Animatronic Rapunzel’s Hair Eaten by Crows at Tokyo DisneySea

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It seems Mother Gothel left out a rather strange danger when warning Rapunzel about going outside – the possibility of being eaten by crows!

Visitors to Tokyo DisneySea were surprised and likely frightened when crows started pecking at the long, blonde hair of the Rapunzel figure on the Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival ride. The animatronic is located in a tower window, and the attacks disrupted the otherwise calm atmosphere.

A video is circulating online showing two large crows pulling out chunks of hair from the Rapunzel animatronic at a Disney park. The figure continues to move and sing from her tower window as the birds attack. You can see the footage below.

It seems the crows were collecting Rapunzel’s hair to use for their nest, which is a little heartwarming if you don’t think about the fact that she was basically having her hair ripped out. It’s a surprisingly dark image – even the Brothers Grimm might be shocked! (Although, knowing what happens to Cinderella’s stepsisters in the original Grimm’s fairytale, those birds are actually far more brutal.)

This animatronic figure is featured on Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival, a boat ride inspired by the movie Tangled and located in the Fantasy Springs area of Tokyo DisneySea. The ride, which opened in June 2024, recreates scenes from the movie and celebrates the love story of Rapunzel and Flynn Ryder, taking guests through the events of Tangled.

Disney’s newer, more sophisticated animatronics – like the one featuring Rapunzel – are a big improvement in terms of how they look, move, and connect with audiences. However, Rapunzel recently experienced a glitch, and she’s not the only animatronic that’s been having technical difficulties lately.

Though much less violent in spectacle, Frozen’s Olaf quite recently died in front of a crowd.

A remarkably lifelike animatronic figure at Disneyland Paris suddenly stopped working while greeting guests. It fell backwards as if frozen, and even lost its nose—a small carrot—in the process. The unexpected incident quickly spread across social media.

Dark and Disturbing Scenes From Animated Disney Movies

Child Trafficking at Pleasure Island (Pinocchio)

Disney’s Pinocchio is known for being one of its most unsettling films. While the 1940 movie includes frightening scenes like a monstrous whale and the cruel puppet master Stromboli, the most disturbing part is arguably Pleasure Island. There, Pinocchio and other mischievous boys begin to transform into donkeys and are then prepared to be sold as forced labor. Even though Pinocchio manages to escape, the imagery of children helplessly turning into animals serves as a stark and sobering parallel to the real tragedy of child trafficking.

Syndrome’s Murdered Hero Database (The Incredibles)

Despite being a family-friendly animated film, The Incredibles touches on surprisingly mature themes. While there are hints of marital issues and a scene dealing with suicidal thoughts, the most shocking moment comes when Mr. Incredible discovers the villain Syndrome has been systematically killing superheroes. While investigating Syndrome’s secret operation, Mr. Incredible finds evidence that dozens of heroes, including many of his friends, have been killed by Syndrome’s deadly robots. He lured them to his island under false pretenses, using them as training targets. The scene is particularly impactful as Mr. Incredible desperately searches for his wife, Elastigirl, and friend, Frozone, among the list of fallen heroes, his face showing clear shock and panic.

Orphan Kidnapping and Child Abuse (The Rescuers)

Though it came out in 1977, the Disney animated film The Rescuers isn’t known for big action scenes. However, the story is surprisingly intense because it deals with very real dangers. While the talking mice are fictional, the struggles of Penny, the orphaned girl they try to save, sadly reflect the harsh realities many children face. In the movie, Penny is kidnapped by Madame Medusa, a cruel and greedy woman who forces her to search a treacherous cave for a valuable diamond. Medusa not only puts Penny in physical danger—even nearly drowning her—but also verbally and emotionally abuses her, making Penny feel worthless and disposable. Ultimately, Penny is rescued and finds happiness, but her story sheds light on the serious issues of child labor, abuse, and exploitation that unfortunately exist in the real world.

