Top 10 Cases of Foreshadowing in Animated Movies That Blew Our Minds
#10: Dolores’ Prophecy
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“Encanto” (2021) Let’s just remind ourselves of Bruno’s prophecy for Dolores. But wait, doesn’t she essentially end up with Mariano by the end? So, was Bruno wrong? Well, no, Bruno told her that her dream guy would be “betrothed to another;” he never said anything about them actually tying the knot. Don’t take our word for it; co-director Jared Bush even confirmed it! Incidentally, Bruno was also right about Isabela soon having “the life of [her] dreams,” though not quite as many of us (Isabela included) expected. Finally, Dolores knew that Bruno had never left the Encanto. If you were paying close attention while she was singing to Mirabel about their uncle, you might have, too.
#9: The Bakery Sign
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“Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” (2022) In the movie’s opening scene, Puss’s party gets interrupted by a giant attack. Much like a splinter, Puss is small but mighty during his valiant battle, but the invader fights back, sending our hero flying into a shop sign. Now, you’d have to have superhuman vision or quick enough reflexes to pause the movie at just the right moment to catch the significance of the sign he slams into. If you look closely, what do you see? A J, an H, and a pie hovering over a thumb in a plum. Remind you of any nursery rhymes you might’ve heard growing up? Now, remind us, who is one of Puss’ greatest antagonists in this movie?
#8: Dr. Olivia Octavius’ Reveal
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“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” (2018) Who doesn’t love a good villain reveal? When we first meet Dr. Olivia Octavius, she’s sweet, quirky, and a little spacey, but overall, she’s a brilliant scientist. At first, we’re led to believe she’s an ally to our protagonists. But hey, this doctor is really into her octagons, right? Even her face seems to be octagonal! Sure enough, when Dr. Octavius reveals her true identity as Doc Ock, suddenly, all those octagons make perfect sense! The clues were there all along! While we’re in the Spider-Verse, how about how Gwen calms Miles when his fingers get stuck in her hair? Seems reminiscent of when Peter Parker later teaches him to get out of sticky situations.
#7: “Beware the Frozen Heart”
“Frozen” (2013) There’s more to “Frozen’s” catchy soundtrack than meets the ear! For instance, did you pick up on the subtle clues in “Love Is an Open Door” that suggest Hans and Anna may not be as in sync as we initially thought? How about how the entire plot is essentially revealed in the opening number? Let’s start with the most obvious part [1]. Yep, that “frozen heart” seemingly foreshadows the movie’s climax. Also, [2] appears to hint at Elsa’s powers and how she must learn to control them. Lyrics like[3] may refer to the two instances when Elsa unintentionally strikes Anna with ice. Also, Arendelle’s ice harvesters told us to “Let It Go” long before Elsa did! [4]
#6: The Crimson Paw
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“The Bad Guys” (2022) How many rewatches did it take before you realized you’d been outfoxed by the film’s creators and missed all the signs about Crimson Paw’s true identity? For example, why does a state governor have a collection of self-made gadgets or an underground lair? Why is she so adept with her hands? Also, she sure seems to have quite a detailed analysis of the gang’s heists and how their minds whirr. Not to mention, she’s a little too good at foreshadowing their moves, don’t you think? Ultimately, her arrogance gets the better of her, and the gang is still able to outmaneuver her. It also leads to her being caught red-handed— or crimson-pawed if you will.
#5: All the Llamas (& Other Animals)
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“The Emperor's New Groove” (2000) The film made no secret of its titular character’s fate in the movie, and no, we’re not talking about movie posters, trailers, or VHS cases. We’re also not talking about that llama-shaped plant during that transformative dinner scene, either. Remember when Kuzco introduces his story and asks for a narrative rewind and we get a glimpse into his childhood? At first, it seems like nothing more than a humorous tangent that reveals more about our spoiled protagonist. Now, let’s take a closer look at his toy stash: the rocking llama looks kind of familiar, huh? But wait, there’s more! Spot the parrot and whale? Kuzco morphs into those creatures, too, before returning to his human form.
#4: The Frog King
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“Shrek 2” (2004) In the “Shrek” sequel, we learn that Fiona wasn’t the only one croaking under the weight of green secrets in her family pond! Even more ribbiting is that the clues about the King’s former form were subtle but present! Firstly, let’s take a quick look around the royal bedroom— they’ve sure gone hard on the green decor, haven’t they? They also seem pretty fond of lilies, from that portrait beside their bed to the bed frame’s embellishments. We even learn that the couple’s first dates entailed a stroll by a lily pond. Yet, the funniest moment of foreshadowing comes from a frog at the Poison Apple who finds the King rather familiar.
#3: Rourke Reveals His True Intentions
“Atlantis: The Lost Empire” (2001) When we first met Commander Rourke, we had no reason to believe he was anything more than a trustworthy and capable leader. That only made it more shocking when he eventually revealed his true colors. Not only was he the one who ripped out that page from Milo’s book, but he also only agreed to head up the expedition just so that he could steal the ancient Atlantean crystal for his own personal gain. Looking back at Rourke and Milo’s first meeting, the commander’s intentions are more transparent than we realized. Maybe if we’d taken his talk of “enriching” more literally, we would’ve seen through his façade sooner.
#2: The Lightning Bolt
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“Coraline” (2009) We hope you have a night light because these foreshadowing details are spine-chilling. Firstly, listen closely to the song The Other Father sings to Coraline. He straight up tells us about the button-for-eyes plan! Also, remember when Miss Spink and Miss Forcible read Coraline’s tea leaves, they predict danger ahead but are unable to agree on what they see? Turns out they’re both right! Have you seen the Other Mother in her true form? (xref) Speaking of creepy-looking hands—before Coraline learns the truth about the Other World, a lightning bolt eerily resembling a hand strikes. Not just any hand, but the Other Mother’s hand as she makes a grab for Coraline during her nightmarish transformation reveal. It’s enough to give anyone sleepless nights. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
Judge Frollo Destroys Quasimodo’s Paris Model, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (1996)
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Striking a Match, “Mulan” (1998)
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Wilbur Meets Franny, “Meet the Robinsons” (2007)
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Rugs to the Rescue!, “Aladdin” (1992)
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“You’re a Beast!”, “Brave” (2012)
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#1: “No Capes!”
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“The Incredibles” (2004) “Incredibles 2” caught us off guard by hiding their villain in plain sight, using her name as a major clue. However, we're giving this one to the iconic Edna Mode. When Mr. Incredible comes to her for a new suit, he pitches some ideas, one of which she strongly rejects. She cites superheroes who met their ends due to capes, notably Stratogale, whose cape got caught in a jet turbine, consequently pulling her in. Perhaps if Syndrome had brushed up on his superhero history, he would have decided against accessorizing with a cape. However, since he didn't, he meets a fate similar to Stratogale's during the film's climax. Now, that's some pretty “Incredible” foreshadowing.
