19 Adults Share Which Animated Movies Traumatized Them As Children

Everyone has those "traumatizing" films from their childhood, films that terrified them or forced them to confront issues and topics they weren't ready for at the time. It's no surprise that animated pictures are the most frequently mentioned when it comes to "childhood destroying" movies.

Animation can get away with things that live-action can't, especially when it comes to frightening character and environment design, as well as story beats – having an animated dog introduce your child to the concept of death feels more appropriate than having any random real-life person do it.

These films tend to have a lasting impact on youngsters as they grow older, affecting their interests and gradually transforming into something less threatening and more sentimental. Even yet, rewatching these films will undoubtedly surprise you, especially if you think to yourself, "I can't believe my parents let me watch this!"

So this week when Redditor u/DoorAMii asked, "What animated film traumatized you as a child?" people were ready to relive and share their trauma with other equally terrified adults. We have selected some of the most interesting answers.

The list below includes several animated films that may have frightened you as a child. Some spoilers are coming...

We all have one animated film from our childhood that is (probably) to blame for every nightmare we've ever had.

Walt Disney Studios

And people decided to share their trauma:

20th Century Fox

1. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

"The huntsman's murder face, the freaky forest, the queen-to-hag transformation, the queen falling to her death at the end (and presumably also crushed by a boulder), etc."

—u/Brittamas

2. The Brave Little Toaster (1987)

"I sincerely believe this movie created a lot of hoarders."

—u/RmmThrowAway

3. The Fox and the Hound (1981)

"It still makes me cry if I watch it now."

—u/swallowyoursadness

4. FernGully: The Last Rainforest (1992)

"The black smoke always scared me. Tim Curry is a master."

—u/MurderGiraffe19

5. Balto (1995)

"The first time I realized children could die was during the scene where coffins were being built for the children who would die if the sled dogs didn't bring the medicine in time."

—u/ookellispookelli

6. Pinocchio (1940)

"The sheer chaos of that mess got to me, THEN boys started to turn into donkeys and sobbed for their mother, and I lost it. Early Disney was dark!"

—u/Itsnotmonica

7. We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story (1993)

"Specifically Professor Screw-Eye and his circus."

—u/CrazyRainbowStar

8. The Great Mouse Detective (1986)

"That bat gave me nightmares for a solid week."

—u/Apprehensive_Maybe13

9. 9 (2009)

"I saw it in theaters when I was 9 years old and I still have nightmares about it to this day."

—u/bakermillerfloyd

10. The Land Before Time (1988)

"Littlefoot's mom dying instilled a fear in me and was the first time I realized that — one day, someday — my own mom will die."

—u/CaptainHindsight212

11. All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989)

"I rewatched it again as an adult, and that movie was dark."

—u/Odysseuss87

12. Watership Down (1978)

"Aw, look at the talking bunnies, how cute! Why — OH MY GOD, THAT'S SO MUCH BLOOD."

—u/KittyLilith17

13. The Last Unicorn (1982)

"That damn harpy."

—u/Bushtuckapenguin

14. Spirited Away (2001)

"The parents turning into pigs and No-Face gave me nightmares for weeks (I was 5 when I first saw it). Nowadays it's one of my favorite movies, though!"

—u/Veksutin

15. The Lion King (1994)

"The first time I watched it was during the second week of kindergarten...the same week my dad died."

—u/wineshivers

16. Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

"The best movie I never want to see again."

—u/Sh4dy_

17. Treasure Planet (2002)

"When that character fell into the black hole. My brother was a huge astronomy nerd (still is) and explained that black holes tear you apart by the atoms — and that if a black hole appeared near our galaxy, we would all be done."

—u/arasairotciv

18. Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland (1989)

"I've mostly blocked it from my mind now, but I have vague memories of a kid fleeing a shapeless black ooze as it consumes his home. I've thought about rewatching it as an adult to see how it holds up."

—u/dirkofdirges

So, do you agree with the Redditors? We have to say that the answers make sense.

Some of these films made us wonder if they were truly meant for kids, whether it was because of the images, the gore, or the entire plot. But, TBH, they are meant to guide children into an adult world.

And that world is filled with nasty surprises.