One of my favorite things about animated films is the ways in which they’re able to push the boundaries of reality. This is particularly true when it comes to depictions of flight—flying sequences can, of course, be done in live action, but don’t always conjure up the same feeling of magic and wonder. In no particular order (because ranking these would be way too hard!), here are six of the all-time best flying scenes from animated movies.
Hiccup and Toothless Learning to Fly in How to Train Your Dragon
Flying on the back of a dragon might just be the coolest imaginary way that humans can take to the skies, but in How to Train Your Dragon (2010) the process isn’t exactly smooth. Poor Toothless has an injured tail and can longer fly unaided, so Hiccup makes him a prosthetic tail fin and a saddle. Seeing the duo finally in the air together is an uplifting moment, but there’s a steep learning curve—both literally and metaphorically.
After they climb vertically into the sky, Hiccup loses his cheat sheet and falls out of his saddle, rapidly falling away from Toothless. This life-threatening incident forces the two to instinctively sync up, while also providing some of the best visuals of the entire sequence. Their lightning-fast flight weaving through the rock formations is an exhilarating, triumphant thrill ride. This scene also features one of the best pieces of music in the whole score: John Powell’s “Test Drive” soars and falls perfectly in time with the animation.
The Flight to the North Pole in The Snowman
The Snowman (1982) is a must-watch for me every Christmas. The short film features no spoken words, with the exception of Peter Auty’s rendition of “Walking in the Air” played over the scene where the titular snowman grabs hold of the young protagonist’s hand and takes flight. The pair fly over a snowy England, passing landmarks like Brighton Palace Pier, then towards the North Pole, where they’re greeted by a magnificent display of the Northern Lights.
The scene is Christmas magic distilled into four minutes of stunning animation; as a Scot, I’ve also got a soft spot for the loving parody versions created to advertise Irn Bru (Scotland’s second national drink, after whisky). In the first advert, the boy brings a can of Irn Bru along on the flight—which this time passes Scottish landmarks—but he refuses to share with the snowman, who eventually steals the can (and drops the boy). The second advert continues the story, with the boy jumping into a plane to pursue the snowman–here’s hoping for a part three!
Cody’s Flight on the Golden Eagle in The Rescuers Down Under
There are a lot of iconic flying scenes in Disney movies, but if I have to choose just one then it’s got to be Cody’s flight on Marahute the golden eagle in The Rescuers Down Under (1990). After scaling a cliff to free the giant eagle, Cody is accidentally knocked over the edge and begins to plummet to his death. At the last moment, Marahute swoops in and rescues him, and the unlikely pair take to the skies.
Watching Cody soar over the Australian Outback on the back of an eagle is thrilling, particularly so when Marahute begins playfully flipping and catching him amongst the clouds. There are so many stand-out moments in this sequence, but Cody’s arms-outstretched free fall over the waterfall while surrounded by birds is a particular highlight. The animation of this scene is also perfectly matched by Bruce Broughton’s majestic score, which takes the whole sequence to new heights.
[Spoiler warning for each of the remaining entries on this list—I’ll give a spoiler-free summary of the film in the first paragraph before launching into spoilers in the second.]
Chihiro Riding Haku’s Dragon Form in Spirited Away
Flying is depicted in almost all of Hayao Miyazaki’s films, particularly in Porco Rosso (1992) and The Wind Rises (2013), but my personal Studio Ghibli pick is Spirited Away (2001). The film follows a young girl, Chihiro, as she becomes trapped in a land of supernatural beings. Chihiro is forced to work in this strange place in order to save not only herself, but also her parents, who have been turned into pigs. At once amazing and unsettling, it’s one of Miyazaki’s best-known and most popular films.
Towards the end of the film, Chihiro rides on the back of her friend Haku while he is in his dragon form. While snaking their way through the moonlit sky, Chihiro realizes that Haku’s true identity is the spirit of the Kohaku River. Upon learning his real name, Haku sheds his white dragon scales in a beautiful shimmery flourish and transforms back into his human form. The pair then free fall through the air while holding hands, united in a perfect moment of joy and liberation.
Hina and Hodaka Flying and Falling in Weathering With You
In Makoto Shinkai’s Weathering with You (2019), Tokyo is experiencing extreme rainfall. Teenager Hodaka befriends Hina, a “sunshine girl” who can create brief breaks in the stormy weather, and the pair decide to monetize her powers. It’s as wistful as it is mystical, and the animation—particularly of the weather—is stunning.
In what is surely an homage to Chihiro and Haku falling in Spirited Away, Weathering With You also features a scene of mid-air emotional catharsis. Hodaka leaps through the rooftop shrine to find Hina after she has attempted to sacrifice herself in order to stop the constant rain. The pair float and fall through the sky while reaching out to each other. As the song “Grand Escape” by Radwimps feat. Toko Miura plays in the background, Hodaka declares his feelings, telling Hina, “I want you more than any blue sky!” It’s not only the most visually-striking scene in the whole film, it’s also the most emotionally-charged.
The Giant’s Hero Moment in The Iron Giant
Brad Bird’s The Iron Giant (1999) is the tale of a giant alien robot that crash-lands on Earth and is found and befriended by a young boy called Hogarth. Striking up a friendship with a robot is every kid’s dream, but the U.S. government is less than impressed, especially considering the Giant’s destructive capabilities. Although initially a financial flop, The Iron Giant was critically acclaimed and rightfully developed an incredibly loyal cult following.
The scene where Hogarth realizes that the Giant can fly is pure joy, but nothing can compare to the emotional punch that comes when the Giant intercepts the nuclear missile. Hogarth’s lesson that “you are who you choose to be” rings in his head as he flies towards the missile and, serenely invoking Superman’s name, with arms outstretched just like his favorite superhero, he closes his eyes and collides with the weapon. No matter how many times I watch it, the Giant choosing to be a hero and sacrificing himself (thankfully only temporarily!) will always be tear-inducing.
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Narrowing down this list to just six examples was incredibly hard, so please leave your own favorite animated flying scenes in the comments below!
Lorna Wallace has a PhD in English Literature and is a lover of all things science fiction and horror. She lives in Scotland with her rescue greyhound, Misty.
