Traumatising Children For Generations...

**I KNOW 'WATERSHIP DOWN' AND 'THE PLAGUE DOGS' AREN'T KIDS FILMS, AND NEITHER ARE SOME OF THE 'HONORABLE MENTIONS'. I PUT THEM HERE BECAUSE CHILDREN STILL END UP WATCHING THESE MOVIES ANYWAY AFTER MISTAKING THEM FOR BEING CHILD FRIENDLY.**

Quite a large tribute to the most disturbing, and yet most beautifully tragic animated classics of all time! Films that aren't necessarily intended for little kids. Which raises the stigma against these movies, just because something is animated, it doesn't automatically mean that it's only intended for young children. These films are a testament to prove this stereotype wrong, very wrong! These films are infamous for scaring the hell out of kids, some more than others. But each are unique in many different ways, some of them you would know, others you may not. Let's not 'beat around the bush' any longer...let's get started.

1. Watership Down (1978)
If you saw this film when you were a child, i can almost guarantee that it wasn't a pleasant experience. You are not alone, MANY kids have been traumatised by it. Obviously because this film was in NO WAY intended for little children. But since this movie has been buried in time, no one is really aware of that. Which often results in accidental viewings. Parents/guardians see the cover and think "Ooh, an animated cartoon movie about bunnies. This should be good."....This is why you should always do at least a little research into a movie BEFORE showing it to your kids.
Based on the book (of the same name) by Richard Adams, this film adaptation is dark, gritty and sombre, but also quite powerful at times. Referring to the common rabbit as 'the Prince with a thousand enemies,' this film has some very poetic dialogue. Along with the harsh animation style, gripping story, creative imagery, great soundtrack etc.
This film is quite unique, at least to me.
But here's the big problem. And i'll use my deviation to illustrate my point: At the front of the Watership Down tribute, you'll pretty easily see General Woundwort (the angry, bloody rabbit) He represents the violence/gore in this movie. Yes, he's confronting, gross to look at and is right in your face - But if you literally look past him, you'll see the other characters sitting on a grassy hill, representing the serene atmosphere in some of the film's imagery. And yet beyond that, you'll see a dark silhouette of a rabbit, that represents the dark themes in the film. One of the themes being Death itself, which was about as subtle as a brick to the face. The problem here; is that people can't look past the blood/gore. And therefore condemn it as just an unpleasant movie.
Personally, i couldn't disagree more. All the elements are pretty well balanced in my opinion, it's not light - but it's not too dark either. Some scenes are disturbing, but necessary; and are rarely dwelled on for too long. I really wish people would give this film another chance to see it for what it really is. And for what it is, it's a great movie.

2. The Plague Dogs (1982)
Probably the darkest, most depressing of the lot. And the most uncommon. Dog/animal lovers beware! This film is very dark and pretty unforgiving. If you thought Watership Down was disturbing, just wait till you see what we have here!
Much like Watership Down, The Plague Dogs was a film adaptation of yet another Richard Adams book, it was also directed by the same person (Martin Rosen), AND it features the same voice actor as Hazel from WSD (John Hurt). So the similarites between the two movies is relatively strong, however The Plague Dogs is confronting in a different, more realistic kind of way. Watership Down featured a fictional world of rabbit dictatorship, and was probably a metaphor for human society. Much of the violence was animal against animal, much like what you see on the Discovery Channel. The Plague Dogs however, relates to humans abusing animals, and addresses some very real issues that are still apparent in our human society: Vivisection/animal testing, the extravagant exaggerations of the media authorities, the right to life/freedom, animal rights etc. The story and the very feel of this movie can often make you think that it could even be based on a true story, that's how realistically disturbing it is!
Having said this, i did actually enjoy this film. More than i enjoyed Watership Down. And here's why...the power! If you didn't give a shit about animal testing before, you will after this film. It doesn't flinch; this movie, it goes as dark as it wants to - and the viewer just has to deal with it. Which goes without saying, this isn't for the faint of heart.
But what really sets it apart; is the beginning and the ending. The beginning gives you no warning, no time to adjust to the animated world you've been sucked into. It's as sudden and unexpected as life itself. This unapologetic film is here to pimp-smack you back to reality! As harsh as that is, it's very daring. I can definitely give it credit for that! Then there's the ending, i won't give anything away - but it will surprise you. Like Watership Down, the ending is very...bittersweet. As in, you don't really know how to feel about it. And the movie doesn't help you either. In Disney films for example, it tells you how to feel in certain scenes, using instrumental scores, songs, character reactions, atmosphere, colors etc. But this film doesn't use any of those elements, at least not in any obvious way. There is an end song, but even that doesn't give away any real clues. The ending is very open to emotional interpretation, and i believe that is the true genius behind The Plague Dogs.
Would i recommend this film? Hmmm...Yes and no. I can't say i'd OPENLY recommend it, based on its subject matter i don't want to be held even slightly responsible for traumatising anyone. So i'll just say this, if you want; watch the first 5-10 minutes of it. If you don't like it - by all means you can stop watching. If it intrigues you, keep going, you'll probably enjoy it. Here's a Youtube link to the film: www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBxfOv…

