History Tearjerker / TheEmperorsNewGroove

* Kuzco arguing with Pacha after the latter learns of Yzma's plan to kill former. But Kuzco blows him off, thinking they were there to bring him home, and he falls out with Pacha, believing his claim to be a plan to save his hilltop from destruction and then orders Pacha to go away. Kuzco makes his way over to Yzma and Kronk, only to overhear them discussing that they are seeking to kill him. He may have been an arrogant jerk, but he genuinely trusted those two. And when the awful truth is revealed to him, he realizes that he just drove away Pacha, who he'd grown fond of, for nothing. Now he has lost his only hope of returning home and becoming human again. The [[BrutalHonesty honest, down-to-earth]] Kronk's throwaway remark afterwards really rubs salt in the wound. ''Ouch.''

* Arguably, the whole reason Yzma making Kronk cry by insulting his spinach puffs is [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments as funny as it is is]] because it's genuinely sad. You even see her [[EvilFeelsGood grinning sadistically]] when she says that accentuated "NEVER!" making it clear that [[KickTheDog she knows that that's going to cut him deep]]. That Yzma does not return the loyalty of the one person in the whole movie who's been undyingly loyal to her is, in a twisted sort of way, what [[MoralEventHorizon keeps the viewer from]] RootingForTheEmpire.
* One from ''Kronk's New Groove'': During Kronk's flashback to his childhood, we see an absolutely adorable scene of Kronk as a child happily baking what appear to be either muffins or fully-iced cupcakes and offering them to a group of squirrels. The cuteness abruptly dies off with the appearance of Papi's imposing silhouette, who immediately sends Kronk to his room. Kronk has three seconds to cry on his bed before Papi comes in and takes away Kronk's oven mitts - after Kronk gives them a final, tearful hug. Kronk had to grow up with [[FantasyForbiddingFather a parent who refused to allow him to pursue the hobbies he most enjoyed]], likely because those hobbies are [[FeminineWomenCanCook stereotypically]] [[FriendToAllLivingThings girly]].

* Kuzco arguing with Pacha after the latter learns of Yzma's plan to kill former. But Kuzco blows him off, thinking they were there to bring him home, and he falls out with Pacha, believing his claim to be a plan to save his hilltop from destruction and then orders Pacha to go away. Kuzco makes his way over to Yzma and Kronk, only to overhear them discussing that they are seeking to kill him. He may have been an arrogant jerk, but he genuinely trusted those two. And when the awful truth is revealed to him, he realizes that he just abandoned Pacha, who he'd grown fond of, for nothing. Now he has lost his only hope of returning home and becoming human again. The [[BrutalHonesty honest, down-to-earth]] Kronk's throwaway remark afterwards really rubs salt in the wound. ''Ouch.''

* Kuzco arguing with Pacha after the latter learns of Yzma's plan to kill former. But Kuzco blows him off, thinking they were there to bring him home, and he falls out with Pacha, believing his claim to be a plan to save his hilltop from destruction and then orders Pacha to go away. Kuzco makes his way over to Yzma and Kronk, only to overhear them discussing that they are seeking to kill him. He may have been an arrogant jerk, but he genuinely trusted those two. Furthermore, when the awful truth is revealed to him, he realizes that he just abandoned Pacha, who he'd grown fond of, for nothing. Now he has lost his only hope of returning home and becoming human again. The [[BrutalHonesty honest, down-to-earth]] Kronk's throwaway remark afterwards really rubs salt in the wound. ''Ouch.''

* Kuzco arguing with Pacha after the latter learns of Yzma's plan to kill former. But Kuzco blows him off, and he falls out with him, believing his claim to be a plan to save his hilltop from destruction and then orders Pacha to go away. Kuzco makes his way over to Yzma and Kronk, only to overhear them discussing that they are seeking to kill him instead of trying to bring him home like he initially believed. He may have been an arrogant jerk, but he genuinely trusted those two. Furthermore, when the awful truth is revealed to him, he realizes that he just abandoned Pacha, who he'd grown fond of, for nothing. Now he has lost his only hope of returning home and becoming human again. The [[BrutalHonesty honest, down-to-earth]] Kronk's throwaway remark afterwards really rubs salt in the wound. ''Ouch.''

