I think we pretty have a thread for this. It’s about the same thing but without the poll.
Exactly. I didn’t interpret “emotional” as “heath-breaking”, necessarily.
A lot of things are emotions, so I also think that you being at the edge of your sit in Toy Story 3 or me feeling inspired by Ratatouille count as emotional moments, so I listed them.
I said that Up was the most emotional for me. I actually only teared up about two or three of the times I’ve seen it, but it still impacts me the most. Certain scenes have me close to crying and make me otherwise very emotional, but I think I will cry more at the opening part once I’m older and am married. I’ll probably be able to relate to it more.
Thinking about it again, though, WALLE comes really darn close. Every scene where WALLE and EVE’s relationship grows gets to me, particularly the truck scene, the part where EVE is shut down, during Define Dancing, and the scenes where EVE needs to fix WALL*E.
Other honorable mentions: I don’t really get sad during Ratatouille, but every moment of the movie I feel these internal glows of either joy and excitement, or of a calm sense of worrying during the dramatic scenes. Basically, I feel a glow of hopefulness whether something good or bad is happening throughout that whole movie.
The end of Finding Nemo and Monsters, Inc. have me in tears, although not sobbing. My favorite kind of sadness: fear that someone would be lost, but it turns out that person will never be lost again.
Certain scenes of Toy Story and Toy Story 2 make me cry not because something sad is happening, but because they are such beloved parts of my childhood. I cry tears of joy just because of who is on the screen or because of what is going on. Especially both renditions of “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” really get to me.
Over time, Cars has made me feel emotional. Some people might see cars talking to each other, but after a while I started seeing cars that were concerned for each other and who really wanted to make things better. I think the end with Lightning McQueen pushing The King to the end works because we saw exactly who he used to be and how far he’s willing to change. He could have crossed the finish line AND THEN gone back to push The King to the end. But no, he was good in spirit and knew that status wasn’t going to change a person’s heart.
This was exactly what I felt during my cinema screening of Toy Story 3. And I’m sad to say that I haven’t watched that film since (It’s not exactly in the category of films I want to see again like Bolt, Wall-E and Rio, to name a few - but it’s still a better-than-average film in my books). I’ll probably rewatch it to give it a second look when I can find the time amid my other commitments and fandoms, but it’ll be a long time coming.
As I said, this thread is quite subjective. I think the OP meant it to mean Pixar films that make people cry, but in my last post, I mention that it can also mean anything that involves strong emotions. I think the poll element is pretty interesting too.
But I do agree that they are quite similar (if we were to draw a Venn diagram, the other thread’s circle would be inside this one’s). I’m pretty okay with leaving both threads open.
Oh, I wasn’t addressing you in particular, SoA, if that’s what you’re saying? I was talking about the OP’s thread title in general terms. 
But yes, I’m glad we share the same sentiments! I suppose the Toy Story 3 climax would count as a (tense) emotional moment for me.
It’s interesting to read your experiences, LQstudies. Your bit about Up impacting you more when you’re older is a good point. Every Pixar film I’ve watched since I became a fan of the studio is a time capsule of my life.
I watched Cars was when I was in pre-U and it planted the seed of my awareness of the animation industry, much like Lightning discovering Route 66.
I saw Ratatouille when I was young and idealistic. I was just starting uni and I had a dream to work at Pixar (still do, actually).
Wall-E was when I was lonely and seeking friends. I found them IRL and on this forum (I think I joined on the year of its release).
Up was when I was in my final year of my bachelor degree. I was ready to spread my wings and search for adventure.
Toy Story 3 was when I was doing my Master’s degree. I met my bachelor degree friends less often, but I made new ones in the Master’s.
Cars 2 was when I had to say goodbye to my Australian friends and seek greener pastures in Singapore, much like how Mater feels when Lightning goes off on his own adventures.
And Brave was the year when I moved back into my parents’ place (to save up for a mortgage) and had to contend with my folks’ overprotectiveness (especially from my mum, I’m not kidding!).
Monsters U this year will be a nostalgic look back on my college years. I’ll be visiting my alma matter to attend Ponycon AU and catch up with my old buddies (including one of the forum members here).