3. The Land Before Time (1988)
An easily recognised film by just about everyone. Most people have seen this at least once in their young lives. This movie really upset me when i was very little. Little Foot's mother's death haunted me more than Mufasa's death from The Lion King. I was crying so much my mother had to stop the tape. I couldn't watch it again till years later. Which leads me to believe that there's an age limit to ths movie, and there's such thing as being too young for it. Don Bluth believed that children can handle just about anything, as long as you stick on a happy ending. I guess i can see his point, but i think it really depends on how young the child is. Based on experience, when a very little kid is confronted by something unpleasant - they tend to divert their attention elsewhere. Confronted with a film like this, they'd probably just stop watching. Older children tend to stick it out and deal with it, and so are more likely to reach the end of the movie. Of course, this film is a LOT more child-friendly than the other two i've mentioned. Mostly because it actually is intended for children! So while the darkness of the film is strong, it's also well mixed with colorful characters, scenes and atmosphere. It's a childhood friend of mine, and i highly recommend it for little ones (depending on how little).

4. The Lion King (1994)
Actually, this kind of represents nearly ALL Disney films ever made. People are often deceived by the animation, the songs, the characters, the very label that IS the Disney franchise. They think that Disney is almost strictly for children. But no, it isn't - and when you really think about it, it doesn't take very long to figure that out. For such a 'colorful' animation company, most of their films contain very confronting concepts, issues and scenes. Films like The Lion King, Bambi, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Fox & The Hound, The Black Cauldron etc. have some very dark themes that have proven to be very hard for children to handle.
There is a journal that a fellow dA user has written about this very subject - so rather than repeat everything he's written, i might as well just show it to you: nostalgicchills.deviantart.com…
But of course i recommend The Lion King, to children and all! i'd be an idiot if i didn't xD

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*HONORABLE MENTION*

5. Courage the Cowardly Dog - TV series (1999-2002)
I didn't add him in the picture, mostly because i had no room - also because he'd probably look ridiculous in there. Yes, many 90's kids would know this show pretty well. This show was famous for its dark, creepy animation and surprisingly strong horror themes. I used to watch this everyday and regret it every night. Watching bits of this show on Youtube, mostly from people pointing out how disturbing it is - i'm surprised it lasted on Cartoon Network as long as it did. It was really pushing what a G rating would allow them to get away with. With it's creepy stories, often bizzare animation (they even sometimes slipped in some rough CGI animation, as if it wasn't creepy enough), ominous voice acting, dark colors etc. Anyone who has seen it as a child knows exactly what i'm talking about. Courage may not be in the picture, but i thought he at least deserved a mention.

*Other honorable mentions (without review)*
- Felidae
- The Secret of Nimh
- All Dogs Go to Heaven
- The Black Cauldron
- The Last Unicorn
- An American Tail
- Animal Farm
- Wolf's Rain
- The BFG
- The Iron Giant
- The Animals of Farthing Wood
- Fritz The Cat
- Princess Mononoke

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If you've been traumatised by a movie as a child, there's really only one way to settle it - and you're not going to like it. That's right, re-watch it! You may be pleasantly surprised at what you find. Childhood 'traumas' are often exaggerated over time, and what you remember is almost never as bad as what it actually is. I was 'traumatised' by The Lion King and The Land Before Time when i was little, but after being pressured into watching them again some years later, i feel in love with em'! And i still adore both of them today. So give whatever it is another chance, otherwise you'll never know what you might be missing.