An Entire Village Gets Massacred (Mulan)

Disney’s Mulan tackles serious issues like the limitations placed on women and the importance of family obligations. The 1998 film also realistically portrays the grim side of war. A particularly impactful scene shows Mulan and a group of soldiers discovering a destroyed village and a battlefield covered in bodies – the remains of Shang’s father’s army. Mulan thoughtfully picks up a child’s doll from the snow, highlighting the tragic consequences of the Huns’ violent attacks and their practice of taking prisoners.

The Toys Accept Their Death (Toy Story 3)

You know, people think of Toy Story as these fun, colorful kids’ movies, and they are! But honestly, they pack some surprisingly heavy emotional punches. Like, remember Jessie’s song about being left behind? Totally heartbreaking. And Sid? That kid was a menace! But the darkest moment, for me, is definitely in Toy Story 3. Seeing Woody, Buzz, and the whole crew facing what they thought was certain death… it was brutal. Being abandoned in that trash incinerator, slowly accepting their fate, and just holding onto each other… I genuinely thought they were goners! Disney did save the day, of course, but not before completely wrecking my emotions. It’s a kids’ movie, but man, it gets you right in the feels.

A Stray Dog Gets Put Down (Lady and the Tramp)

Disney’s Lady and the Tramp is a heartwarming classic. Released in 1955, the film tells the story of Lady, a well-cared-for dog, and Tramp, a streetwise stray, as they fall in love. While the story is generally lighthearted, it does have some scary parts, like a frightening encounter with a rat near a baby and moments where Lady feels forgotten by her family. The most upsetting scene happens when Lady is taken to the animal pound and meets other lost dogs. There, they witness another dog, Nutsy, being led away, suggesting he will be put to sleep. The scene is filled with sadness and fear as Lady and the other dogs worry they might suffer the same fate.

Mr. Arrow Drifts Into Space (Treasure Planet)

The famous tagline ‘In space, no one can hear you scream’ takes on a truly terrifying meaning in Disney’s Treasure Planet. During a chaotic space storm, the first mate, Mr. Arrow, is tragically pulled into a black hole. The villainous pirate Scroop secretly cuts his safety line, leaving Mr. Arrow to fall helplessly into the darkness. What makes this scene even more disturbing is the scientific idea of ‘spaghettification’ – the theory that anything falling into a black hole would be stretched and torn apart over time due to the extreme warping of space and time.

Scar Gets Eaten Alive (The Lion King)

Scar is known for one of the most devastating moments in Disney history: Mufasa’s death. However, the deceitful villain from the 1994 film The Lion King ultimately receives a harsh punishment for betraying his brother. After losing a fight with Simba on top of Pride Rock, Scar falls and lands below, where the hyenas he manipulated confront him. They’re furious after Scar tries to blame them for the destruction of their home. While the scene doesn’t show the violence directly, it’s strongly suggested that Scar is attacked and eaten by the very hyenas he abandoned.

Clayton’s Hanging Death (Tarzan)

In the 1999 film Tarzan, Clayton ultimately receives a fitting end, though it’s still a disturbing scene. He deceives his way onto a research expedition and then acts cruelly: he kills Kerchak, captures the gorillas to sell illegally, and imprisons the Porters and Tarzan. He even tries to kill Tarzan. Despite being ruthless and having no respect for life, it’s startling when he accidentally hangs himself with vines during their final fight. The image of his body silhouetted against the jungle, and the fear on his face right before the vine tightens, are both deeply unsettling.

Frollo Lusts for Esmeralda (The Hunchback of Notre Dame)

Disney’s 1996 film, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, shares the serious themes of Victor Hugo’s original novel, exploring issues like unfair treatment and prejudice. The movie features Judge Claude Frollo, a truly villainous character who abuses his power. Frollo commits terrible acts, including harming the Romani people and trying to kill a baby. One particularly dark scene shows Frollo’s obsession with the dancer Esmeralda. After attempting to attack her, he sings about his forbidden desire (“Hellfire”) and vows to burn her at the stake if she rejects him. This intense moment deals with difficult subjects like religious hypocrisy, hatred of women, and the abuse of power, revealing disturbing details about Frollo’s motivations.

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2026-04-01 10:57