History LighterAndSofter / Film

** ''Disney/TheFoxAndTheHound'' , seeing as in the [[Literature/TheFoxAndTheHound original book]] the title pair aren't friends and [[spoiler: die at the end.]]

** The sequel to ''Disney/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame'', especially as the original movie is one of the darkest animated movies of all time. Comparing the villains of both installments (Judge Claude Frollo vs [[SissyVillain Sarousch]]) makes it even moreso.

* While the WesternAnimation/DCUniverseAnimatedOriginalMovies line normally provides DarkerAndEdgier fare, it did also produce [[WesternAnimation/AllStarSuperman an adaptation of]] ''ComicBook/AllStarSuperman'', which was PG. Not only is it lighter than the normally PG-13 ([[WesternAnimation/BatmanTheKillingJoke and four]] [[WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueDark R-rated]] [[WesternAnimation/BatmanGothamByGaslight movies as]] [[WEsternAnimation/SuicideSquadHellToPay of 2018]]) fare of the line, it's also lighter than the comics as Superman doesn't completely bend Atlas's elbow the wrong way. ''WesternAnimation/GreenLanternEmeraldKnights'' and the [[WesternAnimation/BatmanReturnOfTheCapedCrusaders tie-in]] [[WesternAnimation/BatmanVsTwoFace movies]] to the 1960s ''Series/{{Batman}}'' series are also PG.

* While the WesternAnimation/DCUniverseAnimatedOriginalMovies line normally provides DarkerAndEdgier fare, it did also produce [[WesternAnimation/AllStarSuperman an adaptation of]] ''ComicBook/AllStarSuperman'', which was PG. Not only is it lighter than the normally PG-13 ([[WesternAnimation/BatmanTheKillingJoke and four]] [[WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueDark R-rated]] [[WesternAnimation/BatmanGothamByGaslight movies as]] [[WEsternAnimation/SuicideSquadHellToPay of 2018]]) fare of the line, it's also lighter than the comics as Superman doesn't completely bend Atlas's elbow the wrong way. ''Film/GreenLanternEmeraldKnights'' and the [[WesternAnimation/BatmanReturnOfTheCapedCrusaders tie-in]] [[WesternAnimation/BatmanVsTwoFace movies]] to the 1960s ''Series/{{Batman}}'' series are also PG.

* ''Film/MadMax'' is an extremely bleak film with a bittersweet ending. Even though ''Film/TheRoadWarrior'' takes place AfterTheEnd, it manages to have a lighter tone than the original film. The villains are less psychotic, there are many more sympathetic characters, but the ending is still bittersweet. ''Film/MadMaxBeyondThunderdome'' further lightens the mood, with a plot focusing on a group of tribal children who dispatch enemies with {{frying pan|ofDoom}}s, and who aren't forced to face the machine guns and molotov cocktails of the first film. ''Film/MadMaxFuryRoad'' brought it back to between the original and ''The Road Warrior'', having higher emotional stakes because it's people instead of gasoline being fought over with the [[BreedingSlave Wives]], with heavy implications of their [[RapeAsBackstory past]] [[DomesticAbuse experiences]], along with an [[KnightOfCerebus utterly disgusting villain]] (who has the same actor as the villain from the original movie), but it has a significantly more optimistic ending than the first movie.

* The ''Film/ADogsPurpose'' film is a lot more of a standard family-friendly "Boy And His Dog" work than the [[Literature/ADogsPurpose book]]. A lot of the harsher elements like the DownerBeginning, Todd's TroublingUnchildlikeBehavior of killing animals, and Buddy's abusive owners are either glossed over or removed. It also ends on a happy ending instead of a BittersweetEnding. [[spoiler:In the film, Ethan realizes that his new dog Buddy is a reincarnation of his first dog Bailey. In the book, Ethan dies of a stroke while Buddy doing the dog equivalent of DiedInYourArmsTonight]].

* [[WesternAnimation/BatmanUnlimitedAnimalInstincts All]] [[WesternAnimation/BatmanUnlimitedMonsterMayhem three]] ''WesternAnimation/{{Batman Unlimited|MechVsMutants}}'' movies are lighter fare than the aforementioned WesternAnimation/DCUniverseAnimatedOriginalMovies--and the ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamSeries'' seeing as several voice actors there reprise their roles in the film, most notably Creator/RogerCraigSmith and Creator/TroyBaker reprising their respective roles from the [[VideoGame/BatmanArkhamOrigins prequel]] [[VideoGame/BatmanArkhamOriginsBlackgate games]] as the Dark Knight himself and the Joker.