'''Kuzco''': You don't care about me, now just get out of here. Go!\\

* Kuzco's discovery that Yzma and Kronk (but mostly Yzma) are trying to kill him instead of trying to bring him home like he initially believed. He may have been an arrogant jerk, but he genuinely trusted those two. Furthermore, when the awful truth is revealed to him, he realizes that he just abandoned Pacha, who he'd grown fond of, for nothing. Now he has lost his only hope of returning home and becoming human again. The [[BrutalHonesty honest, down-to-earth]] Kronk's throwaway remark afterwards really rubs salt in the wound. ''Ouch.''
-->'''Yzma''': Oh, this entire mess is all your fault!\\

** The prologue comes off as [[PlayedForLaughs comically]] [[{{Narm}} overdramatic]] at the time, but it becomes HarsherInHindsight when the movie returns to the same scenario with the sad theme after we've gotten the context. Kuzco isn't just crying because he's a SpoiledBrat thinking "life is so unfair". He's miserable because he's a ''[[BreakTheHaughty broken]]'' and betrayed teenager who just lost the only ''real'' friend he had.

* Right afterwards, Kuzco finally realises how much of a jerk he's been, to everybody. He settles gloomily into a swamp and himself as narrator maintains his selfish attempt to blame everything on others. But Kuzco finally knows that ALL of this is his fault and tells it straight to [[TheNarrator himself]].

* Arguably, the whole reason Yzma making Kronk cry by insulting his spinach puffs is [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments as funny as it is is]] because it's genuinely sad. You even see her [[EvilFeelsGood grinning sadistically]] when she says that accentuated "NEVER!" making it clear that [[KickTheDog she knows that that's going to cut him deep]]. In a goofy sort of way, that's what [[MoralEventHorizon keeps the viewer from]] RootingForTheEmpire, simply because it proves her lack of loyalty to anyone, ''including'' Kronk.

* Actually, it's hinted at that she has no loyalty toward Kronk as early as his introduction. Kuzco refers to Kronk as the "latest model" in her line of assistants. She doesn't care about (or even seem to acknowledge) ''any'' of the positive characteristics that endear him to the audience; to her, he's just another disposable lackey with another few years on the clock before she washes her hands and repeats the whole cycle with someone else.

[[caption-width-right:350:The haughty has never been [[BreakTheHaughty broken]] like this before.]] Again, surprisingly, there are a few moments:

* Yzma's reaction to getting fired, from two points of view, depending on which you take:
** Sympathy for Yzma: Sure, she's the bad guy, but she raised Kuzco, and she'd like to think he's going to respect her and be grateful for that. She's served him, and (presumably) his parents. The level of ruling she is shown doing is rather tedious and pretty much takes a weight off Kuzco's shoulders. And she's been kicked out by this UngratefulBastard.
** Sympathy for Kuzco: Despite all he and she might've been through, her (mild) desire for power, and her grudge against Kuzco, outweigh ''any'' sentimental feelings towards him. And he ''was'' still willing to let her live in the palace and get settled in another way. It's not hard to see where Kuzco got his ungratefulness from.

* When Pacha returns to his village in the beginning of the movie. Poor guy just looks so ''defeated''. When he gets home, he acts as if everything is fine around his family, even with the knowledge that everything they have may be destroyed very soon.
** A moment is given to Pacha looking around his house, knowing it'll be the last time he'll ever get to before it's destroyed.
* Kuzco's discovery that Yzma and Kronk (but mostly Yzma) are trying to kill him and instead of bringing him home like he initially believed. He may have been an arrogant jerk, but he genuinely trusted those two. And when the awful truth is revealed to him, he realizes that he just abandoned Pacha, who he'd grown fond of, for nothing. And now he has lost his only hope of returning home and becoming human again. The honest, down-to-earth Kronk's throwaway remark afterwards really rubs salt in the wound. ''Ouch.''

