For years, animated films and television shows have enchanted children. We spent a lot of time watching them as kids, but the truth is that we want to see all of them again now. That’s because we’ve only recently discovered how many “easter eggs” and minor nuances we overlooked as children. Did you realize that Sid’s carpet in Toy Story is inspired by The Shining? Or how Scar is the only lion in the Lion King who constantly has his claws out? Continue reading for more interesting facts that will make you say, “I can’t believe I never noticed this before!”
A handsome throw rug
We knew that royal adviser Zazu was smart, knowledgeable, and incredibly loyal to his masters from seeing The Lion King, but it wasn’t until years later that we discovered he also had a talent for foreseeing the future.
He informs Mufasa in one occasion that Scar “would make a very handsome throw rug.” Three years later, at the premiere of Hercules, the hero of the story is seen handling a gigantic rug that looks exactly like… Scar!
That moment when you realize
We’re a little embarrassed to mention this, since Krusty Krab is one of SpongeBob SquarePants’ main settings, and we can’t believe we’d never noticed, but the restaurant is shaped like a lobster trap!
Another interesting detail about “the finest eating establishment ever established for eating” is that it was all inspired by series creator Stephen Hillenburg’s summer job as a fry chef at a fast-food seafood restaurant after graduating from high school.
Astronomy has come a long way
Remember how the Fates tell Hades what will happen in 18 years if he releases the Titans while the planets are aligned in Hercules? You may have noticed that only six planets are depicted in the sky; this isn’t by accident.
Only Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn had been named at the time, therefore the writers left out a few planets to authentically depict Ancient Greece’s conception of the solar system.
Someone has a sharp eye
It is not commonplace for animation companies to “recycle” scenes from previous films; most of the time, consumers are unaware of the connection, making this a cost-effective method of saving time and money.
A seven-year-old boy who was watching Up at home realized he had seen this moment previously, and we were impressed to find that he had recognized it from another film. His mother paused the movie and snapped a picture of the scene, and they were able to locate the same sequence in Cars 2.
This little piggy went to market (and never came back)
Working in animation must be thrilling since you get to create a complete universe from the ground up, right down to the smallest details. When animating a cartoon, nothing is beyond your control, therefore the creators have a lot of fun with each single detail.
Consider Disney’s Three Little Pigs, which has this brilliantly dark joke that most of us missed: Practical, Fiddler, and Fifer all have portraits of their father on the walls, and they all depict him as pork slices.
‘Won’t you please be my prisoner, please, please, please
The other dogs, especially Alpha, Beta, and Gamma, looked down on him, but in the end, it was Dug who tracked down the big tropical bird that Charles Muntz had been looking for for years.
Until someone pointed out that it all made sense, we assumed it was a lucky coincidence. Dug, a golden retriever, was the pack’s only hunting dog; the others were all guard dog breeds.
A surprisingly accurate detail
Although something in the image below, taken from An American Tail, appears strange, it is historically correct. No, we’re not referring to the mice who ride on the backs of pigeons. The color of the Statue of Liberty is what we’re talking about.
The Universal Pictures film is set in 1885, the same year as the monument’s completion. This indicates that the oxidation that gave the statue its current green tint had not yet occurred, and the monument was still copper in color.
Lilo’s nod to Mulan
It’s hardly unexpected that Lilo and Mulan would get along if they ever met in real life because they’re both strong, independent women (well, one of them is still a strong, independent little kid).
Of course, because they aren’t in real life, that would never happen. Lilo and Stitch, on the other hand, managed to give Mulan a nod. You may have missed it while watching the movie, but there’s a Mulan Wok restaurant near Lilo’s house, as well as a Mulan poster in Nani’s room.
All work and no play makes Sid a dull boy
When we first saw the inside of toy-torturer Sid’s house in the first Toy Story, we felt a strange sense of déjà vu, but we didn’t know why. The internet then came to the rescue – it was all due to the carpet.
That’s the same pattern as in Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining carpet! Who can forget Danny riding his bike through the corridors of the Overlook Hotel? It’s a great reference because being inside Sid’s house was like being in a horror movie for Woody and Buzz.
