10 Heartbreaking Main Character Deaths in Kids’ Movies That Still Make Us Cry

Instead of eliminating the central figure, it often appears daring to do so in any narrative. Prolonging audience investment in the protagonist throughout an entire movie, only to witness their demise at the climax, can result in a thrilling yet impactful conclusion. The main character‘s passing underscores the film’s raw and mature undertones.

While some children’s movies may choose to eliminate key characters, this can serve various purposes. For instance, the demise of a significant character in a kid’s film could help introduce them to the concept of mortality. Similarly, the death of an adult protagonist might intensify the emotional journey for a young audience stand-in towards the end of the movie. In certain children’s films, even the main characters meet their end, often as a means to underscore that things will eventually turn out alright. In any case, these ten kids’ movies have dared to kill off their central figures, potentially causing distress among their young viewers.

Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace promptly presents viewers with a new character, Qui-Gon Jinn, portrayed by Liam Neeson. Qui-Gon is stern, wise, and somewhat of a rule-breaker among the Jedi, serving as Obi-Wan’s guide and swift to perceive young Anakin as the Chosen One. As the movie nears its conclusion, unfortunately, Qui-Gon meets his demise at the hands of the Sith Lord, Darth Maul.

It’s surprising to witness such a dramatic demise for the main character in the family-friendly movie The Phantom Menace, given that Qui-Gon Jinn doesn’t reappear in it. Yet, his death isn’t entirely meaningless as he later appears as a Force ghost, which is a concept established in Star Wars lore. This suggests an interesting twist to his story even after his passing.

It might surprise some people that the delightful, inclusively-themed animated movie adaptation of ND Stevenson’s graphic novel “Nimona” could bring tears to viewers’ eyes. This film tells the story of Nimona, an immortal and versatile creature who is determined to clear her friend Ballister the knight’s name in the queen’s murder. In the movie’s dramatic conclusion, Nimona detonates a colossal cannon aimed at the city, presumably destroying both Nimona and the antagonist, the Director.

As a movie enthusiast, I can say that after her supposed demise, Nimona was admired as a hero by those she rescued. This was always her dream, but in an ironic turn of events, she seemed to be missing from witnessing any of it. Fortunately, in the last scene of the film, Ballister discovers that Nimona miraculously survived the cannon blast. However, the movie leaves the mystery of Nimona’s survival unsolved, giving both characters and viewers a chance to grieve the charming shapeshifter, only to leave us all astounded by her final trick.

In the heartwarming tale of The Odd Life of Timothy Green, we meet Cindy and Jim Green, a loving couple who yearn for a child but are unable to conceive naturally. In a unique twist, they compose a list detailing their ideal child’s traits and aspirations, then bury it in their backyard during a storm. To their astonishment, a boy named Timothy mysteriously appears, having sprouted from their wishlist! Interestingly, Timothy’s legs are adorned with leaves, and as he experiences the characteristics and life events written on the list, one leaf falls off at a time. Unaware of this phenomenon, when the last leaf drops, Timothy vanishes.

Despite Timothy’s short life coming to an end, his spirit lives on as Lily finds her forever home. Viewers may shed tears watching this moment, but the film concludes with the Greens meeting and welcoming their new daughter, Lily.

1998 marked my personal journey into the cinematic realm of the Pokémon universe. The movie, aptly titled, took me back to the world I knew from the TV series, following Ash Ketchum, his trusty Pikachu, and their companions as they faced off against the formidable Mewtwo and other Pokémon clones. However, in a heart-stopping climax, during my desperate attempt to halt the conflict between Mew and Mewtwo, I found myself petrified, caught in the midst of the psychic struggle.

Although Ash’s demise is sorrowful, the magnitude of the Pokémon franchise makes it implausible for its primary character to perish in the initial movie. Remarkably, Pikachu sheds tears onto his trainer’s lifeless form, reviving him. This seemingly hasty recovery notwithstanding, Ash’s death serves as a daring maneuver within the realm of Pokémon.

Pixar’s movie, Soul, commences with jazz artist Joe Gardner encountering an extraordinary chance – playing alongside the renowned Dorothea Williams. Overflowing with excitement, Joe revels in New York City… until a mishap leads him to fall into a sewer, seemingly losing his life.

