There have been plenty of times when the first scene of a movie was so great you’d just get glued to the screen for the next 2 hours. The first impression is incredibly important, especially for animated movies, where poorly-drawn frames or bad shot composition can easily make the audience go “I’m not watching this”.
Here are 7 greatest opening scenes in animated movies.
1. “Moana” (2016)
The very first scene tells the viewer everything they
need to know about the myths and legends of this world, the gods,
demigods, and their powers. Filled with legendary action and
much-needed exposition, it’s definitely one of my favorite intro
scenes. Also, it’s super stylized
2. “Up” (2009)
If you ever feel like crying but you just can’t think
of anything sad, just put on “UP” and watch that first scene.
Even thinking about it makes me sob like a little bearded girl. In
these brief few minutes we see the story of Carl and Ellie meeting,
growing up, falling in love, realizing they can’t have kids, growing
old together, and Ellie dying, leaving Carl all by himself… You’re
never ready, and then the sadness hits you.
3. “The Prince of Egypt” (1998)
Since I were a kid, the scene with the slaves building pyramids has been carved into my mind. That’s how good it is. Insanely graphic for a “family” movie, so you might not want to show this to your young and very impressionable kids. And of course, seeing a young mother send her baby down the river is absolutely heart-breaking. 10/10 would watch again.
4. “Toy Story” (1995)
One thing I have to mention after rewatching
this scene: the CGI does not
hold up after all these years. But the message and the unbreakable
connection between a child and his toys most certainly does. There’s
not a single child in the whole world who would not be able to relate
to this beautiful friendship. Andy really loves his toys, and this
scene is the proof!
5. “Kubo and the Two Strings” (2016)
Stop-motion is a lost art. Underappreciated,
extremely demanding, and requires a whole lot of time to look awesome
– sort of like your ex-partner. Anyway, in “Kubo”, the opening
scene shows a woman on a tiny boat, sailing through the storm,
clutching her baby. The setup is golden, the viewer is hooked! What
happens next? What will the baby do if the mother dies? And then the
rest of the movie drags you in.
6 “The Lion King” (1994)
One of the most magical and uplifting scenes in
all of Disney history, accompanied by “It’s
the circle of life”, it shows how
every creature from ants to elephants has their place under the sun.
But why are they all gathered here? Next thing you know is Rafiki
holding up Simba! Truly unforgettable.
7. “The Nightmare Before Christmas” (1993)
Another stop-motion smash hit, “Nightmare Before Christmas” knows exactly how to draw the viewers attention into its wacky world full of zombies, witches, and monsterse. Right off the bat, you know what you’re going to get in the next hour or two. Lots of quirky songs, horror vibes, and lots of spooks!