* A bit of a fridge tearjerker, but Yzma comments earlier that she "practically raised Kuzco", and given his behavior, it's not hard to believe. Kuzco wasn't hearing just ''anyone'' saying that she dislikes him--Kuzco was listening to his ''ParentalSubstitute'' flat-out saying that she despises him and wants him dead. No wonder he's so broken up about it.
* It's a little sobering that Yzma is so angry that she's fired. Sure, she's the bad guy, but she raised Kuzco, and she'd like to think he's going to respect her and be grateful for that. She's served him, and (presumably) his parents. The level of ruling she is shown doing is rather tedious and pretty much takes a weight off Kuzco's shoulders. And she's been kicked out by this UngratefulBastard.
** Yet despite all they might've been through, her (mild) desire for power, and her grudge against Kuzco, outweigh ''any'' sentimental feelings towards him. And he ''was'' still willing to let her live in the palace and get settled in another way. It's not hard to see where Kuzco got his ungratefulness from.

** The prologue came off as [[PlayedForLaughs comically]] [[{{Narm}} overdramatic]], but it becomes HarsherInHindsight when you replay the entire scenario with the sad theme from later in the movie. Kuzco isn't just crying because 'life is so unfair' and he's a spoiled brat for thinking so. He's miserable because he's a ''[[BreakTheHaughty broken]]'' and betrayed kid who just lost the only ''real'' friend he had.
* It's pretty short, but Kuzco seemingly resigning himself to live as a llama. Not even the herd he stumbles on seems to accept him, only rubbing in more how utterly alone he is now in life.
* Arguably, the whole reason Yzma making Kronk cry by insulting his spinach puffs is [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments as funny as it is is]] because it's genuinely sad. You even see her [[EvilFeelsGood grinning sadistically]] when she says that punctual "NEVER!" making it clear that [[KickTheDog she knows that that's going to cut him deep]]. In a goofy sort of way, that's what [[MoralEventHorizon keeps the viewer from]] RootingForTheEmpire, simply because it proves her lack of loyalty to anyone, ''including'' Kronk.
* One from Kronk's New Groove: During Kronk's flashback to his childhood, we see an absolutely adorable child!Kronk happily baking what appear to be either muffins or fully-iced cupcakes and offering them to a group of squirrels. The cuteness abruptly dies off with the appearance of Papi's imposing silohuette, who immediately sends Kronk to his room. Kronk has three seconds to cry on his bed before Papi comes in and takes away Kronk's oven mitts - after Kronk gives them a final, tearful hug. Kronk had to grow up with [[FantasyForbiddingFather a parent who refused to allow him to pursue the hobbies he most enjoyed]], likely because those hobbies are [[FeminineWomenCanCook stereotypically]] [[FriendToAllLivingThings girly]].

** Yet despite all they might've been through, her (mild) desire for power, and her grudge against Kuzco, outweigh ''any'' sentimental feelings towards him.

* Arguably, the whole reason Yzma making Kronk cry by insulting his spinach puffs is [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments as funny as it is is]] because it's genuinely sad. You even see her [[EvilFeelsGood grinning sadistically]] when she says that punctual "NEVER!" making it clear that [[KickTheDog she knows that that's going to cut him deep]]. In a goofy sort of way, that's what [[MoralEventHorizon keeps the viewer from]] RootingForTheEmpire.

* META (at least depending on one's opinion of the original ''Kingdom Of The Sun'' treatment): Former director Roger Allers' ultimate failure to get the epic Aztec movie he wanted to create after one retool after another.

* It's a little sobering that Yzma is so angry that she's fired. Sure, she's the bad guy, but she raised Kuzco, and she'd like to think he's going to respect her and be grateful for that. She's served him, and his parents. The level of ruling she is shown doing is rather tedious and pretty much takes a weight off Kuzco's shoulders. And she's been kicked out by this UngratefulBastard.

(''Kuzco quickly hides in the bushes'')\\

'''Yzma''': If you hadn't mixed up those poisons, Kuzco would be dead now! (''At Yzma's statement, the smile on Kuzco's face instantly falls and replaced with a look of horror'') There'll be no more diversions until we track that llama down and kill him!\\
(''Kuzco hides in the bushes'')\\

'''Yzma''': If you hadn't mixed up those poisons, Kuzco would be dead now! (''At Yzma's statement, the smile on Kuzco's face instantly falls'') There'll be no more diversions until we track that llama down and kill him!\\
(''Kuzco gasps in horror and hides in the bushes'')\\

-->'''Yzma''': Kuzco must be eliminated. The empire will finally be rid of that useless slug.\\

-->'''Kuzco:''' Who are you kidding pal? They saw the whole thing, they ''know'' what happened.
-->'''Narrator!Kuzco:''' Well, yeah, I know, but...

