It’s not only that these scenes are visually beautiful, but there’s also usually some intense emotional resonance as well, which is what makes them pack such a punch. Beautiful animation on its own is great, but attaching a climactic moment or emotional stakes to the sequence just elevates it so much more. With that being said, here is just a small sampling of some of Disney Animation’s most beautiful moments.
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As a film, Pocahontas certainly has its problems, from story structure to its more…problematic racial elements, but the song “Colors of the Wind” and the visual scene that accompanies it is one of Disney’s most poignant moments. The song itself is beautiful and has such a great message about being open-minded and learning from people who are different from you, and the visuals are just as stunning.
So much of this scene feels akin to a watercolor painting, and it fully utilizes the natural imagery while also incorporating elements of fantasy. It’s such a perfect way to interpret the music, and overall it creates the most memorable sequence of the film.
This moment is the perfect combination of emotional climax and beautiful animation. In Moana’s greatest moment of doubt, her grandmother’s spirit appears to her, taking the form of a glowing stingray beneath the water’s surface. Moana comes to realize who she is in this moment, and learns to trust herself once again.
The song that she and her grandmother sing builds to a crescendo where Moana powerfully announces “I am Moana!” while the spirits of her ancestors lead her forward. It’s an emotional turning point in the movie, and incredibly moving to watch because of all of these elements working together.
This is truly one of the most iconic Disney moments of all time, and for good reason. The scene of Belle and The Beast waltzing around the ballroom to the song “Beauty and the Beast” is such a memorable moment in film history. It’s a turning point for these characters because of how they’ve come to trust each other, and the stunning animation only adds to the impact.
The scene uses a combination of 3D and 2D animation in a way that was quite unprecedented for the time, and it gives the effect of the sequence being grand and sweeping as the two dance together. This scene certainly deserves its icon status.
As a whole, there’s something about Frozen 2 that feels more mature than the first one, almost as though the messaging is geared more towards young adults than children. “Show Yourself” is one of the main sequences in the film that supports this, as it feels like a song about coming into one’s own and learning who one is as a person. It’s the culmination of a long journey of Elsa finding herself and finally accepting herself for who she is.
The animation of the scene is also gorgeous, as Elsa runs through the glowing ice caves. Of course, this all comes to head when her mother joins in the song, in a moment that is much more emotional than anyone was expecting from a Frozen sequel.
Again, this might be one of the most iconic scenes in Disney history, and is probably one of the first that people think of when they think about beautiful Disney scenes. The common thread amongst Disney’s best onscreen moments is that they’re paired with an emotional moment for the characters, often expressed through song. In this instance, Rapunzel and Flynn Rider are coming to realizations about their feelings for each other, and Rapunzel is finally getting to experience the event she’s dreamed about her whole life.
“I See The Light” is a beautiful duet where both characters express their feelings, all while thousands of lanterns light up the night sky around them, reflecting off the water. The imagery of the two characters on the boat in the middle of the water with all the floating lanterns surrounding them is so striking, and really adds to the watercolor feeling that the color palette and animation style of the movie had been evoking thus far. It’s one of the most memorable and impactful moments in the Disney canon, and it’s fondly remembered precisely for that reason.
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