As a movie enthusiast, I’d rephrase it like this:

“In ‘Soul,’ I embark on an extraordinary journey after my demise, exploring the afterlife and forming a connection with another spirit, 22. Together, we strive to return to Earth. Once I manage to convince 22 that earthly life is worth experiencing, I’m granted a second chance at living, this time with a renewed determination to seize every moment.”

“Soul starts by depicting my death, but it’s a tale that carries a profound message about the significance of life, even when presented within a children’s film context.”

The 1973 animated movie “Charlotte’s Web,” inspired by E.B. White’s much-loved children’s book with its share of tears, tells the story of a heartwarming friendship between Wilbur, the tiny pig, and Charlotte, the protective spider living in their barnyard home. Using her unique ability to spell out messages on her web, Charlotte convinces the farmers that Wilbur is special, saving him from harm. However, tragically, Charlotte herself does not live to see Wilbur’s continued days, passing away after producing an astonishing 514 eggs.

The story Charlotte’s Web educates its young readers about the harsh reality that every life, including Charlotte’s, will come to an end someday. Yet, it also teaches us that caring for others doesn’t stop after they are gone, as seen when Wilbur looks after Charlotte’s offspring and eventually forms bonds with three of them. Furthermore, Charlotte’s messages saved Wilbur, yet her death serves as a poignant reminder of the inevitability of mortality.

Following an unintended icy attack, the protagonist Anna from the movie “Frozen” discovers that a selfless, genuine act of love can melt her frozen heart. Eagerly, Anna hurries back to the castle to reunite with her fiance, Prince Hans. However, upon meeting him, Hans immediately betrays Anna by exposing his sinister plot – to marry Anna and eliminate Elsa to claim the throne of Arendelle’s kingdom. But just as Hans is about to strike Elsa down, Anna steps in front of him, turning herself into solid ice to protect her sister.

In contrast to Disney’s usual cheerful tone, Anna’s death scene in this film creates a particularly somber atmosphere, even for a PG movie. However, her selfless act of love results in the thawing of her frozen heart, which is an important twist. Regardless, those brief moments showing Anna as a frozen statue might have been quite frightening for some young viewers.

2008’s “Marley & Me,” a movie adaptation of John Grogan’s 2005 memoir, is widely known as a heart-wrenching film. This is due to the fact that Marley, the central canine character who greatly impacted the lives of his owners, John and Jenny Grogan, ultimately passes away at the end of the movie. After battling an intestinal illness, John and Jenny make the difficult decision to bid farewell to their cherished pet.

Experiencing the loss of a beloved pet is a tough time for any child. The movie “Marley & Me” serves as a comfort to children going through such a tragedy, letting them know they are not facing it alone. While “Marley & Me” plays an essential role in teaching this valuable lesson, its ending remains difficult to watch for pet owners.

The movie, titled “My Girl,” explores the friendship between two 11-year-olds, Vada Sultenfuss and Thomas J. Sennett, who’s deathly allergic to virtually everything. However, the story takes a more somber tone when Vada and Thomas J. accidentally knock over a beehive. Tragedy strikes as they search for Vada’s mood ring, with Thomas J. getting swarmed by bees and ultimately succumbing to his allergies.

Thomas J.’s passing makes “My Girl” appear significantly darker than one might initially expect. By taking away the young character, the movie shifts from a lighthearted story to one centered around grief, exploring themes typically found in more mature films rather than typical family-oriented ones. Interestingly, the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) originally rated “My Girl” PG-13; however, the producers made efforts to lower that rating down to PG.

In the movie titled “The Iron Giant,” a young boy named Hogarth Hughes befriends an enormous 50-foot robot from outer space, who is referred to as the titular character. The US authorities wish to eliminate this giant and dispatch a missile to do so. Regrettably, the film concludes with the giant willingly giving himself up to the missile attack, thereby safeguarding the town of Rockwell in the process.

Following the demise of the Peaceable Giant, Hogarth gets a parcel with just one screw – this was all they managed to salvage from their friend. Unfortunately, the screw dislodges as the giant starts to reconstruct due to his extraordinary healing abilities.

The Peaceable Giant symbolizes non-violence throughout the movie, hence concluding The Iron Giant with a scene showing that not even an invincible missile can permanently wipe out such a being makes for a thought-provoking ending.

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2025-05-23 03:10