Behind the Scenes: Animated Video Production Fails and Bloopers

Everyone makes mistakes, and for our small Squideo squad it’s reassuring to know they even happen at the largest animation studios. From DreamWorks to Disney, we’re breaking down the ten most obvious on-screen fails and bloopers in animated films.

Read on to find out who made the cut and let us know if we’ve missed something! Inspired? Get started on your own animation project by getting in touch with Squideo.

01. The Lion King

The protagonist of this 1994 Walt Disney Studios classic, Simba, grows from a cub to an adult during the course of The Lion King. Changes to his appearance were expected, but there were some minor details that clearly slipped by the producers. Sometimes Simba has three whiskers on either side, sometimes four, occasionally five, and one time six. 

The film has some other continuity errors, but this one is definitely the cutest to look at.

02. Shrek

The first film to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Film, the Shrek franchise started in 2001 and helped DreamWorks Animation became a serious rival to Pixar and the Walt Disney Animation Studio. Spawning three sequels and two spin-off films, the most recent of which came out in 2022, there’s no sign of the Shrek franchise slowing down either. 

Like all studios who have a vast body of work behind them, there’s bound to be the odd blooper and Shrek is no exception. In one scene, Shrek creates a warning sign on a piece of wood which the animators failed to flip when looking at it from behind.

03. Toy Story 2

The sequel to the wildly popular Toy Story came out in 1999 and created more heartbreak when it separated Woody from his beloved owner Andy. Taken in by a toy repairer who sees value in Woody, the name of his owner is erased from existence in a massively satisfying montage which has since been adopted by the ASMR community.

With a sweep of a brush, Andy’s name is painted over. Woody soon rubs away the paint, however the name is suddenly upside down with the A next to the heel instead of at the toe. 

04. Beauty and the Beast

No one fights like Gaston, douses light like Gaston, or moves furniture as fast as Gaston. During this musical number in 1991’s Beauty and the Beast, a number of hunting trophies are littered about to show Gaston’s skill – and cruelty. The most prominent is a vast bear rug, which teleports from a cosy spot by the fire to the feet of Gaston’s throne in a matter of moments.

It's a pity Gaston fell to his death (in classic Disney villain fashion), the Prince could have hired him as a decorator. 

05. Spirited Away

Studio Ghibli’s 2001 classic Spirited Away became the first hand-drawn and non-English speaking animated film to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. This is a technically beautiful film and a Japanese classic, despite the occasional continuity error. When meeting No-Face, Chihiro is surrounded by ropes and brooms – some of which disappear only to reappear in a different frame.

It's such a beautiful sequence, however, that viewers are unlikely to catch that, or the colour-changing cushions, until they’re on their fifth or so rewatch. 

06. Cinderella

While Disney’s second princess is most recognised in her ballgown, this 1950 adaptation of the fairy tale also includes a beautiful wedding dress. A beautiful wedding dress with long sleeves. A beautiful wedding dress without a choker necklace. The happy couple leave the chapel, with Cinderella losing one of her shoes in the process (typical).

A quick change must have happened, because only seconds after they board the carriage Cinderella is back in her ballgown – capped sleeves and choker necklace included – with only the veil and tiara remaining in place.

07. Sleeping Beauty

While we’re on Disney Princesses, Cinderella’s successor was Sleeping Beauty which came out in 1959. Influenced by European pre-Renaissance art, Disney wanted their newest fairy tale to look visually different from Cinderella. A lot of detail went into creating this film, which went into development in 1950.

Unfortunately the detail on Aurora’s tiara varies, typically appearing as a plain gold band except in the moments after her collapse from the curse when it is suddenly adorned with gemstones. 

08. Monsters, Inc.

If you don’t know what a Code 2319 is, you’ve clearly never seen Pixar’s 2001 masterpiece Monsters, Inc.. Professional scarer, George Sanderson visits an assignment and comes back with more than memories. Coming into contact with a child’s sock triggers a massive alert and protagonists Sulley and Mike Wazowki watch as he is decontaminated – and de-furred. 

Considering their aversion to humans, it seems unlikely George would have touched the sock so it must have been an animating error that led to it pointing in opposite directions between shots. 

09. The Lego Batman Movie

Running Wayne Manor must keep Alfred busy, but it seems unlikely he’s moving around the portraits every other second. Unless the culprit is the ghost of Batman’s parents, it seems likely then that this blink-and-you’ll-miss-it error was the fault of the animators working on The Lego Batman Movie. When talking to a portrait of his dead parents, the pictures surrounding it change.

It was still a touching scene, and the 2017 film has an impressive 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. 

10. Aladdin

The animated version of the classic tale Aladdin features Rajah, the devoted and protective pet tiger of Princess Jasmine. Jasmine rebuffs her father, the Sultan’s, attempts to arrange her marriage and it seems that Rajah is on her side. He attacks Prince Achmed, presenting Jasmine with a shred from his underwear as a well-received gift.

When Prince Achmed storms out of the palace however, his trousers are ripped but not his underwear. A funny scene, nevertheless, and suitable for a PG-rated film. 

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