5 Amazing Animated Movie Scenes

Animation has the magical ability to transport us to completely different worlds, even if it’s only for a brief couple of hours. And more often than not, it’s caused by specific scenes that stay with us long after the credits roll. Sometimes you might even sit there for a while afterwards questioning what is real or not. Whether it’s a breathtaking action sequence, an emotional moment, or a visual masterpiece, animated films have delivered some of the most memorable cinematic moments in history.

In this article, we’re diving into 5 different animated movie scenes that left an indelible mark on audiences, showcasing the creativity, storytelling, and artistry that define animation as a genre. Get ready to relive some of the most iconic and unforgettable moments in animation.

Without further ado, here are 5 amazing animated movie scenes in no particular order. Beware that some of these entries may contain spoilers.

Holding Out For A Hero

Shrek 2 (2004)

We all wish we could turn a grudge against a former employer into a popular animated franchise with 4 mainline movies, 2 spin-offs, and a 5th one on the way. Sounds oddly specific? Maybe, but that is exactly what Jeffrey Katzenberg did with the Shrek franchise.

While not ALL the movies in DreamWorks’ Shrek series are rated fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, the consensus seem to be that its second entry far exceeds the first. Maybe it’s because they toned it down a little on the in-your-face digs at Disney, or maybe it’s because of its top-notch humor that remains consistent throughout.

One particular stand-out moment for most of us is probably the “Holding out for a Hero” scene in the final act of the movie. Which hit it off so well that if you’re a Millennial or Gen Z, it’s probably still the first thing that comes to your head when you hear the song even more than 20 years later. Unless you’re like me who drunk-watched the Tetris movie one too many times and now currently has the Japanese cover version on the 5th place in your Spotify “On Repeat” list.

Part of what makes this scene so great is that it is so absurd, but in a good way. The very idea of creating a giant gingerbread cookie to attack a heavily fortified castle is already quite ‘out there’, but the fact that said castle actually has specific measures like a giant warm milk faucet to deal with it makes it so much better. Even just writing that right now has me feeling like I’m trying to describe a weird melatonin-induced fever dream rather than a legit movie scene.

And while all that is happening you have princess Fiona in the other end of the castle realising that something isn’t quite right and trying to stall the situation as long as possible even though she has no way of knowing if her ‘hero’ will ever arrive.

If this article reminded you of how amazing this scene is and you want to indulge yourself again, we’ve done you the courtesy of linking to it below:

“Baymax, destroy him!”

Big Hero 6 (2014)

Maybe I’m a little biased because Big Hero 6 is already one of my favorite animated films, but the scene where our main protagonist Hiro Hamada commands Baymax to, for all intents and purposes, kill the main antagonist upon finding out their true identity, really sends chills down my spine.

There are so many things that make this scene so great. The way it shows how destructive and uncontrollable Baymax can become when all his moral reasoning is stripped from him. The intense build-up of the music and the gradual muting of all other dialogue and sound effects. The futile attempts by Hiro’s friends to physically restrain him. The camera angles occasionally reflecting the antagonist’s point of view as Baymax chases him down. Which comes across as even scarier today than it did in 2014, as the breakthroughs in A.I, robotics, and other technology are getting us closer and closer to a scenario like that being real.

But by far, one of the most striking parts is how our 14-year-old protagonist who up until that moment in the film has been portrayed as this fairly harmless goofball, briefly shows us how dangerous he can be when he lets rage cloud his judgement. Without hesitation, he removes the chip that prevents Baymax from intentionally injuring other people, and orders his healthcare companion to ‘destroy’ (read; kill) the currently unarmed main antagonist.

Willingness to abuse his robot friend, kill an unarmed person, and ignore his brother’s clear wishes. For about 90 seconds, our hero is the villain. And not because of some cliché reason like being possessed or being pressured to act against their own will. But completely on his own accord and desire for revenge, and mirroring the actual antagonist’s motivations. Which are character traits you don’t often see in an animated Disney film, especially in a child character.

People like to bring up shows like Gravity Falls for examples of writers testing the limits of what Disney will allow. But not a lot of people are mentioning this scene, which also does that, but in a much less crude way.

First Comet Tiamat Scene

Your Name. (2016)

Including Your Name in this list feels almost like cheating, because who is going to disagree with it? But no animated scene comes even close to being as visually stunning as this one and therefore it would be a crime not to include it.

I am of course talking about the very first scene where we see the comet Tiamat fly across the sky as a fragment breaks off.

As the main character Mitsuha Miyamizu walks out onto the grassy plains in her home town of Itomori, the camera pans up towards the sky as we get this shot that probably became every anime fan’s desktop wallpaper during the first 3 months of the film’s release.

