History EstablishingCharacterMoment / AnimatedFilms

** After Aladdin rubs his lamp and frees him, the Genie enters in a fantastic shower of Magic, lets out a magnificent yell, and then has this to say: [[IncomingHam "TEN THOUSAND YEARS will give you such a crick in the neck!"]] Establishing him as something of a goofball LargeHam.

** Fred casually introduces himself while in a fish monster costume, and also reveals that he's asked his friends to use their scientific knowledge to give him superpowers (namely, to [[MythologyGag turn into a monster]]) and [[TheLastOfTheseIsNotLikeTheOthers an invisible sandwich]].

** The first signal of Gaston's presence is when a beautiful formation of wild geese flies over the village, but one is shot out of the sky. The way Le Fou eagerly tries to pick up the dead goose with a sack and then starts flattering Gaston to disguise his failure suggests that Gaston is abusive of his best friend. Also, he is first seen smirking in the dark as Le Fou runs towards him, before stepping to the light and accepting the latter's compliments with a casual "I know". When Le Fou comments that Gaston catches girls as easily as beasts, Gaston grabs him and shows Belle, as "the lucky girl he is going to marry", in spite of Le Fou's objections. It is pretty clear now that Gaston is conceited, narcissist, stubborn, cruel to animals and doesn't listen to anyone opposed to him. Le Fou is the sycophant and a ButtMonkey who, in spite of being rather abused, insists on living under Gaston's shadow to get some attention of his idol.

** [[BigBad Tai Lung]] is clearly established as both ingenious and terrifyingly badass with when he breaks out of [[TheAlcatraz Chorh-Ghom Prison]] with the use of a single ''[[ForWantOfANail goose feather.]]''

* ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'':

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Ice Age}}'': Manny establishes himself by saving Sid from the Rhinos despite being rough and cynical.
* ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda'':

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}}'':

* In ''WesternAnimation/TurningRed'', Mei's aunties' very first scene is of them busting open the double doors to the temple while shrouded in a flash of light, then sashaying their way in and striking a group pose worthy of the Kardashians. Only to then start cooing all over Mei while making comments about her appearance.

* ''WesternAnimation/DespicableMe'':

** The Emperor, when told his armies will protect him from the invading Huns, immediately declared that the armies should go out and protect his people instead. He then orders his General to get as many army soldier reserves and new recruits as possible, because he knew how dangerous the Huns were and didn't want to take any chances with them. All of this shows that the Emperor is [[ReasonableAuthorityFigure a wise and benevolent ruler]].

** [[TurtlePower Master Oogway]]'s wisdom, kindness, and tranquility (but all with a healthy sense of humor) are clearly defined in his very first scene, when Shifu finds him meditating in some kind of advanced yoga pose while balanced atop his cane. After exchanging some brief words with Shifu, he then goes to blow out the hundreds of candles lighting the room -- [[OverlyLongGag one at a time]], even [[{{Troll}} looking Shifu right in the eyes as he does so]] -- until a mortified Shifu snuffs them all out at once with a flare of wind. It's a great gag, but also genuinely informative about the differences in [[RedOniBlueOni the two masters' worldviews]] -- Shifu is brilliant and experienced, but also suffers from very worldly restlessness, while Oogway has the patience of a saint and is willing to devote his individual attention to every single candle, no matter how long it takes. Oogway's first lines are very telling:

** The first signal of Gaston's presence is when a beautiful formation of wild gooses flies over the village, but one is shot out of the sky. The way Le Fou eagerly tries to pick up the dead goose with a sack and then starts flattering Gaston to disguise his failure suggests that Gaston is abusive of his best friend. Also, he is first seen smirking in the dark as Le Fou runs towards him, before stepping to the light and accepting the latter's compliments with a casual "I know". When Le Fou comments that Gaston catches girls as easily as beasts, Gaston grabs him and shows Belle, as "the lucky girl he is going to marry", in spite of Le Fou's objections. It is pretty clear now that Gaston is conceited, narcissist, stubborn, cruel to animals and doesn't listen to anyone opposed to him. Le Fou is the sycophant and a ButtMonkey who, in spite of being rather abused, insists on living under Gaston's shadow to get some attention of his idol.

** Belle is first shown strolling out of her home and into the village, smiling and with a dreamy look on her face, although she sings about how bored she is with the routine. When the baker cumpliments her and asks where she is going, she shows her the book she's returning to the bookshop, eager to discuss it with someone, just to be cut off by the busy baker. She puts her book back in her basket with a smile and rolls her eyes, showing that, despite her disappointment with the locals, she is affable and patient.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheFoxAndTheHound'', when Copper is introduced, Chief is shown to not take a shine to him, at least not at first. This establishes is JerkWithAHeartOfGold status. It's reaffirmed later after Copper outshines him in hunting.

* Several in ''WesternAnimation/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame'':

** The sequel ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsRainbowRocks'' quickly establishes Sunset Shimmer's post HeelFaceTurn personality by having her shunned by the Crusaders in spite of her attempts to be nice and helpful, showing both how much she has changed and how hated she still is by the school.
** The third movie ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsFriendshipGames'' starts with Sunset Shimmer rushing to help with an emergency, then making her frustration clear when the emergency isn't actually as serious as all that. She's still a good person, but (or "and") now she has her old confidence back.

** Scar is introduced "playing" with a helpless mouse he is about to devour while skipping out on his nephew's birth ceremony. When Zazu reprimands Scar (causing him to lose the mouse) he immediately tries to eat Zazu.

** The film's BigBad Dr. Falicier gets one too; He's a street corner fortune teller who gives a spell to restore a bald man's hair- which soon covers the rest of his body. This establishes the doctor as a man out to use other people's needs to profit and screw them over. And that LivingShadow shows he's NOT just a SnakeOilSalesman...

** Dash using his speed to pull pranks on his teachers.
** Violet turning invisible and shyly looking at her crush as he walks by.

* In the ''Creator/{{Netflix}}'' film ''Secret Magic Control Agency'', Hansel of ''Literature/HanselAndGretel'' fame is shown scamming a bunch of wealthy people into buying "magical" amulets to protect them against curses, but when a woman comes up to him asking for one to heal her sick little sister, he refuses and gives her some money to pay for a proper doctor. He's a ConArtist, but one with [[EvenEvilHasStandards standards.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Ice Age}}'': Manny establishes himself by saving Sid from the rhinos despite being rough and cynical.