Tear Jerker / Rock-A-Doodle

• Seeing the other animals mourn for Edmund's seeming death after the Grand Duke of Owls strangles him is truly saddening, especially when they see him transform into a real boy the entire time. Peepers is especially moved by this and tries to wake him just as he seemingly returns to the real world.
  • Even the music playing over the end credits becomes surprisingly somber the longer they go, which may make some just a bit misty-eyed before they finally close out.
    • In the beginning, Chanticleer after fighting an enemy rooster sent by the Duke, sees the sun rise without him- destroying everything he believed his purpose to be in raising the sun with his voice- heavily implied to be have inherited from his father as a part of a generational inheritance- and the majority of his fellow farm animals turning on him for "deceiving" them the entire time when he had no idea what was happening with the sun at that time; by mocking and casting him out as a fraudulent pariah- with Snipes twisting the knife further by giving a sarcastic "cock-a-doodle-doo", which made the poor Rooster go into the city, becoming dispassionate singer who doesn't believe in himself for most of the movie, which have some eerie resemblances to Elvis' own life of depression being manipulated by a scheming boss. Only the letter, given to him is able to encourage him to go back.
    • And even that isn't enough, he is too out of shape from his time as a stage singer that Chanticleer can't do. And then the Grand Duke rubbed it in his face of his inability to do it. It takes Edmund's supposed death and the farm animals nearly being killed for him to get encouraged again.
  • This was followed by the rain coming and the farm animals realizing that Chanticleer was needed to raise the sun after all.
    • Patou admits he and the other animals "done wrong" and that's why they're looking for Chanticleer accompanied by the pan of the farm animals looking incredibly sad about driving Chanticleer away. Even Snipes is affected.
  • Hunch, in spite of, or because of his incompetence, while overshadowed by the main plot, is emotionally and physically abused by his Evil Uncle, who takes opportunities to change him into degrading forms, pretend to be accepting before he insults/punishes him, and verbally threatens him with threats to kill him. Regardless of his villainy, it's pitiful to see this scrawny owl desperately trying to win an uncle's affection that sees him as a tool at best or something abhorrent at worst.
• During the storm that is about to almost drown his family, Edmund calls for Chanticleer, only for the Grand Duke to arrive and turn him into a kitten for his troubles. Thankfully, Patou arrives to save him in time.
• The scene where Goldie shows Chanticleer the letter from the gang for several reasons. On one hand, he does look upset that Goldie was meant to "entertain" him and not really care about him (though by this point her guilt is evident to even him, so she's Easily Forgiven). However, he seems in utter disbelief after believing for so long that the farm animals hated him that any of them would come looking for him....and he had missed a chance to see them.