the end.
08:56 After Mother Gothel has stabbed her love Eugene, the main character tries to heal him. However,
09:02 Eugene slashes her hair instead, saving her from a lifetime of servitude to Gothel.
09:08 "Rapunzel, wait."
09:11 The freaky end the antagonist meets is chilling enough, but watching Rapunzel's signature look
09:23 go away in one quick motion is also a surprise. Fortunately, she has just enough magic left to
09:29 save Eugene, bringing the two lovers together. Number 12. The Sorcerer's Apprentice. Fantasia.
09:36 Fantasia revolutionized animation by melding storytelling with its soundtrack.
09:41 Each of the eight segments contains its own unique backdrop, but it's Mickey Mouse's
09:46 The Sorcerer's Apprentice that remains alive in memory. It has a simple outline
09:51 of Mickey using his sorcerer master's tricks before things fall apart.
10:04 The usual slapstick fun is accompanied by an intense track that captures the tension the
10:08 character feels. After initial success, his inability to control the magic comes back to
10:14 haunt him. While it never gets too dark, the way the music guides viewers from one moment to the
10:19 next has all the required sense of urgency. With dazzling visuals also in store, the best thing to
10:25 do is sit back and be amazed.
10:28 "My congratulations, sir."
10:29 "Congratulations to you, Mickey."
10:33 "Gee, thanks. Well, so long."
10:37 Number 11. Frollo's Lust. The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
10:41 Among the long line of Disney baddies, Frollo is one who really makes our skin crawl. Along
10:46 with mistreating Quasimodo, the Judge has it out for Esmeralda in a way that goes beyond
10:52 general antagonism.
10:53 "I know what you're imagining."
10:55 "Such a clever witch. So typical of your kind to twist the truth, to cloud the mind
11:02 with unholy thoughts."
11:04 Overcome by a frantic lust, the villain makes it his mission to have her or eliminate her.
11:09 The song "Hellfire" makes this strikingly clear, detailing Frollo's twisted mind. He
11:15 claims Esmeralda is responsible for his feelings to justify his evil intentions, as his inner
11:21 demons manifest. The point of view of Disney villains isn't always depicted so extensively,
11:27 let alone in such uncomfortable detail.
11:30 "Destroy Esmeralda and let her taste the fires of hell, or else let her be mine and
11:38 mine alone."
11:40 By the end of the number, viewers are left scared and overwhelmed, knowing just how far
11:45 Frollo will go to get what he wants.
11:47 Number 10. Falling with Style. Toy Story. Much of the first Toy Story is about the animosity
11:54 between main characters Woody and Buzz Lightyear. This includes when Woody is unimpressed by
11:59 Buzz's supposed flying skills, calling it,
12:02 "That was falling with style."
12:05 but their relationship gradually blossoms as they work together to return to their own
12:09 owner, Andy. Still, there needs to be one defining moment that seals their bond,
12:15 which arrives near the end. As Buzz and Woody try to catch up with Andy's car, the former
12:20 uses his wings with the latter in tow. The two take to the sky to set up an effective
12:25 callback, as Buzz reminds Woody what exactly they're doing.
12:30 "Andy, Buzz! You're flying!"
12:32 "This isn't flying, this is falling with style!"
12:36 It's a clever spin on things that stands as a major triumph in what becomes an everlasting
12:41 friendship.
12:41 Number 9. Sadness Helps Riley. Inside Out. Everyone wants to be happy, but there's
12:48 much to learn from sorrow. As Inside Out shows, being in touch with your feelings is important.
12:54 We get a sense of this when protagonist Riley's imaginary friend Bing Bong vanishes,
12:59 sacrificing himself for joy to reunite with sadness and the other emotions.
13:04 "Go save Riley! Ha ha ha!"
13:08 "Take her to the moon for me, okay?"
13:11 But the film really delivers its message as sadness helps Riley embrace her pain. The
13:18 latter opens up to her parents about how the move has affected her, allowing the family
13:22 to finally connect. As Joy learns, letting yourself truly feel sad can be comforting
13:28 in its own right.
13:29 "I want my old friends and my hockey team. I wanna go home. Please don't be mad."
13:40 It's an entirely human moment that touches the hearts of viewers worldwide for how relatable
13:46 it is.
13:47 Number 8. The Village. Mulan. Mulan does a splendid job of balancing humor with
13:53 hard-hitting moments.
13:54 "I'm a girl back home who's unlike any other. Yeah, the only girl who'd love him
14:01 is his mother."
14:03 However, one particular scene steers straight into the horrors of war. Right after the
14:08 light-hearted song "A Girl Worth Fighting For," a major mood whiplash occurs at the
14:13 site of an annihilated village. Mulan and her fellow troops are stunned when surrounded
14:18 by the destruction left by the Huns. A doll adds further weight to the moment, highlighting
14:23 the loss of innocent life. Much like the characters on screen, viewers are left speechless by
14:29 what this scene represents. To top it all off, Shang has to accept the death of his
14:34 father, General Li, placing more burden on the heroes to protect their people from the
14:39 Huns' rampage.
14:41 "The Huns are moving quickly. We'll make better time to the Imperial City through
14:45 the Tung Shao Pass. We're the only hope for the Emperor now. Move out!"
14:51 Number 7. Clayton's Fall. Tarzan. The reveal of Clayton's villainy arguably isn't
14:57 a big surprise considering his obsession with the gorillas.
15:00 "I said sorry about the rude welcome, old boy, but I couldn't have you making a scene
15:05 when we put your furry friends in their cages."