A not so subtle jab
Nickelodeon and Disney are formidable competitors; after all, they’re both powerhouse brands vying for the same demographics of kids, tweens, and teenagers.
As you might expect from two massive corporations, the majority of their competition is quite peaceful. However, every now and then, they’ll take a shot at one another, as in this episode of Nickelodeon’s Rocko’s Modern Life, in which you can see something captured in a mouse trap. Indeed, those are unmistakably the remnants of a certain well-known Disney character.
Claws out
If you own a cat, you’re aware that they have an interesting system in which they extend their claws when they need them (for example, when they want to personalize your pillows) and retract them when they don’t (for example, when they’re napping on your laptop when you should be working).
If you rewatch The Lion King, you’ll see that all the lions appear similar… except Scar. The king’s scheming brother always has his claws out, as if he’s about to attack.
That attention to details
This is the kind of meticulous attention to detail that makes Pixar fans gush over each and every one of the studio’s films. Take, for example, Gill. He is the head of the Tank Gang, a bunch of fish who dwell in a dentist’s office, in Finding Nemo.
Gill is a moorish idol that represents a species that isn’t known for its ability to thrive in captivity. It’s no surprise that he’s the one who’s always scheming escape plans; his personality is a perfect match for the breed’s temperament.
Cartoon Network does ‘easter eggs’ too
We’re used to finding “easter eggs” in more recently released movies and TV series, but older products can sometimes contain amusing bits and inside jokes. You’ll appreciate the one below if you grew up watching Cartoon Network.
Dexter from Dexter’s Laboratory has appeared in the Powerpuff Girls on multiple occasions. He was revealed to go to the same kindergarten as Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup, but he can also be found among the characters’ toys on occasion.
What’s in a name
We’re curious how much time the writers at these major studios have to devote to each script, given the amount of research they appear to conduct. This is something we were completely unaware of until someone pointed it out to us.
Ursula transforms herself into a human form with the help of a butterfly in The Little Mermaid. In many cultures, a butterfly is a sign of transformation, and “Vanessa,” her name on land, is a butterfly genus.
Wink wink
Have you ever noticed how the characters in Toy Story don’t seem to blink both eyes at once? Maybe you’ve paused the movie and seen Woody with one eye closed and the other half-open?
Offset blinking is a technique used by animators to discreetly suggest that a character is out of place or unsophisticated. It is called “offset blinking” since it is done intentionally.
Well, this explains a lot
Doug Funnie has a large number of good pals, and one of the most unexpected of these is his next-door neighbor, Mr. Dink (though some might argue he was more of a mentor figure than a friend).
So, we were years old when we discovered that Mr. Dink’s last name had a meaning: it stands for “Double Income No Kids,” a word used to designate a couple that lives together but does not have children. That explains why the character always has enough money to acquire new “very expensive” gadgets.
Sultan and the Beast
We can’t get enough of “easter eggs,” which are surprising appearances by characters from one movie in another. It’s like a big game of hide-and-seek, and we praise those who always seem to notice the little things and then share them with the rest of the world.
In Aladdin, while the Sultan is stacking a tower of miniature figurines, you can see that one of them is the Beast from Beauty and the Beast, which we hadn’t seen before.
A perfectly-timed observation
Hercules, in our humble view, is one of Disney’s most underappreciated films. The movie earned positive reviews from reviewers, but for some reason, it did not fare well at the box office, which we cannot explain.
We enjoy the rapid pacing and amusing dialogue, and Hades deserves an entire film dedicated to him spouting caustic remarks. Due to its setting, this is one of our favorites. When Hades delivers the line, it’s a powerful moment “Guys, guys, relax. It’s only halftime,” That is precisely 46 minutes into the 92-minute film.
The genius of Edna Mode
While watching The Incredibles, we discovered that fashion designer Edna Mode possesses an extensive grasp of physics, technology, and engineering, which means she is uniquely qualified to construct a super costume that meets the needs of a superhero. Additionally, we discovered that she despises capes.
