20 of the Saddest Moments in Cartoon History

For the most part, the animated world doesn’t get too heavy. Unless you’ve called up some Ghiblian tragedy on your streaming service of choice, you can rest relatively assured of a soothing few hours of bright colors, nice songs and well-padded emotional corners.

That’s why it can be all the more devastating when a cartoon does veer into sad territory. Whether it’s a sprawling Pixar epic or whatever happens to be airing on Nick Jr. at the moment, a sudden gut punch can feel like a punch in a much more sensitive area. That’s why user SaraBellum42 asked r/AskReddit, “What is the saddest moment in a cartoon?”