15:09 Instead, it's the way he goes out that surely makes fans flinch. In the climactic fight,
15:15 the bad guy loses after Tarzan uses the jungle's environment to corner him. He lets his enemy
15:21 go, only for Clayton to take advantage of his mercy. This murderous intent blinds the
15:26 antagonist to the danger he's in, and he slashes away at the vines holding him in place.
15:31 "Clayton! Clayton, don't!"
15:36 Just like Tarzan, we can see what's about to happen before it does, as Clayton plunges
15:41 to his own end. Decades later, it still stands as one of the most haunting ends for a Disney
15:47 villain. Number 6. Transformation for the Royal Ball. Cinderella. Cinderella's dress
15:53 is easily among the most recognizable looks in cinematic history. The scene showing her
15:58 transformation is just as iconic as the main character's fairy tale comes to life.
16:04 "You can't go to the ball looking like that."
16:06 "The ball? Oh, but I'm not."
16:08 "Of course you are. But we'll have to hurry, because even miracles take a little time."
16:14 After her initial ensemble is ripped apart by her jealous stepsisters, the heartbroken
16:19 Cinderella is visited by the fairy godmother. And just like that, we have ourselves a scene
16:24 that remains awe-inspiring. Right before her eyes, the protagonist is granted a breathtakingly
16:30 gorgeous gown, a pair of glass slippers, and her own carriage.
16:34 "Oh, it's a beautiful dress. Did you ever see such a beautiful dress? And look, glass slippers."
16:44 The moment captures the movie's sentiment of dreams coming true as she gets to attend the
16:49 Royal Ball. With much of the film showing Cinderella's struggles, it's heartwarming
16:53 to see things go perfectly right for once. Number 5. Ballroom Dance. Beauty
17:00 and the Beast. You know the whole movie has been building up to this moment as soon as the scene
17:04 begins. The Beast and Belle start out at odds before her positive influence eases his heart.
17:10 Nothing shows his change better than their dance. The title song best represents what's
17:15 happening on screen, where the duo's growing love shines through.
17:19 "Ever as before, ever just as sure, as the sun will rise."
17:27 Complementing the soothing quality of the track are Angela Lansbury's vocals,
17:32 as the characters shut out the noise from the outside world. Thanks to clever direction and
17:36 camera movement, Belle and Beast's dance has a sense of realism that's as impressive as it is
17:42 captivating. "Tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme, beauty and the beast."
17:51 Number 4. Fate of Bambi's Mom. Bambi. The benchmark for how heartbreaking an animated
17:57 movie can be comes from the death of Bambi's mother. What starts out as a fun story about
18:02 a faun's upbringing takes a violent turn when a hunter targets Bambi and his mom.
18:08 No matter how optimistic one might be, this definitely feels like the prelude to a tragedy.
18:17 "Faster, faster Bambi! Don't look back! Keep running!"
18:23 The film places viewers right into the terror the pair experience, as their lives hang in
18:28 the balance with each gunshot. But it's the aftermath that leaves the most silence in its wake,
18:33 as Bambi searches for his mother. "Mama, where are you?"
18:43 "Mama!" We never see what becomes of her, but it's enough to make us feel as devastated and
18:49 alone as Bambi does in that moment. Number 3. Married Life. Up. It's still
18:55 remarkable how a relatively short sequence with no dialogue can have viewers so invested. But
19:01 that's how it is in the opening of Up, which takes us along the entire marriage of Carl and Ellie.
19:07 From hopeful newlyweds to elderly retirees,
19:10 it's a sprawling segment that sums up the twists and turns of life.
19:14 Within its short runtime, the intro tells us about the couple's inability to conceive,
19:29 their dream of making it to Paradise Falls, and Ellie's passing. It goes to show how fleeting
19:35 time is, as Carl is ultimately left alone despite his and Ellie's long and happy marriage.
19:40 Just like that, we empathize with the protagonist and his sadness,
19:54 all before the mean plot of the film even begins.
19:57 Number 2. The Last Goodbye. Toy Story 3. The toys' final adventure before leaving
20:04 Andy's care has more than a few standout moments. The first one is in the incinerator,
20:09 where the heroes nearly meet their end after holding hands in solidarity. Still,
20:14 the one that hits hardest is the last farewell with Andy. The latter realizes that growing up
20:19 also means moving on, and entrusts young Bonnie with his toys.
20:23 "You're really good with toys. These are mine, but I'm going away now,
20:30 so I need someone really special to play with them."
20:34 Meanwhile, Woody has to accept letting go of his beloved owner, completing the story arc he had
20:39 since the first movie. Even so, the Cowboys' parting words are as emotional as they get,
20:46 closing this chapter with a final,
20:47 "So long, partner."
20:49 For many, it's not just Woody and Andy saying goodbye,
20:53 it's the audience leaving their own childhood behind.
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21:12 Number 1. Circle of Life. The Lion King.
21:16 Yes, Scar causing Mufasa's death is an unforgettably disturbing moment,
21:21 "Long live the king."
21:25 but the Lion King's intro remains the most spellbinding part of the movie.
21:29 It all begins with a call summoning every animal to see the next king, a newborn Simba.
21:35 There's a sense of peace and calm as the sun rises in the Pride Lands,
21:39 and the stirring soundtrack excites us for what's to come.
21:53 Bolstered by beautiful color palettes that make the segment seem right out of a storybook,
21:58 it commands attention from the get-go. It's fitting, then, that the same track is used
22:03 to bookend the film. We're similarly entranced, watching the animals gathered to greet Simba's
22:09 child and seeing the premise of the lyrics fulfilled.
22:20 Which Disney movie moment cast its magic over you? Let us know in the comments.
22:25 "It's like a dream. A wonderful dream come true."
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22:39 [Music]