There’s something uniquely powerful about the way Your Name introduces the comet Tiamat, and it’s no accident that this breathtaking moment is one of the film’s most memorable. As Mitsuha steps onto the grassy plains, the sheer vastness of the landscape, combined with the sky’s deep colors, creates a feeling of isolation, yet awe — a perfect visual metaphor for her own longing and unfulfilled desires.

The shot of the comet fragment breaking off is not just a stunning visual — it’s a symbol of something greater: The connection between Mitsuha and Taki, two souls linked across time and space. The almost mystical beauty of this moment sets the tone for everything that follows, and in just a few seconds, it encapsulates the film’s themes of fate, longing, and the ever-present forces that shape our lives, even when we can’t see them.

The way the camera lingers on the comet’s trail is a promise that this will be a story of epic scale, yet intensely personal — a perfect blend of natural beauty and cosmic significance.

If you have not yet seen this film, we urge you to put this article aside (but don’t close it, there’s still more to read) and go watch it right now.

Hotel Room Scene

Weathering With You (2019)

I can not stress enough how much I absolutely adore this scene. Weathering With You might not be as well known as Your Name. But it’s definitely a worthy addition to the Makoto Shinkai Canon. One that I believe deserves a lot more recognition.

Since it released it has become somewhat of a comfort movie for me. I keep putting it on whenever I need to disconnect from everything. And as such I’m pretty sure it has also doubled as one of my most rewatched movies.

The film has a lot of scenes that feel very calming, in a way. And one of the best examples of that is the hotel room scene that takes place shortly before the climax of the movie. After being on the run for hours and navigating Tokyo during a dangerous amount of rainfall, the three main characters, Hodaka, Hina, and Nagi find a rather cozy hotel room to settle down for the night.

During those 2 solid minutes of 99% pure wholesomeness, the characters are without worry; As they wash up, prepare food from the minibar, sing Karaoke, and just have fun, you kind of forget that they’re currently on the run and that their city is about be be flooded. You know… pretty high stakes.

This feeling is even mirrored by one of the characters, as he prays to god to just let them stay like that forever.

Another aspect that makes the scene so great is that it doesn’t actually add much to the plot or the character development— The three character’s motivations and backgrounds are all pretty well defined by this point in the story— Yet, it doesn’t feel unwelcome. The scene could have been chopped during editing and the film would still feel complete. It just serves as this secret ingredient that makes the meal taste even greater than it already did.

Attack on Insomnia

Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV (2016)

This movie made a lot of questionable choices — Making all the characters appear completely different from their counterparts in the game, spoiling a major character’s death by having Sean Bean play him, etc. However, one thing it definitely got right is the climactic attack on the city of Insomnia.

“It is a warning to the hand of justice itself… Never to lose it’s grip…”

The innuendos exchanged between the King of Lucis and the Emperor of Niflheim as they both signal to each other that they know exactly what is about to happen, is in my opinion, one of the best setups to a battle of that grandeur.

But the battle itself gets even better as one of the most visually stunning moments in CG animation. The first explosion, the music kicking into high gear, and dutch angle shot as all the characters on both sides of the aisle simultaneously draw their weapons on each other. Followed by the sudden slowdown of the frame meant to give the viewer a true sense of the chaos that is about to ensue is just *chef’s kiss*

And all of it happens within just 5 seconds. So quick that you feel compelled to rewind and watch it again.

One of the most striking aspects of the attack on Insomnia is the sheer scale of it. As the opening salvo erupts and the city is plunged into chaos, the tension between the two leaders — King Regis and Emperor Aldercapt — underscores the magnitude of the conflict. The slow-motion moment isn’t just a cool visual trick; it’s the calm before the storm, where every character knows what’s coming and you, as the audience, feel the weight of that knowledge. The explosions, the music, the choreography — everything builds to this overwhelming, almost tragic sense of inevitability.

Conclusion

Each of these scenes, whether it’s the emotional intensity of Big Hero 6, the beauty of Your Name, or the heartwarming simplicity of Weathering With You, serves as an example of what makes animation such a powerful storytelling tool. These moments are more than just eye candy or dramatic spectacle — they tap into universal emotions, blending art and narrative in ways that resonate deeply with audiences.

Animation allows for boundless creativity, enabling filmmakers to craft visuals and stories that push the boundaries of imagination, while also grounding us in human experiences that we can relate to. These scenes remind us that no matter the style or genre, animation has the ability to move us in ways that live-action films often cannot.

Whether you’re watching for the first time or revisiting your favorite films, these scenes offer something special every time: A chance to feel, to dream, and to be transported to worlds beyond our own.