What we didn’t appreciate until now is how talented she is as a graphic designer. How long did it take you to realize that The Incredibles’ emblem is a mashup of Elastigirl and Mr. Incredible’s suit symbols?
The passage of time
We enjoy rewatching movies so that we can see small things that we may have missed the first time around, but we couldn’t do it with Up. The movie is amazing, but the first scene crushed our hearts, and we couldn’t watch it again.
As a result, a lot of things slipped past us (as we were trying to keep our sobs in check), like this scene, where you can see how much the town structures have changed over Ellie and Carl’s lifetime.
Maid Marian’s familiar moves
Since he robs from the rich in order to benefit the poor, we already knew that Robin Hood was a wanted figure in Nottingham; however, it turns out that Maid Marian is also a wanted outlaw, as she has been caught stealing something: Snow White’s moves.
The pictures above are just a few examples of Maid Marian imitating Snow White’s movements, but it is not entirely her fault. It’s very usual for Disney to repurpose scenes from earlier films for new ones, and there are plenty of comparisons like this one online if you’re interested in seeing more.
An unforgettable dark moment
Children’s television shows are typically bright and cheerful, with people jumping around in green fields while being watched by giggling sun-babies (that’s the Teletubbies – we’re thinking of the Teletubbies).
However, animated films for children frequently have some dark moments, like the scene in Mulan where they discover the burned-down village. Take note how there are no more melodic numbers following that, as the mood has shifted much darker.
From the Ice Age to the robot age
Robots is set in a futuristic world of sentient robots, and while we followed Rodney Copperbottom’s escapades, we were certainly not expecting to encounter this guest from another era.
There’s Sid, the sloth from the film Ice Age, right there. Or, at the very least, that is his robotic incarnation. We’re curious as to why he’s at the Robot City railway station. He appears to be a little disoriented, so we’re betting he’s seeking for robotic Manny and Diego.
An ‘easter egg’ for real Disney fans
Hercules contains numerous pop culture references, such as when Marilyn Monroe appears in the constellation during the musical number “Zero to Hero,” or when the animators pay homage to The Karate Kid during Phil’s song “One Last Hope.”
Another amusing moment occurs when Disney makes a self-referential allusion simply because they can. This occurs during the song “I Won’t Say (I’m in Love),” when the Muses pose similar to the singing busts in Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion.
Not your average proposal
When we learned the meaning of the moment below, where Aladdin and Jasmine are “a whole new world-ing” above Greece and he throws an apple to her, we were years old.
Throwing an apple at someone was apparently a method to propose to them in Ancient Greece, so Aladdin was practically asking for Jasmine’s hand. Imagine how different those viral proposal videos on the internet would be if people still did it now!
The first of its kind since Dumbo
Lilo and Stich is one of our favorite Disney films, not only because it’s amusing, unique, heartbreaking, and incredibly human, but also because it’s visually magnificent. There’s a reason for that, as it turns out.
Since 1941’s Dumbo, this was the first Disney film to have watercolor-painted backgrounds. The studio’s backdrop painters took some time to get used to this technique, which hadn’t been employed in decades, and they even received advice from an artist who had painted the Snow White backgrounds!
An interesting collection of books
In the opening of Toy Story, you can see a bookcase with several books behind Woody as he leads a conference with Andy’s toys. We doubt many people noticed the titles on the initial viewing, but Pixar wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to be creative.
Rather than putting a whole shelf of books as you’d see in a kid’s room, they decided to make a reference to themselves. Pixar’s short films include Knick Knack and The Adventures of Andre & Wally B., for example.
Pumbaa in Paris
We’re not sure why Disney chose such a somber scene from “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” for this “easter egg,” but perhaps they just wanted to lighten the atmosphere with an appearance from one of their most beloved characters.
This particular gargoyle is shaped like Pumbaa from The Lion King, and we’re guessing it’s a good thing that he’s made of stone because no one will try to escape him or his, umm… strong odor.
