When it comes to animals passing away in movies and TV shows, sometimes it can be even more traumatic for the viewers than when saying goodbye to human characters – whether it’s fictional and/or animated, it hits hard.
So, in this list we’ll be looking through what we believe to be the top thirteen saddest fictional animals that passed away in movies and TV shows, starting with…
#13/13 Hedwig
Movie: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010)
Harry Potter’s iconic owl Hedwig sadly passes when trying to save Harry from Death Eaters during a mission in the 7th movie, Deathly Hallows: Part 1.
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Hedwig also dies in the books, however, she is in a cage in the written version as opposed to the live-action adaptation where she goes out fighting for Harry – which inevitably makes it even more heartbreaking.
#12/13 Hazel
Movie: Watership Down (1978)
Watership Down may have a happy ending, however, its impactful moment that is Hazel’s death still lingers in the minds of all those who watched the 1978 classic.
#11/13 Bambi’s Mother
Movie: Bambi (1948)
Not many people can say they’ve grown up without being left scarred after watching Disney’s 1948 Bambi movie, in which the mother of the titular deer is sadly shot and killed by a hunter.
#10/13 Charlie
Movie: All Dogs Go To Heaven (1989)
Charlie’s death in 1989’s animated All Dogs Go To Heaven movie is a heavy hitter for those who have lost their own pets, which makes the emotional moments much more impactful.
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Another incredibly sad fact about this title is that the actress who voiced Anne-Marie, Judith Barsi, was sadly murdered by her father when she was only 10 years of age.
#9/13 Seymour
TV Show: Futurama (Season 4 Episode 7)
Seymour the dog from Futurama may hold the title for having the saddest storyline in the entire show, after waiting years for his owner Fry who accidentally froze himself for much longer than the dog’s life span.
Although the show is typically a comedy, season 4’s 7th episode dedicated a large amount of screen time showing exactly what Fry’s dog did while waiting for him to return – which was surprisingly more emotional than fans may have expected.
#8/13 Hooch
Movie: Turner & Hooch (1989)
Tom Hanks’ Det. Scott Turner and his adopted dog, Hooch, in 1989’s Turner & Hooch left many in tears after the titular dog sacrifices himself to save Hanks’ character from being shot.
#7/13 Shiva
TV Show: The Walking Dead (Season 8 Episode 4)
Khary Payton’s Ezekiel and his mighty tiger Shiva left plenty of The Walking Dead fans distraught after fighting off a bunch of walkers, which led to the fan-favourite animal being chowed down.
#6/13 Daisy
Movie: John Wick (2014)
Cute little Daisy in the first John Wick movie is the entire reason why Keanu Reeves’ titular assassin came out of retirement in the first place, however, the dog’s death is still one of the saddest moments in the entire franchise.
#5/13 Artax
Movie: The NeverEnding Story (1984)
Those who have watched 1984’s The NeverEnding Story will agree that, upon first watch, Artax’s death is both shocking and incredibly emotional due to the circumstances and reaction of his owner, Atreyu.
#4/13 Sam
Movie: I Am Legend (2007)
Isolated and alone, Will Smith’s character in I Am Legend spends the majority of his days alongside his trustworthy and loyal companion, Sam the Dog.
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Sam sadly ends up turning into the very thing that Smith’s character is fighting in the movie, which leads to Sam having to be put down in a rather gruesome way.
#3/13 Littlefoot’s Mother
Movie: The Land Before Time (1988)
An all-time classic, The Land Before Time, an animated movie that proved that even adults can cry at the loss of a fictional animal – even if it is a dinosaur.
#2/13 Mufasa
Movie: The Lion King (1994)
Mufasa’s death in The Lion King hits hard for various reasons, one he is the loving father of the movie’s main character, and another is that he is completely betrayed by his sinister brother Scar.
What made this scene most impactful was the fact his son witnessed the entire ordeal, and when mixing that with the chaos and captivating soundtrack – tears naturally fell from the eyes of millions.
#1/13 Marley
Movie: Marley & Me (2008)
