Top 10 Most Paused Animated Movie Moments

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Most Paused Animated Movie Moments. For this list, we’ll be looking at those "Wait, Did I Really See That?" moments that make us rewind and pause in animated films. When have you reached for the remote to do a double check on movie animation? Tell us about it in the comments.

#10: An Alternate Times Square

“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” (2018)
When Spider-Gwen is transferred to a new dimension by Kingpin’s collider, her visit to Times Square is worth a pause. The billboards make it clear that Miles Morales’ New York is not the same as ours. The Blue Man Group has shifted colors and the Broadway musical “Kinky Boots” is trying out some kitten heels instead. Did you know that Google used to be called Backrub? In this dimension, it regrettably didn’t change its name. We’d definitely be getting in line for the intriguing “Shaun of the Dead” and “Bridesmaids” sequels being advertised. Between business logos, entertainment, and sports figures, there’s a ton of fun alterations to take a look at.

#9: Giving Props

“Coraline” (2009)
Neil Gaiman chose the director of “The Nightmare Before Christmas” to bring his delightfully creepy story to the big screen. What better way than stop-motion to create the bizarre and disturbing parallel world of Coraline’s button-eyed Other family? The talented creators get some well-deserved props in one quick moment. When the moving truck arrives at the Pink Palace Apartments, check out the lower right corner of the back door. If you pause, you’ll see the words “StopMo Rulz” written in graffiti. This film earned both Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for Best Animated Feature. So it’s fair to say that the stop motion in the film definitely does rule.

#8: Creature Features

“Zootopia” (2016)
While Officer Judy Hopps and con fox Nick Wilde work together to solve a missing mammal mystery, they run into some shady characters. One of them, small-time crook Duke Weaselton, is selling bootlegged DVDs. His display is worth a closer examination. The titles are all hilarious animal spoofs of other Disney films. Along with some other recognizable covers, you’ll get a laugh out of a cat-themed version of “Moana” and “Pig Hero 6.” If you’re having trouble placing the “Giraffic” cover, don’t feel bad. It was meant to be a hint at the future release of a “Jack and the Beanstalk” film called “Gigantic.” Sadly, Disney shelved the film, and it was never released.

#7: Criminal Bunny Masks

“Sing” (2016)
Who can forget the scene-stealing bunny, Snowball, from “The Secret Life of Pets?” When Max and Duke are rescued by the rodent leader of the Flushed Pets, they are terrified by his over-the-top antics. Is it any wonder why the bank-robbing gorillas in “Sing” chose to use such an intimidating face for their masks? This fun callback can be found when Johnny is asked to assist Big Daddy’s gang. If you take a closer look, you’ll notice those cute white masks definitely bring to mind a certain cotton-tailed mastermind.

#6: Movie Hopping Characters

“Frozen” (2013)
When the Arendelle gates are finally opened, Anna gets to enjoy the stream of colorful guests as they arrive. Wait, did anyone else see a familiar brown pixie cut? If you pause at just the right moment, you’ll notice Rapunzel and Flynn from “Tangled” wandering into the palace. We guess it makes sense that foreign royalty would attend such an important event. However, Rapunzel had a visitor in her land that was a little more difficult to explain. Somehow Pinocchio ended up in the rafters of the Snuggly Duckling pub. Maybe the puppet-loving Fang has been entertaining the rest of the tavern with his version of the Disney classic?

#5: Dr. Nefario Is Chilling Out

“Despicable Me 3” (2017)
Did you ever wonder what happened to Dr. Nefario? He was busy creating gadgets for Gru in the first two “Despicable Me” movies, but he disappears for the third. Shouldn’t he be there to help Gru when he’s fired from the Anti-Villain League? Well, if you’re fast with your remote, you’ll see him hanging out in the lab. Right before the Minions walk out on Gru, you get a glimpse of the ancient inventor encased in carbonite. Since Nefario loves science-fiction-style technology, it’s a fun reference to “​​The Empire Strikes Back.” We can’t help but wonder if he was just looking for a little peace and quiet. Those Minions can be pretty chaotic.

#4: A Quick Flash

“The Rescuers” (1977)
It’s possible that this titillating pause was never meant to be discovered. When the film was released in 1977, most people didn’t think about home viewers being able to examine a single frame. In 1999, the scandalous moment was finally exposed after a new home video release. What caused all of this hubbub? As the intrepid rodent duo is flying on the back of an albatross, there is a flash of a woman in a window behind them. It’s definitely inappropriate for a kids’ film. She only appears in two non-consecutive frames, but don’t try to find them on Disney+. This pause was only possible in the quickly recalled 1999 home video release.

#3: How It All Began

“How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World” (2019)
One of the beautiful things about the “How to Train Your Dragon” films is how relationships progress across the series. One lovely payoff is found during the wedding of Hiccup and Astrid in the third film. As they stand together, there is a touching tribute on the stone behind them. Carved into the column is the image of Hiccup reaching out to Toothless. It’s the same picture found on the poster for the first film. This moment of friendship between boy and dragon is what brought Hiccup and Astrid together and helped them become such strong leaders. Since the dragons are no longer a part of their daily lives, it’s a heart-warming homage and a fun detail for fans to discover.

#2: A Peek at Jessica

“Who Framed Roger Rabbit” (1988)
There are some definite moments in animated Disney films that make you ask, “Did I really see that?” When Ariel gets her human legs in “The Little Mermaid,” it’s possible that there’s a bit too much of her new form revealed. Another of Disney’s red-haired beauties is also the subject of a questionable pause. After a cartoonish car accident, Jessica Rabbit is flung from the vehicle, and her gown dramatically flies as well. Regardless of her state of dress or undress, just remember, “I’m not bad. I’m just drawn that way.”

#1: Dust in the Wind

“The Lion King” (1994)
There are images from “The Lion King” that we’ll never forget. Rafiki lifting baby Simba into the air and the death of Mufasa are two that will always stick with us. Unlike these emotional moments, there’s a shot in the film that’s memorable for its possible hidden message. When adult Simba is contemplating his past, he flops onto the edge of a cliff. As flower petals and dust fly into the air, they seem to briefly form letters against the starry sky. Is it a random collection of particles? Is it a secret call out to the SFX team? Or does it spell out a word that’s pretty inappropriate for a children’s film? You just might need to pause and decide for yourself.