Pixar is known for presenting more adult themes in the guise of children's animated films. The films usually deal with more serious themes that appeal to both children and adults like growing up, feeling out of place within one's own family, comparing one's self to their peers, and death.
Pixar films also have a tendency to present heartbreaking opening scenes that begin their stories ranging from unfortunate to devastating backstories for the main characters or the worlds they inhabit. Most Pixar films have heartbreaking themes and scenes throughout, but there are a few that immediately capture the audience right from the beginning.
Toy Story (1995)
The beginning of the main Toy Story character Woody, to the famous Randy Newman song. The lyrics end on "our friendship will never die" and fades out as Andy places Woody back on his bed and runs downstairs for his birthday party where he'll get new toys. It's not the most heartbreaking, but it is a nostalgic opening that has its adult audience ing how much they loved playing with their toys growing up.
Ratatouille (2007)
Remy narrates the beginning of the hilarious and at times heartbreaking film, and introduces the audience to his unique life of being a rat with a love of smells and foods that his family just doesn't understand. His father only sees merit in Remy's interests when he is able to smell poison and tells the family not to eat any of the food and they need to move to another spot.
Wreck-It Ralph (2012)
Ralph narrates the beginning of Wreck-It Ralph and talks about the arcade games and in particular the game he is a part of, Fix-It Felix. Ralph says that the hero and the townspeople live in the nice apartment complexes while he lives out in the dump full of bricks.
He says that he hates being the villain of the game and wishes he could change his fate.
Monsters University (2013)
This opening scene sees a young Mike Wazowski going on a field trip to the scare floor and is continually forgotten, but keeps his optimism nonetheless. Mike sneaks into a room with a "scarer" to see a real child's room and how the scaring job works. At that moment he realizes what he wants to go to Monsters University and become a scarer. It's uplifting, adorable, but also heartbreaking as the audience knows that technically Mike doesn't achieve his dream.
Coco (2017)
Miguel narrates the history of his family and Mama Coco's life leading up to his own generational story as a series of papel picados form a visual representation of his words. There are Coco and the beginning sets the stage for heartbreak. he tells the story of his family in the opening scene, he reveals the reason for their hatred of music and also tells the audience that he dreams of becoming a musician and he muses that he feels like he's cursed.
Onward (2020)
a magical and mythical world that quickly transitions into a more realistic and normal world as the magical creatures' lives change as most become lazy and rely on technology. It's heartbreaking to see such a fun and magical society turn into one that more resembles reality in just a few minutes of a montage.
WALL-E (2008)
WALL-E as it is now a post-apocalypse wasteland is pretty heartbreaking, even in animation, and the juxtaposition of the upbeat music and WALL-E happily sorting the trash is quite the opening.
Inside Out (2015)
The opening scene to Inside Out sees Riley being born and Joy the only emotion that she feels in the beginning. There's a minute of bliss where Joy is so happy to see Riley, and then Sadness appears when Riley starts crying.
Sadness is followed by Fear, Disgust, and Anger and Joy has to learn to co-exist with all the new Inside Out emotions and characters surrounding her. The quick introduction of the emotions and Joy being overwhelmed reminds the audience of their own battling emotions.
Finding Nemo (2003)
The opening scene of this film sees Martin living a happy life with his partner as they've just had dozens of babies. Then tragedy strikes as a predator attacks the happy family and the only survivors are Martin and one child, although the egg has been cracked. Nemo is born with a stunted fin and the devastating opening scene immediately explains Martin's overprotectiveness and anxiety.
Up (2009)
Up begins as a funny introduction of Ellie and Carl and ends with some of the saddest scenes in Pixar. The scene has no words, only the montage edited together to Michael Giacchino's Award-winning score, and this makes the scene even more heartbreaking as it doesn't need dialogue to portray its emotion.
