Although Disney flick have a reputation for being uplifting family classics , many of the most famous characters have astonishingly tragic backstories . Disney ’s best animated moviescan often get away with some distressful tales thanks to their colourful , expressive styles and their tricky songs . loot away these element reveals that many dear characters have to digest unbelievable hardships before their fib truly start .

Many Disney characters are orphans from a untested long time , so many in fact that it has become a image . But while being orphan is n’t inevitably a cataclysm in and of itself , the awful home lives that these character then have to put up with or the traumatic nature of the destruction of their parents reach some Disney picture especially disturbing . Disney ’s most democratic characters have to survive murder attempts , social closing off , intimidation and much more before they even have a fortune of a fairy story cease .

Between Pixar , the MCU , Star Wars , twentieth Century Studios , and the famed animated studio , Disney has several exciting releases slate up to 2029 .

In a dusty landscape Finn stares out into the distance in Star Wars: The Force Awakens

10The Beast

Beauty and the Beast (1991)

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He has to face the consequences of his past times every day in the mirror , and his entire stave are trammel in the castle with him to compound his guilt .

The Beast is a bighearted prince who luxuriates in the fine affair in life , until a curse transforms him into an intimidating monster . This crap him a societal Ishmael , andhe is forced to live alone in a castle with his former servants transmute into household object . Their story are possibly even more tragical , since they are simply collateral damage to the enchantress ' decision to punish the prince for his emptiness and selfishness .

The Beast has a long journey of ego - improvement to undertake , but it would be harsh to say that his penalty is just . He has to face the import of his yesteryear every day in the mirror , and his entire staff are pin in the palace with him to compound his guilt . at last , his only chance at redemption falls into his lap by gross coincidence , as Belle ’s father seeks refuge in the palace when he gets lost in the forest .

Ben Affleck as Christian drumming his hand on the table while talking to Cynthia Addai-Robinson’s Marybeth in The Accountant 2

9Shere Khan

The Jungle Book (1967)

He has a suspicion of all human beings because he has seen the demolition that they are capable of , and he ascertain himself as a protector of the jungle .

Many ofDisney ’s most compelling villainshave backstories which are just as layer and interesting as the hero . Shere Khan come along at first to be a ruthless predator who only want to kill or banish Mowgli , but late down he is much more harmonic . He has a distrust of all humans because he has watch the end that they are open of , and he sees himself as a shielder of the jungle .

The live - military action remake ofThe Jungle Bookspells things out a little more clearly , revealing that Shere Khan was left scarred by an fracas with some humans . His hatred is n’t just close - tending ignorance . It ’s rout in fear , and he fears for the other creatures of the jungle if they get humankind get too near . Shere Khan sleep with that he has to appear tough , but this forces him to mask his true vulnerability .

Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde in ZOOTOPIA

Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde

8Nick Wilde

Zootopia (2016)

Zootopiahas elements of racial apologue , and Nick ’s treatment shows that masses assume he is severe and sneaky just because he is a George Fox .

Nick Wilde is a smooth - talking con creative person , but his sleek exterior conceal a unspeakable backstory . As a child , Nick dreamed of join the Junior Ranger Scouts so that he could finally make friends and be take by others , but his knowledgeableness was a trap , and the other Scout made play of him and put a muzzle on his face . Zootopiahas component of racial allegory , and Nick ’s intervention shows that people assume he is grave and sneaky just because he is a fox .

Nick ’s traumatic childhood experience convinces him that he will never find credence , no matter how heavily he tries , so he may as well diddle into the stereotype and become a con artist . He has a modification of heart and enters the constabulary academy at the end ofZootopia , soDisney’sZootopiasequelcould show Nick with a much more positive outlook , especially as predators and herbivore continue learning to live in harmony .

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Zootopiais also calledZootropolisandZoomaniain some country .

7Lilo

Lilo & Stitch (2002)

To cope with her societal isolation and the death of her parents , Lilo construct a bright inner world , even if this sometimes defecate matter awkward for Nani .

Lilo and Nani have to swear on each other after the end of their parents . Lilo and Stitchdoesn’t concentrate on the exact destiny of their death , since the events of the movie take position some time later , but it ’s revealed that they both give out in a automobile fortuity . Such an irregular cataclysm would have been devastating to both Lilo and Nani , and it clear frame a melody on their human relationship , with Lilo in picky struggling to deal with her emotions .

Lilo struggles to make booster with the other girls in her neighborhood . To cope with her social isolation and the last of her parents , she constructs a vivid inner world , even if this sometimes makes things unenviable for Nani , who attempt her best to bring home the bacon for her but ca n’t always relate to her . Although Nani is a great older sister , Lilo does n’t have anyone she can expend prison term with on her own level , which is why she becomes so ferociously protective of Stitch .

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6Cinderella

Cinderella (1950)

Cinderella ’s news report has become a tachygraphy for any rags - to - riches narration , and the original animated Disney moving-picture show places a caboodle of emphasis on her sad upbringing .

Cinderella ’s fib has become a shorthand for any rags - to - riches tale , and the original animated Disney moving-picture show invest a lot of accent on her distressing upbringing . After her forefather ’s demise , Cinderella is charge with a barbarous stepmother and two every bit savage stepsisters . These characters have become archetype in plenty of other fairy tales , but they are at their most virile inCinderella , as they all conspire to stretch her up with tedious proletariat .

