The sun always rises. It always rises in cartoons – eventually.

I so would like to have a word with those really talented people at Pixar Studios. You keep making the most wonderful cartoon movies. What a list

Toy Story, Cars, Monsters Inc, Nemo, The Incredibles, Wall-E, on and on

I don’t know how many times Pixar has become the essential Parenting Tool over the years for me. Keeping both child and Dad occupied and laughing. But I need to have words. What is it with the fixation with death and loss. Is it possible to go a few years without have your cartoons venture into the subject. If I want to be depressed then I can pick up a Leonard Cohen cd or watch Love Story. When I’m trying to find fun things to do like watch Pixar movies I really don’t want to venture into the sad stuff.

We endured UP the other night. It’s a great cartoon with some really funny bits. But man those first ten minutes where Carl losses his beloved wife before they lived out their dream. I was in buckets of tears. Really Pixar. It’s not big and it’s not clever….

So come on Pixar stop going all Love Story on me. Or at the very least bring in a labelling system. List movies like UP as ‘contains mega bereavement’ at least then I can prepare myself for it. Or even better do more movies that are just slapstick ‘buddy’ adventures where I can park my sad emotions for two hours.

70 thoughts on “Pixar”

  6. Pixar have just released Loop, which is a short animation about a non-speaking Autistic girl and her non-Autistic friend. It’s getting rave reviews from the autistic community and I really need to check it out. Might be a bit of positivity for you.

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  7. When I first saw UP (years after it was released), it was around the time hubby died (I believe). It caused a few tears, because I’d cherished this fantasy, early in my marriage, that he and I would toddle off into the sunset together, two old farts. It was not to be. I also realized that the movie was a cartoon, however cleverly done, and not real. I’m not diminishing your reaction at all, you’re entitled to feel how you want to and view things how you’d like. I am rather glad that Pixar and Disney and the other animation studios deal with tough subjects in a non-threatening format. Kids have to learn about loss like that, and in this world right now it’s never too early. A young child won’t understand, but an older one will to the extent they can, and so forth. In my own day I remember sobbing inconsolably when Old Yeller was put down. I knew about death, I didn’t understand about LOSS which is the aftermath we have to deal with, those of us left behind. I hope in time your grief is blunted a little bit. My condolences. It isn’t ever easy, is it?

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  8. UP.. yep! Disney is guilty too. When The Lion King came out, I was pregnant with Younger and we took Older to see it. There we were, pregnant Mom, 5 yr old Older, and Dad all sobbing our eyes out when Mufasa died.
    UGH!!! Just thinking about that, and the 1st 10 minutes of UP is bringing tears😢

    Penguins of Madagascar won’t make you cry… I think that’s DreamWorks though😉💌💌💌

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    1. The Lion King came out right around the time I lost my father when I was 12. I actually became obsessed with the movie and watched the VHS pretty much every day for at least a year probably. I didn’t realize it back then, but I think it was because I related to Simba’s loss and the movie was a way for me to express those feelings and bring me comfort.

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      1. I can see how Simba’s journey… coming to terms with the loss and realizing it wasn’t his fault (kids always think everything is because of something they did or didn’t
        do) would be helpful… even if it wasn’t on a concious level.🌻

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      1. I know. Fever Tree never got the airplay they deserved. One minor hit outside of their home territory–San Francisco Girls (Return of the Native)–but they were way better than that. No promotion money, I guess.

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  10. I personally love UP but do agree with your call for a trigger warning or other appropriate labeling system. I’ve suffered close bereavements too, but not the type you’ve endured, but I do think ‘contains scenes of loss and grieving’ would at least prepare people. The warning guidelines need updating from U, PG, 18, etc to include this. Too many have experienced grief to ignore this.

    I used to work in interfaith and conflict resolution, and have been in fragile statehoods and post-conflict zones. People tell me about this or that poignant war movie thinking I’ll love it when I’m more likely to relive past trauma.

    I find it useful to use ultimately feel-good movies and books that do deal with pain but end in hope and light. Children in our family have also found this useful, to a point. But we need to know a bit more about what we are choosing, and sometimes we all need undiluted joy and escapism.

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      1. I’m sorry this keeps happening to you both. I know you won’t be alone and I really do think you have raised an important point about warnings being needed.

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  12. UP is definitely a tough one! I remember seeing it for the first time and myself and my boyfriend at the time both crying.

    On a slightly more entertaining crying during a movie note… I saw LOTR Return of the King by myself at the theater and was hardcore crying when Shelob attacked Frodo as I hadn’t read the books at the time and thought he was dead and that Sam would carry on without him. Pretty sure people around me thought I was nuts!

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  13. Oh no you watched UP? When I first watched it it was with my son he thought it was sad and boring he was nine at the time. Now he is twenty and he thinks it’s a good movie. I wasn’t expecting what it meant but it is labels as one of my favorites I like the love between them and how life isn’t always roses but the ending was the best how he found happiness. Only my opinion.

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  19. A lot of Disney and Pixar movies are surprisingly dark, with one or both parents dying or having died. Yes, it’s where we go to escape, not to be reminded. I’m sorry. 💕

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