This Is Still the Most Traumatizing Disney Movie

Disney Studios has created some wondrous adventures, many of which sparked imaginations for children of all ages. However, for every fantastical scene and earworm sing-along, there’s at least one scene that is a thing of nightmares. If you’ve spent enough time watching Disney films, you know exactly what we’re talking about. Who can forget how traumatic it was to see Bambi’s mom die, or what it felt like to watch poor Simba try to wake his father? These moments hit hard, and they certainly left a mark. When it comes to traumatic Disney movies, there is a long list, but this one film sits at the top.

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Disney’s Dumbo is a musical fantasy, and while it’s marketed as more of a comedy-drama, boy, is it a traumatic movie. Most people know how the story goes: adorable little Dumbo (Jumbo Jr., if you want to get technical) is mocked for having oversized ears. By the time the film is over, he’s embraced his oversized ears (and how they grant his flight). It’s a classic, right? This movie has been around a shockingly long time, having first been released in 1941. It’s also one of the shorter Disney films, clocking in at around 64 minutes. Given the shorter timeframe, it’s even more surprising that this film fits in so many upsetting and disturbing scenes.

A Traumatic Start

We might as well start this conversation with one of the most obvious parts of the story: Dumbo’s upsetting childhood. Right from the beginning, the film makes it clear that Dumbo is different and thus treated very differently. There’s a lesson there. Thankfully, Dumbo has a loving mother who goes above and beyond to take care of her son. Mrs. Jumbo works hard to make her son feel happy and loved.

Therein lies the first tragedy, as this overprotective mother goes into a rage when her child is tormented in front of her eyes. She’s desperately trying to get to her son, while those around her tie her up. To make matters worse, the ringmaster begins whipping her. The scene ends with the mother/son pair being forcibly separated.

Don’t worry, it gets worse! We later get to see poor Dumbo visit his mom while she’s in elephant prison, and it is even more heartbreaking than it sounds. In a moment that is all too real, the two entwine their trunks and get as much contact as they can through the bars, knowing it’s only a matter of time before they’re separated again.

In perfect Disney fashion, there’s a song that helps drive these emotions home. “Baby Mine” is a haunting song about a parent’s unconditional love, which hits pretty hard given the moments leading up to this scene.

Themes of Bullying and Exploitation

Let’s be real, Disney films, especially classic Disney films, love to create a heartbreaking scene, usually one revolving around the loss of a parent. Dumbo isn’t an exception to this rule. What makes Dumbo stand out as a traumatic film is the additional layers thrown onto this loss.

Right from the beginning, Dumbo is mocked and bullied, all while he and his mother are being exploited by a circus. Dumbo’s physical differences make him the center of a sideshow act, where he’s repeatedly humiliated and manipulated. It’s a heavy-hitting theme for anyone who has ever felt judged for being different.

Pink Elephants On Parade

Finally, there’s one more upsetting scene we need to discuss, the “Pink Elephants on Parade” scene. This scene is deeply disturbing, especially to a younger audience. It begins when Dumbo accidentally drinks a bucket of booze and begins to hallucinate. Again, this is really part of the film—a movie made for children.

At first, Dumbo sees one pink elephant, and before long, one becomes four, four becomes a dozen. These pink elephants parade around in a strange fashion, all while poor Dumbo looks on with a confused (and drunk) expression. They morph and shapeshift, and while they’re dancing around the scene, there is something oddly menacing about the way they move.

The scene is bizarre and psychedelic, feeling out of place and deeply unsettling. The scene, intentionally or not, screams emotional breakdown, which is in keeping with what Dumbo is going through. This gives the scene that horrifying edge, turning something strange into something haunting. It became the nightmare fuel for a generation of viewers, especially those who were not prepared to see something like this (everyone).

At the end of the day, we know that Dumbo is one of many traumatic films that Disney produced. These films all had different impacts on viewers, depending on their personal history and views. There’s nothing wrong with those who watched Dumbo and thought it was a cute film, just like there’s nothing wrong about being freaked out by it.

Dumbo is available to stream on Disney+.