Cinderellaneeds this darkness at the beginning to make the cathartic issue work . By enduring her dire treatment with secure grace and humbleness , Cinderella shows that she is suitable of her sudden rise in wealthiness in status . Cinderellais a moralistic fable , in which a dash of trick helps a sort woman get her just rewards , while her selfish and apathetic family also get just what they deserve .

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5Snow White

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

Snow White face a very grim mind-set in the wood . She is left for deadened , vacate by the only person in the earth who is supposed to give care for her , and without any survival skills .

Just like Cinderella , Snow White is also orphan from a young age , and she is also conjure by a inhuman - hearted stepmother who does n’t deal for her . Her troubles do n’t end when she reaches maturity . Her jealous stepmother send a huntsman into the woods to vote down her , and although she survives , she is leave behind without a home and shin to live in the wilderness .

Before she stumble across a cottage , Snow White face a very black mentality in the forest . She is left for stagnant , abandon by the only person in the world who is supposed to give care for her , and without any survival skill . The seven dwarfs rescue her from sealed death , and she ultimately finds some people who genuinely care for her . Nothing in her aliveness get easily however , so she also has to pull round a poisoning before at long last getting her happily - ever - after .

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4Bambi

Bambi (1942)

Bambi ’s backstory tot surplus jeopardy to the time much later when his love interest , Faline , is cornered by hunting dog .

The demise of Bambi ’s mother is one of the saddest moments in any Disney movie . Even 80 long time by and by , it takes a grueling centre not to empathize with Bambi ’s red . The calamity cuts even profoundly because of the amount of time Bambi spends with his female parent before her demise . She teaches him the way of life of the wood while his founding father is largely absentminded , tending to his duties as the Great Prince of the Forest .

Bambi ’s backstory has a heavy shock on his emotional exploitation . Not only does it force him to grow up more independently , but it also adds extra jeopardy to the time much later when Bambi ’s passion interest , Faline , is cornered by hunting dogs . It seems unthinkable that thelive - actionBambiremakewill be able to deliver a similar emotional encroachment with graphic CGI role , and the project has been meet with several setback in growing .

Headshot Of Bonnie Hunt In The 2023 Writers Guild Of America Awards

3Simba

The Lion King (1994)

Simba is just a lad when Mufasa die , but since he ’s the prince , he has no prison term to mourn his male parent ’s death .

The plot ofThe Lion Kingtakes intake fromHamlet , one of Shakespeare ’s greatest tragedies , so it makes sense Simba ’s backstory has a huge emotional shock . Simba watch on as his Padre is bump off by his uncle , but Scar quickly convinces him that it was his own fault . He sample shortly to arouse his Father of the Church up , showing just how immature he is , and how he pass up to accept the reality of his situation .

Simba is just a cub when Mufasa dies , but since he ’s the prince , he has no time to mourn his father ’s demise . Scar like a shot sends the hyenas to kill Simba , so he has to divvy up with an attempted murder on top of the hurt of witnessing his forefather ’s death . Anupcoming springy - actionLion Kingprequelwill nidus on Mufasa ’s story before Simba ’s birth , potentially lending a fresh proportion to the disaster of his death .

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2Quasimodo

The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)

Despite being persecuted for his race and his appearance , Quasimodo eventually becomes a hero in Paris .

The Hunchback of Notre Dameis undoubtedly one of Disney ’s darkest movies . It starts by testify Quasimodo ’s devastating backstory , as Frollo kills his mother on the step of Notre Dame cathedral . Believing that the baby Quasimodo is a demon , Frollo then attempts to swim him . Quasimodo is saved just in time by the archdeacon , but he endures a tough childhood , veil off in the cathedral ’s bell tower by Frollo .

The name Frollo gives to the baby , " Quasimodo , " entail " half - formed" . This detail dead captures how Frollo feels about him . He finds his show disturb and he watch him as subhuman . This is the only parental chassis Quasimodo eff , so it ’s remarkable that he grows up into a genial adult male with a positive outlook . Despite being persecuted for his race and his show , Quasimodo eventually becomes a paladin in Paris .

Headshot Of Idris Elba In The World premiere of Luther: The Fallen Sun at the BFI IMAX in London.

1Rapunzel

Tangled (2010)

Rapunzel ’s entire worldview is warped , and there ’s a sad spectacular caustic remark to the fact that she does n’t sleep together what Gothel has done to her .

MostDisney princesses are inspired by folk tales or myth , and Rapunzel ’s story is one of the most far-famed . There are dissimilar rendering of the European folk story of Rapunzel , but the key detail is that she is pin in a tall pillar because of her long , flowing hair . This make her a tragic figure already , andTangledadds a few details which only accent this heartbreaking narration .

InTangled , Rapunzel is kidnapped shortly after she is stomach so that Gothel can benefit from the sorcerous healing property of her hair . Gothel then imprisons her and gaslights her for years , andRapunzel get up not bang that she is a dupe . Her entire worldview is garble , and there ’s a deplorable dramatic irony to the fact that she does n’t know what Gothel has done to her . She fancy the lanterns every year on her birthday , but she does n’t know that her parents are out there hoping for her to come home .

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