Disney Trauma is Real for Toddler Watching This Popular Animated Movie for the First Time

Photo: (Photo : Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)

A toddler cuddled up on the couch with her father experienced the "Disney trauma" as she watched a beloved animated classic for the first time.

Melanie Roy filmed her daughter as she watched "The Lion King" and came to the part where Mufasa got hurt. Her toddler could be heard saying that the lion was in trouble as the film played.

Sensing the child's anxiety, her father held her closer and then tried to comfort her, while Roy could be heard assuring the child that it will be OK. But as they continued to watch the scene unfold, the toddler also cried when Simba cried for his dead father.

"It's always a gamble introducing new Disney movie," Roy captioned her video, which she shared on TikTok. Her post drew hundreds of comments from parents who shared their children's Disney trauma as well, including their own experiences.

@mel77wa It's always a gamble introducing new @Disney movies #childhoodtraumacheck #childhoodtrama #disneyplus #disneymovies #toddlerhood #canadianmom #momsoftiktok #meanmom #meanmommy ♬ The Lion King - L'Orchestra Cinematique

Read Also: 'Bluey' Praised as the Best Children's Show on Disney+ But Some Parents Disagree for This Reason

Disney movies should be Rated R for trauma

One parent said her daughter could not get over Dory losing her parents in "Finding Dory" while another parent said they could not get through the opening scenes of the prequel, "Finding Nemo," and had to turn their TV off because their kids were upset.

Others shared that they experienced Disney trauma from films like "Wall-E," "Big Hero 6" and "The Fox and the Hound." TikTok user DeeAnnDisney said that this is actually the "magic" of Disney movies, as it tugs at the heartstrings and gets to the emotions.

In July, actor Ryan Reynolds joked that a lot of Disney films should be "Rated R for irreversible trauma." He shared memes of popular Disney movies, describing the specific trauma they have inflicted on children.

For instance, his meme called out "The Lion King" for showing scenes like fratricide and mauling. He also called out "Snow White" for suggesting "breaking and entering" and "Old Yeller" as a "total ugly-cry inducing" movie, per UsWeekly.

Most traumatizing Disney movie turns 80

But the most traumatizing Disney movie of all time is turning 80 years old on Aug. 21. "Bambi" debuted in theaters in 1942, which means it has inflicted unforgettable pain in kids for eight decades, according to Datebook.

"Bambi" was based on a book by author Felix Salten. It tells a story of a fawn who witnessed his mother getting killed by hunters.

Tony Bravo, a movie critic, told Datebook that he has memories as a 4-year-old boy screaming outside of the theater because the chase sequence between the deer and deer hunters, leading to her death, was too much to bear. He said his scream was a "high-pitched wail" that embarrassed his mother and grandmother.

As he got older, Bravo said he learned to "appreciate the artistry of the storytelling." The movie, however, will not be something he'll let any child watch until they are older.

Five decades later, "The Lion King" has tied with "Bambi" when it comes to Disney trauma. For some viewers, the lion movie might be even worse because Simba lies down and cries on his father's dead body with no one around him.

Related Article: Disney World Woody and Jessie Characters Praised for Acknowleding, Hugging Black Children 

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