Characters dying in movies is nothing new.
It happens in nearly every action-packed story and is something that audiences have become accustomed to.
What’s downright unfair, though, is when an animal dies in a movie.
Image via Warner Bros.
If one were to let the sorrow take control, they would sink into the swamp.
Fortunately, Atreyu is aware of this.
Artax, however, is not so lucky.
Image via Warner Bros.
Artax sinks beneath the mud, much to Atreyu’s dismay.
In the movie, Harry sets her free so that she can go somewhere safe.
Mufasa (James Earl Jones) is a lion, and of course, king of the beasts.
Image via Walt Disney
Naturally, Mufasa comes to his son’s rescue but is unable to save himself.
The scene is sad enough on its own, but Simba’s heartbreaking reaction is what really sells it.
But did it really have to be the dog?
Image via Warner Bros.
Tragically, she is bitten by a zombie while defending him and rapidly begins to deteriorate.
As her health worsens, Neville quietly singsBob Marley’s"Three Little Birds."
Nestor (Erik Stern) is, as the title suggests, a young donkey with abnormally long ears.
Image via Warner Bros.
That night, Nestor’s mother sleeps overtop of Nestor, to keep him warm through the night.
Sadly, she freezes to death, and Nestor wakes to find her dead in the morning.
It’s inthe trilogy’s final installmentwhere Caesar is grievously wounded.
Image via 20th Century Fox
He was the character that audiences had grown the most familiar with, especially since he felt so human.
The family lives on a farm that is unfortunately attacked by a rabid wolf one fateful day.
Old Yeller successfully defends the family but is bitten by the wolf, infecting him with rabies.
Image via Walt Disney
He eventually gives in to the infection and becomes aggressive due to the nature of the disease.
Travis is forced to fatally shoot Old Yeller before he can attack anyone and pass on the disease.
Despite John’s stoic personality, he bonds with Daisy pretty well, but their relationship is short-lived.
Image via Lionsgate
When he refuses to back down, they break into his home and kill his poor puppy.
John reacts to this by personally hunting down the mob that made his life miserable.
Sadly, the world of a deer is a dangerous one, especially with all the predators.
Image via Disney
The most deadly of which is humanity itself.
One winter, Bambi and his mother find themselves being chased by a hunter.
They run as fast as they can, but a gunshot is heard as Bambi reaches safety.
Image via 20th Century Fox
It’s especially devastating for dog owners, many of whom can’t bear to watch the scene unfold.
It also doesn’t help that the film is based on a true story.
Regardless, they love him anyway, and he loves them.
It’s a brutally depressing scene that is all too familiar for many.
And the soundtrack certainly doesn’t make it any easier.
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