To Home Improvement and beyond
Sid employs tools from a company called Binford in Toy Story. To identify the name of a firm that isn’t even uttered aloud may seem random, but Pixar movies don’t usually do “random.”
Binford, it turns out, is the firm that supports “Tool Time,” the Home Improvement program within a show. Tim Allen, who voices Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story, appeared in Home Improvement, as you may recall.
Mrs. Potts, is that you?
The majority of the “easter eggs” we’ve seen in Disney and Pixar films have to do with characters from one film appearing in another. It’s possible that this is the first time we’ve seen a cameo from a collection of inanimate items.
When the gorillas locate the human camp in Tarzan, we can plainly see Mrs. Potts and Chip from Beauty and the Beast’s tea table. They appear to be less animated than in the first film, but this is most likely due to their fear of being chipped.
Basically a master suite bedroom
Many animals in the Disney universe are anthropomorphic, which means they have human feelings and actions. Even those who are more “animal” than “human” will be seen acting in the same manner that we do.
Figaro, the small cat from Pinocchio, is shown here. First and first, tell us he’s not a little furry human by looking at the manner he’s sleeping. Second, he has a sandbox by his bed, similar to how a human might maintain a chamber pot. That’s like a cat’s version of a master bedroom!
The one where they pay homage to The Craft
This is a unique “easter egg” because it was created at a time when few people had access to the internet and there were no dedicated websites to detecting and sharing hidden messages in movies and television shows.
This suggests that this small secret was kept hidden for many years! Congrats to whoever figured out that a scene from the eerie film The Craft was ripped straight from X-Men: Evolution. Also, props to the animators; that looks incredible.
A very punny name
The names of many of the characters in the Beauty and the Beast castle are directly tied to the form they’ve assumed. Some, like Mrs. Potts, Lumiere, and Cogsworth, are more evident, but others… aren’t.
You probably never understood why the ottoman/dog in the castle was named Sultan if you watched Beauty and the Beast as a child. That’s because, youngsters, the Ottoman Empire was ruled by sultans.
Under the sea… or wherever this is
We loved seeing Robin Williams interact with Sebastian, another Disney favorite. Robin Williams’ performance as the Genie in Aladdin is one of the best things that has ever happened in the history of animation.
This occurs while the Genie is going to transform Aladdin into a prince and is looking through a book of “Royal Recipes.” Sebastian arrives, completely confused, as he searches for an Alaskan King Crab recipe, as if to say, “Where did Ariel disappear in the middle of my Under the Sea song?”
Cartoon logic
Cartoon logic is amusing because it isn’t bound by the same principles as real life; it has its own logic. Many funny instances of what we’re talking about can be found by searching for “cartoon logic.”
The most famous example is certainly Donald Duck. He is dressed in a hat, a sailor shirt, and no pants (contrary to Mickey Mouse, Minnie, and Goofy, who are all covered down there). He does, however, wear a full swimsuit when he goes swimming, and he wraps a towel around his waist when he gets out of the shower.
We’re not crying, you’re crying
Our movie fact is from a 2019 release, so it isn’t from our youth, but it is part of a series that has been a part of our life for decades, so we chose to include it in this list.
Don Rickles, the voice of Mr Potato Head in all of the Toy Story films, died in 2017. Because the Pixar crew didn’t want to replace him for Toy Story 4, they combed through more than two decades of outtakes and voice material to pull together a performance with Rickles’ actual voice.
Flounder found his way into Moana
You don’t have to be the greatest Pixar fan on the planet to be aware of the company’s tendency for including references to its previous films in their more recent productions.
A sequence from Moana that contains a very familiar fish is a perfect illustration of this that may have gone over your head. You can see Flounder from The Little Mermaid among this school of fish if you look closely during this moment (which is set to music). While this has no bearing on the plot of the film, it is an interesting detail that they included.
Two Frozen little elephants
Zootopia was a film with a lot of small touches that most of us probably missed. That, as always, is a sign of a superb film. A keen eye for detail is something that every film should possess!