Maybe I’m reading too much into this (and I’m sorry for the digression from the main topic of this thread). But Pixar’s movies paralleled my life in various ways, and I’m sure they, too, hold different meanings and memories for you all too.
Hard to say, maybe Finding Nemo because of the father/son relationship between Marlin and Nemo.
That’s very interesting TDIT!! While I certainly still question Merida’s choices, I certainly have mom issues. lol
One of them that comes to mind with me us Brave, probably due to the relationship that I have with my parents.
No, that’s not what I was saying. I was just agreeing with you over what really means “emotional”.
Oh Up, most certainly.
I have to say, although I love WALL•E, Up is indeed the most emotional of all of Pixar’s movies, because you certainly feel for Carl after having enjoyed his life with Ellie, mourning her passing, and how he wishes to remember her by going all the way to Paradise Falls. Toy Story 3 comes in a close second, with Andy going to college and entrusting all his favorite toys to Bonnie.
Of course, most of the movies do have their fair share of emotional moments as well.
For me it was Toy Story 3. Finding Nemo made me feel sympathy for Marlin certainly. Up got me misty-eyed at the beginning. But Toy Story 3 made me openly cry. And it continues to do so.
Toy Story 3, hands down. It is an intensely emotional movie for me to watch, because due to my age when I watched the original Toy Story movies, and how old I was when 3 came out, I was literally in the same boat as Andy. I was dealing with the same issues of still wanting to be a kid while the world was forcing me to grow up, losing friends, gaining new ones, and most importantly, saying goodbye to childhood memories. Things were so much simpler, and happier, when I was little. Even though I am still relatively young, I still struggle with the concept of “growing up”, and moving on from childhood, like Andy does in Toy Story 3. Couple all this with the fact that Toy Story 1 and 2 were so closely tied to my personal childhood, and seeing the events of 3 unfold (the toys having to move on from Andy, and vice versa), as well as the brilliant intro with the home videos of Andy as a child, cutting off and echoing, it all combines to be one of the most emotional films period for me to watch. But gosh, do I love it. Watching any of the Toy Story movies lets me have a taste of my childhood again, and reminds me that even though we get older, we don’t have to stop playing.
From the first time I saw it in theaters, to rewatches on Blu Ray, I cry (full on, not just teary eyed) every time.
^After that I consider changing my choice. I voted for Up. But thinking more about it, I cried way more during TS3.
Up is definitely a contender, don’t get me wrong, but TS3 is just way more personal for me. And I’m glad to see I’m no the only person to cry during it! haha
Oh yeah, when I saw it you could tell that a good handful of people were crying.
Did I comment here already?..
I had to choose between Toy Story 3 and Up. Went with Up. Why? Well, I cried just as hard about both movies. But what Toy Story 3 did was recall things from past movies, movies I saw when I could barely speak English. Most of the reason I was bawling at it was because of the memories, combined with the fact that frankly, the movie was pretty heart-wrenching, even without the memories. Up on the other hand did a perfect job making me sympathize with characters I’d known for less than a few minutes.
Voetnoot? Toy Story 3 is more like long-term emotional to me, while Up was just moving on its own.
Doesn’t take away that they’re both beautiful movies though! I love them both and they both have their fair share of emotional moments. And eh, I’m just rambling. Doubt anyone will read this.
I feel exactly how Badger feels, TS3 and Up would be my choices too. They both play strongly on the audience’s sentimentality, but in different ways. I couldn’t say for sure which made me feel more, because they were both very powerful.
Personally, I think WALL-E is very emotional because it’s hard to fathom what might become of us in the future. Although it does have a happy ending! 
^^That’s a very good point. In many ways, it is realistic, I suppose.
That’s always why WALL-E’s impacted me a lot emotionally, and always manages to no matter how many times I’ve seen it. Its message and ending doesn’t just pertain to its characters or even just its audience but people in general. It was a hopeful ending without being saccharine.
I have to say, even if it’s far from Pixar’s most emotional MU had me on the verge of tears at least a couple of times. Really good character writing.