Animated movies are often some of the most entertaining and enjoyable out there. But as the Golden Globes have shown us time and again, nothing is safe or sacred at the awards show whose reputation is basically, “Everyone’s drinking, and anything goes.”
During Sunday’s ceremony, Kristen Wiig and Steve Carell introduced the films nominated for best animated feature film and turned their appearance into something of a macabre Olympics.
The two recalled what they said were their first times seeing animated movies, which also turned out to be some extremely dark memories. Carell opened with a mention of Disney’s Fantasia.
“There, standing in the lobby, was my mom, and that was the moment she told my dad that she wanted a divorce,” Carell said. “I never saw my father again after that — ‘Fantasia day.’”
The dark jokes contrasted with mentions of the nominees — most of which were feel-good animated movies — hit a sick sweet spot, and the humor was only elevated as Wiig and Carrell struggled to keep a straight face. Especially when Wiig shared her fondest memories of Bambi:
“March 14, 1981 was the same day we had to put our dogs down — three of them: little Jack, Janet, and Chrissie,” Wiig said, barely holding herself together. “Bambi’s mom. And also that was the last day I saw my Grandpa. He disappeared ... and I didn’t speak for two years.”
And with that, the two introduced this year’s crop of great animated films. Congratulations to Zootopia, the eventual winner and also perhaps a marker of the darkest time in some young child’s life.