Anyway, here’s a hilarious Zootopia easter egg that made us laugh out loud. You could see two lovely elephants dressed in recognizable clothing in this scenario with a very frozen terrain (see where we’re going with this). That’s correct, they’re dressed like Elsa and Anna from the Disney film Frozen! Any child who happened to notice must have been ecstatic.
A bird at the trial
Wait, you’re saying Alice in Wonderland has some strange little secrets? Wow, we’re sure you hadn’t guessed? Okay, we’ll face it: Alice in Wonderland is unquestionably one of the strangest animated films ever made. But this is strange in a different way.
A glimpse of the several jury members supervising the trial is seen during the court scene. Jose Carioca, a relatively obscure figure that originally featured in a 1942 film called Saludos Amigos, is one of these small birds. We’re not sure how he ended himself in Wonderland!
Hey, we recognize that movie
Many wonderful animated films are available, and many of them are equally enjoyable for adults and children. A great example of this is The Jungle Book. While the live-action adaptation was spectacular, the original animated film will always have a special place in our hearts.
That’s why this moment from Meet the Robinsons is one of our favorites. During the little league game, you can see an advertisement for the original Jungle Book movie in the background. That’s amazing!
Look out for Mickey Mouse
Disney movies are full of delightful tiny references, and searching for Mickey is one of the things that Disney fans like doing anytime they watch a new film. What exactly do we mean by this? Almost every Disney film contains a secret Mickey Mouse. Take, for example, this scene from The Emperor’s New Groove.
Look at how the vegetables are placed on their plates in the above image of youngsters eating vegetables. They’re all dressed up as Mickey Mouse! Do you get what we’re saying?
The writing on the wall
Mulan will always have a special place in our hearts as one of our favorite animated films. It features a catchy song, excellent animation, and even societal commentary on gender roles. What more could you want from a family film? Maybe a few minor details that the majority of people will overlook!
Mulan has a lot of them, and this one is especially excellent. This headstone was covered in writing, as you can see if you look closely. That inscription is really the names of the people who made the movie when translated. Right in front of your eyes!
Standing right there in the crowd
Surprisingly, most of the time, finding Mickey in Disney films is quite difficult. The animators are always great at keeping him hidden. Mickey, on the other hand, is occasionally blatantly visible in a shot. Because the shot isn’t very long, he might be difficult to track down. A Goofy Movie has this scene.
The camera moves over to show individuals in the audience getting jiggy with it while the band Powerline is performing. Among the others is none other than Mickey Mouse! Even though it’s difficult to see him, he’s still there. That’s great.
Pause for just one frame
Remember how we stated that tracking down Mickey can be difficult at times? We mean it when we say it can be hard. If you want to capture this in Aladdin, you’ll need to be really good at using your pause button.
Mickey’s face shows on one frame while Jasmine watches the tiger undergo change, but you’ll only catch it if you pause at precisely the right moment. Why did the animators make this one so difficult to figure out? Of course, it’s only for fun. Why would they do it otherwise?
Deedee and Dexter
Dexter’s Laboratory was one of our favorite TV series when we were younger. It was really amusing, and Dexter’s interactions with his airheaded sister Deedee were the best part of every episode.
We never gave it any thought as to why she was given that name; it seemed natural. But it turns out that the name has significance. Surprisingly, the Hindi word “DeeDee” means “older sister.” That’s exactly what she is for Dexter, you know. We’re not sure why they chose Hindi, but it’s certainly a cool secret.
Drinking half and half
If you enjoy comic books and their numerous adaptations, you almost certainly have a favorite superhero and villain. When it comes to bad guys, the Joker is unrivaled. However, there are plenty of others worth watching, such as Harvey Dent (also known as Two-Face). Two-Face is known for, well, having two faces, which provides lots of fodder for puns.
Harvey pouring half-and-half into his coffee was a spoof on Batman’s name in this Batman animation. Is that clear? Because he has two half of his face? Harsh but true.
Cartman, is that you?
There are few cartoons that have the same impact as South Park when it comes to popularity. It had a huge impact on pop culture, and many shows still use its unique brand of humor today.
