So many Disney animated movies become classics. The production company is famous for making successful family-friendly films that viewers of every age can enjoy. These films are popular largely because of the colorful, adventurous characters. However, some of these characters have tragic backstories.

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Many Disney characters have faced loss, struggled with loneliness, or even met untimely demises. These tragedies are all catalysts to the stories Disney has to tell. Typically, a tragic character's story is sad to begin with, but they grow into a happier and better person by the end of the movie.

10 Carl Fredrickson Shuts Himself Off Because Of His Grief

Up

Carl Fredricksen In Up

In the 2009 film Up, fans are introduced to the happy couple, Carl Fredrickson and his wife, Ellie. The story begins with a montage of their lives, from moment they met to their wedding to their old age. The pair appear to be a perfect couple who are deeply in love, but Ellie sadly passes away.

Now a widower, Carl closes himself off from the world and loses the sense of adventure that he shared with Ellie. He cares little for the world changing around him and is consumed by his grief. It's not until he meets a young boy named Russell, who helps Carl live the dream that he and Ellie shared before her death, that his perspective begins to change.

9 Héctor Is Scared Of Being Forgotten

Coco

Imelda, Hector, and Coco from Pixar's Coco.

Coco expertly captures the fear of being forgotten. Héctor Rivera is the deuteragonist of the film, who helps a young boy named Miguel navigate the Land of the Dead. In Coco, people face a final death when there is no one left in the living world to remember them.

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Héctor spends the majority of Coco about to face this final death, even as he learns the truth behind his demise and that Miguel is his great-grandson. With a life that is full of tragedy and a family who had disowned him, Héctor nearly succumbs to being forgotten. Héctor is a truly tragic character, but things turn around when his living daughter Coco regains memories of him.

8 WALL-E Spent Most Of His Life Alone

WALL-E

WALL-E watching a romcom.

In a near post-apocalyptic wasteland, the title character of WALL-E lives alone. The little robot is the last thing left on Earth, and without someone to keep him company, he is lonely. WALL-E spends his days cleaning up the Earth on his own, which is his routine for 700 years.

WALL-E decorates his home with tickets and trash that remind him of the humans who used to live there, and he spends his time imagining love and romance while watching old DVDs on repeat. The beginning of WALL-E is an impactful commentary on isolation and consumerism. This loneliness continues to hurt WALL-E, but it fades when he meets a probe sent from space and makes a new friend.

7 Bambi's Mother Met An Untimely End

Bambi

Bambi and his mom

Bambi features one of the most well-known Disney death scenes, Bambi's mother. The moments leading up to the scene are some of the most shocking in cinematic history because they introduced children to the concept of death and the emotional pain that may follow afterward.

While Bambi's mother has a small role in Bambi, she is still significant in its story. She appears to be a caring mother who dedicates her life to raising her son, and even prioritizes his life above her own when they're in danger. Her death is also the catalyst for the rest of the film, which makes the loss of her character both tragic and necessary for Bambi's story.

6 Nuka Only Wanted To Be Accepted

The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride

Nuka scratching his back from The Lion King II Simba’s Pride.

In The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride, fans of the famous Disney lions are introduced to a host of new characters. One of these characters is the eldest son of Zira and a supporter of the late Scar, Nuka. While Nuka takes on an antagonistic role in the film, his motivations and desires aren't as malicious as they appear.

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When Nuka and his siblings were cubs, his brother Kovu was chosen to become Scar's successor. Left to live in his brother's shadow, Nuka becomes desperate to be as accepted and well-loved. In the end, he foolishly attacks Simba to earn his mother's approval, and it leads to his early death.

5 Tadashi Hamada Is A Hero Who's Lost To Soon

Big Hero 6

Hadashi Hamada from Baymax's Perspective

Big Hero 6 introduces a hero who is killed far too young, Tadashi Hamada. Tadashi is a gifted inventor, the older brother of Hiro, and the creator of Baymax. Big Hero 6 gives fans several moments of the two brothers bonding and it's clear just how much Hiro looks up to Tadashi, even going so far as to enroll in a prestigious school due to his influence.

Tragedy strikes when Tadashi races into a burning building to help his mentor, who is still trapped inside. Tadashi does not survive the fire, and his heroic sacrifice leaves his friends and Hiro devastated. Fans quickly grew attached to Tadashi, and his sudden death remains heartbreaking and influential within the Big Hero 6 franchise.

4 Bing Bong's Death Is Like Saying Goodbye To A Childhood Friend

Inside Out

Bing Bong fading away in Inside Out

One of the supporting protagonists in Inside Out is the imaginary friend, Bing Bong. To most fans, Bing Bong is an accurate representation of their imaginary friends from their childhood. He joined Riley on many adventures and remained a supportive presence through many experiences. In the film, he helps Joy and Sadness navigate Riley's memories.

Bing Bong's loving, outgoing, and bizarre nature made him a quick fan favorite, and despite no longer being prevalent in Riley's life, he shows just how much he cares for her by sacrificing himself. His death is like saying goodbye to a childhood friend, both tragic and inevitable.

3 Mufasa's Murder Is A Classic Story Of Betrayal

The Lion King

A stern Mufasa reprimanding his brother Scar (The Lion King)

Because Mufasa is a wise and just ruler, the Pride Lands suffer a great loss when he is killed in The Lion King. While out with his son Simba, Mufasa is approached by his brother Scar and pushed into an oncoming stampede.

Mufasa does not survive the stampede, and his death is the driving force behind the rest of The Lion King. This event also makes Simba a more tragic character, as he faces a great loss at such a young age. Additionally, Mufasa's murder meant the Pride Lands was left without a good ruler and his son was left alone with the evil Scar.

2 Tod Faces Many Changes In His Life

The Fox And The Hound

The Fox and the Hound's Tod saying goodbye to his owner Widow Tweed

The Fox and the Hound is a story about loss and friendship. In the film, an orphaned fox named Tod is taken in by a widowed old woman and becomes friends with a hound puppy named Copper. The two become inseparable, but they are quickly influenced by their owners and their instincts.

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The pair drift apart as they age, but Tod faces the most changes in his life. Not only does he lose his friend, but he is also returned to the wild by the widower, Tweed. He must learn how to survive in his new environment while also facing the dangers of hunters and their dogs. One such dog is Copper, which makes salvaging their friendship seem impossible.

1 Pedro Madrigal Never Got To See The Encanto

Encanto

The Madrigal Family in Encanto with Mirabel looking at them

Encanto is a family story that centers around the Madrigals. Each member is gifted with a power that serves to help their community. The main protagonist, Mirabel, attempts to break a curse that threatens her family, even though she doesn't have a gift. She suffers huge judgment and shame for being the only family member without a gift, but she still tries to help others and stay positive.

Abuela is the meanest to Mirabel, as she blames Mirabel for the candle slowly burning out. However, a heartwarming moment between the two shows that Abuela and her husband, Pedro, had to flee their town after their home was invaded by soldiers. This flashback helps to explain the generational trauma that Mirabel is experiencing, and ultimately, brings her closer to her grandmother.

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