-->'''Narrator!Kuzco:''' So, this is where you came in. [[BlatantLies See? Just like I said, I'm the victim here! I didn't do anything and they ruined my life and took everything I had --]]\\
'''Kuzco:''' Hey, give it a rest up there will ya?\\
'''Narrator!Kuzco:''' What? I'm just telling them what happened.\\
'''Kuzco:''' Who are you kidding pal? They saw the whole thing, they ''know'' what happened.\\
'''Narrator!Kuzco:''' Well, yeah, I know, but...\\
'''Kuzco:''' Just leave me alone...

-->'''Kronk''': No one really seems to care that he's gone, do they?\\

--> '''Kuzco:''' They saw the whole thing, they ''know'' what happened. Just leave me alone...

* Arguably, the whole reason Yzma making Kronk cry by insulting his spinach puffs is [[FunnyMoments as funny as it is is]] because it's genuinely sad. You even see her [[EvilFeelsGood grinning sadistically]] when she says that punctual "NEVER!" making it clear that [[KickTheDog she knows that that's going to cut him deep]]. In a goofy sort of way, that's what [[MoralEventHorizon keeps the viewer from]] RootingForTheEmpire.

* One from Kronk's New Groove: During Kronk's flashback to his childhood, we see an absolutely adorable child!Kronk happily baking what appear to be either muffins or fully-iced cupcakes and offering them to a group of squirrels. The cuteness abruptly dies off with the appearance of Papi's imposing silohuette, who immediately sends Kronk to his room. Kronk has three seconds to cry on his bed before Papi comes in and takes away Kronk's oven mitts - after Kronk gives them a final, tearful hug. Kronk had to grow up with [[FantasyForbbidingFather a parent who refused to allow him to persue the hobbies he most enjoyed]], likely because those hobbies are [[FeminineWomenCanCook stereotypically]] [[FriendToAllLivingThings girly]].

* One from Kronk's New Groove: During Kronk's flashback to his childhood, we see an absolutely adorable child!Kronk happily baking what appear to be either muffins or fully-iced cupcakes and offering them to a group of squirrels. The cuteness abruptly dies off with the appearance of Papi's imposing silohuette, who immediately sends Kronk to his room. Kronk has three seconds to cry on his bed before Papi comes in and takes away Kronk's oven mitts - after Kronk gives them a final, tearful hug. Kronk had to grow up with [[AbusiveParents a parent who refused to allow him to persue the hobbies he most enjoyed]], likely because those hobbies are [[FeminineWomenCanCook stereotypically]] [[FriendToAllLivingThings girly]].

** The prologue came off as [[PlayedForLaughs comically]] [[{{Narm}} overdramatic]], but it becomes HarsherInHindsight when you replay the entire scenario with the sad theme from later in the movie. Kuzco isn't just crying because 'life is so unfair' and he's a spoiled brat for thinking so. He's miserable because he's a ''[[BreakTheHaughty broken]]'' brat who just lost the only ''real'' friend he had.

* Arguably, the whole reason Yzma making Kronk cry by insulting his spinach puffs is [[FunnyMoments as funny as it is is]] because it's genuinely sad. You even see her [[EvilFeelsGood grinning sadistically]] when she says that punctual "NEVAH!" making it clear that [[KickTheDog she knows that that's going to cut him deep]]. In a goofy sort of way, that's what [[MoralEventHorizon keeps the viewer from]] RootingForTheEmpire.

--> '''Kuzco:''' They saw the whole thing, they ''know'' what happened. Just... leave me alone...

* It's a little sobering that Yzma is so angry that she's fired. Sure, she's the bad guy, but she raised Kuzco, and she'd like to think he's going to respect her and be grateful for that. She's served him, and his parents, and she's not done anything disloyal so far, at least not to them. The level of ruling she is shown doing is rather tedious and pretty much takes a weight off Kuzco's shoulders. And she's been kicked out by this UngratefulBastard.