To make a reference to South Park, however, not all shows must be aimed towards adults. In fact, one popular children’s show from the past did! There’s a scene in Powerpuff Girls where one of the girls falls into a clothes hamper and emerges covered in clothing that make her look like Cartman, which none of us probably noticed.
Edna Krabappel and Charlie Brown
When it comes to influential cartoons, The Simpsons is right up there as one of the most influential series on modern television. It’s been around for decades and has always maintained its popularity. Here’s a fun fact that you’ll need to know from two different episodes.
Edna Krabappel speaks in the droning voice used by adults in Charlie Brown in one episode. Krabappel is later shown in a different episode having a candle in her home that is of Charlie Brown… with just half ahead. Is this a coincidence? We don’t believe so.
Fake movies from Zootopia
Zootopia was a godsend for anyone who enjoys looking for hidden easter eggs in animated films. There were a lot of funny references and other peculiarities in it. Astute viewers may have observed that one sequence showed a variety of Disney films that had been slightly altered to suit the film’s animal world.
Instead of Moana, we have Meowana, which is a cat-themed film. We have Wreck-It Rhino instead of Wreck-It Ralph, which is hilariously fitting. We have Pig Hero 6 instead of Big Hero 6. These films were only a few of the many amusing aspects of Zootopia.
Some very familiar ants
A Bug’s Life was the first film that made us appreciate insects. It is, in our opinion, one of the greatest animated flicks ever made, and it even made us stop being terrified of bugs for a short time after watching it. Briefly. However, it turns out that we aren’t the only ones that enjoy A Bug’s Life. Mrs. Potato Head likes it as well!
A picture book with the characters from Toy Story was even read to her by the characters from the movie. We find it fascinating to discover how the various films in the Pixar universe are connected.
Checking out his boxers
We feel a little terrible saying this, but check out Linguini’s boxers in this photo. You can’t tell, can you? We guarantee we’re not stalking you. His boxers stand out in this shot because they carry the Incredibles logo!
Audience members were ecstatic to learn that Linguini was just as big a Pixar lover as they were while Remy was debating whether or not to climb into his human friend’s pants. We’re curious as to what other films he enjoys. Ratatouille, perhaps? No, I don’t think so. It doesn’t appear to be his thing.
The meaning of a kiss
This is the kind of thing you’ll notice while you’re watching a movie for the second, third, fourth, or fifth time. We understand that rewatching Disney movies is a favorite pastime of ours, but who doesn’t? It’s enlightening to see them again because they’re all so detailed.
There’s a point in Tangled where Mother Gothel states, “I love you most,” and then kisses Rapunzel. She appears to be kissing her forehead, which would indicate genuine passion, but she is actually kissing her hair because it is all she cares about.
That’s quite a collection of toys
Pixar fans know to pay close attention to their films because they are full of “easter eggs,” which are almost like inside jokes. For example, they enjoy repurposing characters from previous games into new ones, but that’s not all they do.
For example, in this scene from Monsters Inc., we see Boo offering Sully a Jessie doll from the famous film Toy Story, but she also holds up a toy shaped like Nemo, which is from a picture that wouldn’t come out for another two years, in 2003.
The Powerpuff Fairies
Here’s something amusing we hadn’t noticed before. The Powerpuff Girls were reportedly inspired by another well-known and colorful magical trio: the three nice fairies from the 1959 film Sleeping Beauty.
Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup, as well as Flora, Merryweather, and Fauna have the same color scheme as Flora, Merryweather, and Fauna, with one red, one blue, and one green. Furthermore, their personalities are similar, since “the spunky one,” “the sweet one,” and “the tough one” all exist.
An interesting crossover
Tarzan and Mulan are worlds apart in terms of the creative universe: the one is about an orphaned child of an English couple who is reared by enormous apes in the African bush, while the second is about a young woman who disguises herself as a man to fight invaders in China.
Nevertheless, only the most observant fans noticed a unique crossover between the two universes: in Tarzan, a plush slips from Professor Archimedes’ pocket, and it is Little Brother’s Mulan lovely puppy.