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Tear Jerker / Destination: Imagination

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  • Crossed with Nightmare Fuel. The life of the Imaginary Friend World, he's probably the biggest woobie ever. First he was separated from his creator by the kid's own parents, then he spent god knows how long alone in a trunk driven nearly insane. Then he meets Frankie (someone in a rather similar situation to his own, or at least he thinks so...) Then the others try to take Frankie from him and his imaginary world, so naturally has an emotional breakdown that literally breaks his entire world apart.
    World: NOOOOOOOOOO!!! SHE HAS TO STAY!! WITHOUT HER MY WORLD IS EMPTY!!! AND I'M NOTHING!!!!
    • The opening scene especially hurts when you remember that the boy’s father referred to World as an "it".
  • World's Freak Out when he and Frankie play Hide and Go Seek.
    Frankie: It's called Hide and Go Seek, not Hide and Freak Out.
    World: (hugs Frankie and babbles unintelligibly while crying)
  • World’s minor breakdown after Frankie discovers he shrunk her friends, which leads Frankie to realize why he has abandonment issues.
    World: I bet you're gonna take it back now, aren't you?
    Frankie: Take what back?
    World: That you’re never gonna leave me alone. You were mad at me because I did something bad. But I didn't! Your friends are just trying to take you away from me! Just like them.
    Frankie: "Them"? Them who?
    World: They took him away from me and left me here all alone.
    Frankie: Your kid's parents…
    World: And now you're gonna leave too! I know it!
    Frankie: No, I'm not.
    World: LIAR LIAR, PANTS ON FIRE!!
  • Herriman's verbal thrashing toward World just as Frankie has calmed him down. It's the scolding every kid dreads, and World looks like he's having a freakin' panic attack! Not to mention that this is the very thing that causes World to break down. Hell even Bloo was looking at it in horror.
    Herriman: You've been a bad, bad, bad, bad, BAD boy! Luring a naïve young woman into this silly little imaginary world and keeping her from her duties! Tsk, tsk, tsk! Shame on you! Now, I am taking Miss Francis and these insubordinate whippersnappers over here back to their rightful home! And you, young man, you shall stay here in this toy chest alone and think long and hard on what you have done!
  • Frankie’s treatment as she's worked ragged, taking care of everyone and everything while never getting a word of thanks, an ounce of help, or a tiny little smidgen of respect. What makes it worse is the gang mostly come to her rescue because they miss all the stuff she did for them. Mr. Herriman even realizes that she's miserable and works endlessly on all the chores he gives her, but says it shouldn’t happen to him because that’s Frankie's job. It’s no wonder Frankie was so upset that she decided to stay at the one place that appreciates her and did not treat her like a slave.
    Frankie: Oh, I get it. You didn't come to rescue me 'cause you missed me. You missed all the stuff I used to do for you!
    Mac: Wha? No, we-
    Frankie: Well, you can forget me! I'm sick of taking care of everybody and everything and never getting a word of thanks, an ounce of help, or a tiny little smidgen of respect! You guys are just like Mr. Herriman. I'm just a servant to you! Well, guess what? In this world, I'm the one who's taken care of. (her voice breaking as a tear can be seen rolling down her cheek) And that's the way I like it!
  • Mac's genuine panic when separated, for all he knows permanently, from his surrogate Cool Big Sis (the only adult/older person who both genuinely cares about him and makes time for him) is heartwrenching, especially since he screams her name while trying to go after her despite being pulled back.

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