Watch it all the way through and watch the blue star wink out as that song “Freedom” layers the background…
Some people do not like it but I do. It makes sense in that screwed up world of the crew of CB.
Agreed with Snoopy Come Home…specifically the scene and sad song Charlie Brown sings as he comes to grips with Snoopy not being there. Never had a bowl of cereal being pushed away tore me up in such a way.
For video games…The ending of Final Fantasy 9 was EXCELLENT. It made me cry for joy and whoever did the animation NAILED the reaction of the princess to learning a important secret. (no spoilers but people who played it through will know what I am thinking of)
Aristocats makes me bawl every time, where Oliver almost drowns. Poor cute kitty.
Trigun also made me cry during (spoiler). At least I’m guessing it was during the same spoiler mentioned by Daowajan.
Cowboy Bebop had me bawling in the episode where Faye gets a videotape made by herself as a child (“My Funny Valentine”). The image of little cheerleader Faye cheering her older self on gets me choked up every time I see it. God I love anime.
Those last 2 or 3 episodes when you know what’s gonna happen but you refuse to believe it and you delude yourself right up to the very last second that it won’t…
and then it does. sniff
The Kenshin OAV. Endless piles of misery and tragedy.
Also broke out the tissues watching Video Girl Ai and Utena.
Pokemon. The very first episode, when an injured Pikachu risks his life to save Ash from an attacking horde of…tiny birds. Same deal with the Scyther Episode…I can’t explain it. It’s just very touching!
Also, Miyazoki’s “Princess Mononoke” is a beautiful cartoon, that while it did not make me cry, did make me sit back in awe the entire time. One of my top five favorite movies.
Jet Black I’m surprised you haven’t mentioned Princess Mononoke and Warriors of the wind, both very fine films, with powerful, tragic moments, although PM is by far the stronger.
I also get a lump in my throat when I hear Mulan sing:
Who is that girl I see?
Staring back straight at me?
When will my reflection show
who I am inside?
This captures exactly what I have experienced myself as an Asian American. (well, from a male POV)
[sub]And in preview I now see that Kingbuddy has fine taste in anime.[/sub]
Yondan,
True enough Princess Mononoke and Warriors of the Wind (cut up American version for Nauisica) both tore me up. I think that goes for just about all of Miyazaki’s work (which is heavy on the sentimental - and childhood rituals of growing up). A true master of animation, no doubt about that.
Heath Doolin,
I have to agree with you, Final Fantasy 9 served up a great conclusion, and it did warm my heart to see it. Unlike the other FF games where you get a more sombre ending…this was a milestone I wish they would continue…sadly, I think FFX will hark back to FF7, and FF8, where the cold blend of conrete and steel will oevershadow the lush tones shown in FF9 (which had more of a European flair with it’s castles and lovely costumes)
FF7’s animation (and signature music) of Aeris’ death just got me right in the old ticker. I DID NOT LOSE the following battle, which I swore vengenance for.
Still…Klonoa (the original) is a game that tore me up more than any other. The ending HAS to yank tears from your face. You will be sad, and joyful…and the music just ripped on me. I had to play the scene again since my vision was so blurry. Pathetic wuss that I am. Unfortunately, the sequel had to live in the shadow of the original’s fantastic ending, and thus, suffered for it. Some things should just be left as is.
Animation is great! Whether in movies, cartoon shorts, or in video games. Thank god for the artists who find the images that captures that special place in our hearts. Oops, there I go again with the James Joyce impersonation. Hahaha!
And in the first movie - when Buzz realizes he can’t fly…
“clearly, I will go sailing no more”
I’m tearing up just thinking about it…
Shrek - during the “Hallelujah” scene.
Other teary-eyed favorites already mentioned…
Bambi [tho I can’t help but think of Skippy Squirrel…“Bumbi’s mom’s DEAD!”]
Dumbo
Monsters Inc.
Last Unicorn [which I hope & pray comes out on DVD!]
Watership Down [ditto!]
Charlotte’s Web [ditto!]
But I’m a softie - even Hallmark commercials get to me sometimes…
I saw that one for the third time last week, and it still made me cry.
Anime tends to have this effect on me.
At least three scenes in Neon Genesis Evangelion.
And I hate to admit it, but Fushigi Yuugi is really good at this. Yuu Watase may never miss a cliche, but she’s really, really good with playing with your emotions.
Oh dear. I was going to watch that episode today since I taped it last night. Should I have the Kleenex handy?
Lots of Cowboy Bebop episodes have made me cry. Most of the episodes dealing with characters’ pasts just leaves me down. Faye is an especially depressing character.
Toy Story 1 and 2. I can’t even remember what was up with the first movie, but Jessie’s song in the 2nd movie…darn them…I was sitting there in the theater, surrounded by little kids, sobbing.
Disney’s good at pulling those heartstrings. The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Lion King, and Beauty and the Beast are the ones I’ve seen most recently that left me dabbing my eyes. They didn’t really affect me when I was younger, but now? “Ohhh, so sadddd…OHHH!!! boohoohoo”
The only really embarrassing time a cartoon made me cry was an episode of Digimon I watched. It was towards the end of the 2nd season, where Ken comes back to the real world. I’d only watched a few episodes before, so it’s not like I had much of an emotional attachment to any of the characters. But tears were rolling down my face as Ken’s world just crumbled. I felt so bad for him.
My brother thought it was really funny when he saw I was crying. He always thought that character was a real prick and deserved what he got. Go figure.
jessica
Since most of my weepies have already been covered (Iron Giant, check. Toy Story 2, check. Mulan (usually as she runs away from home), check.), I’ll throw out something nobody’s mentioned yet…
Batman: The Animated Series, “Heart of Ice”
If you’re not crying by the time the credits start to roll, your heart is even colder than Victor Friez’s…
Bulldog (Marc Anthony) adopts adorable kitten but has to hide it from his Mistress. But when he hides it in the flour bin while she’s making cookies… <eyes watering> …sorry I can’t on any longer…
Glad I’m not the only one who cried at this. By the way, Cartoon Network did a countdown type marathon of the best classic WB cartoons a few weeks back and Feed the Kitty was aired just before What’s Opera, Doc? which they considered the best. Personally I like Feed the Kitty better.
Jessie’s song in Toy Story 2 made me cry too. Damn you, Disney!
There is a cartoon I remember from when I was a little kid.
I was wondering if it is one of the Chuck Jones ones, it was already at least 10 years old when I was a kid in the 60s. An eagle egg falls from the nest, hatches an eaglet with a hurt forehead. The eagle is fostered, but I cannot remember who the substitute parent is. Years later, this parent is in danger, and the grown eagle, with a band-aid on its forehead, swoops down to make a bold and stirring rescue, and an emotional reunion with the parent. I have never seen this cartoon as a grownup. Does it ring a bell with anyone?
By the way, Cartoon Network did a countdown type marathon of the best classic WB cartoons a few weeks back and Feed the Kitty was aired just before What’s Opera, Doc? which they considered the best. Personally I like Feed the Kitty better.