* [[WesternAnimation/BatmanUnlimitedAnimalInstincts All]] [[WesternAnimation/BatmanUnlimitedMonsterMayhem three]] ''WesternAnimation/{{Batman Unlimited|MechVsMutants}}'' movies are lighter fare than the aforementioned WesternAnimation/DCUniverseAnimatedOriginalMovies--and the ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamSeries'' seeing as several voice actors there reprise roles in the film, most notably Creator/RogerCraigSmith and Creator/TroyBaker reprising their respective roles from the [[VideoGame/BatmanArkhamOrigins prequel]] [[VideoGame/BatmanArkhamOriginsBlackgate games]] as the Dark Knight himself and the Joker.

* Film/JamesBond had it a few times. After the too realistic and bloody approach from the Creator/TimothyDalton years, came the more comedic Creator/PierceBrosnan era. After Creator/DanielCraig got too dark on ''Film/QuantumOfSolace'' (which many dissed as a "more [[Film/TheBourneSeries Bourne]] than Bond") the series goes back to its lighthearted roots in ''Film/{{Skyfall}}'' (Although by not much since it still lacks the same whimsy as the Brosnan/Moore era).

* ''WesternAnimation/TheBatmanVsDracula'' is loosely based on ''ComicBook/BatmanVampire'', an {{Elseworld}} story where Batman was turned into a vampire after fighting against Count Dracula. The comic original was very dark, featured very graphical violence (for example, a guy gets his ''[[TearOffYourFace face ripped off]]'') and lots of death so much so that [[spoiler:almost all named characters are dead by the end, including Batman]]. By contrast, the feature movie ditches nearly all plot elements and have all established characters to survive, which makes sense since this is supposed to be tied with ''WesternAnimation/TheBatman'' animated series.

* While the WesternAnimation/DCUniverseAnimatedOriginalMovies line normally provides DarkerAndEdgier fare, it did also produce [[WesternAnimation/AllStarSuperman an adaptation of]] ''ComicBook/AllStarSuperman'', which was PG. Not only is it lighter than the normally PG-13 ([[WesternAnimation/BatmanTheKillingJoke and three]] [[WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueDark R-rated]] [[WesternAnimation/BatmanGothamByGaslight movies]]) fare of the line, it's also lighter than the comics as Superman doesn't completely bend Atlas's elbow the wrong way. ''Film/GreenLanternEmeraldKnights'' and the [[WesternAnimation/BatmanReturnOfTheCapedCrusaders tie-in]] [[WesternAnimation/BatmanVsTwoFace movies]] to the 1960s ''Series/{{Batman}}'' series are also PG.

** In the prequel trilogy, ''Film/ThePhantomMenace'' is notably more light-hearted and kid-friendly in tone than its two sequels, ''Film/AttackOfTheClones'' and ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith'' which were ''substantially'' DarkerAndEdgier, especially the latter. (For comparison: In Episode I, Anakin is a kid; in Episode III ''he murders several kids''.) In fact, ''Sith'' was the first PG-13 rated ''Star Wars'' film.

** In the prequel trilogy, ''Film/ThePhantomMenace'' is notably more light-hearted and kid-friendly in tone than its two sequels, ''Film/AttackOfTheClones'' and ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith'' which were ''substantially'' DarkerAndEdgier, especially the latter. (For comparison: In Episode I, Anakin is a kid; in Episode III ''he murders several kids''.) In fact, Sith was the first PG-13 rated ''Star Wars'' film.

** In the prequel trilogy, ''Film/ThePhantomMenace'' is notably more light-hearted and kid-friendly in tone than its two seques,''Film/AttackOfTheClones'' and''Film/RevengeOfTheSith'' which were ''substantially'' DarkerAndEdgier. darker in tone, especially the latter. (For comparison: In Episode I, Anakin is a kid; in Episode III ''he murders several kids''.) In fact, Sith was the first PG-13 rated ''Star Wars'' film.

** In the prequel trilogy, ''Film/ThePhantomMenace'' and ''Film/AttackOfTheClones'' are noticeably lighter in tone, particularly the former, whereas ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith'' was ''substantially'' DarkerAndEdgier. (For comparison: In Episode I, Anakin is a kid; in Episode III ''he murders several kids''.) In fact, it was the first PG-13 rated ''Star Wars'' film.

* [[WesternAnimation/BatmanUnlimitedAnimalInstincts All]] [[WesternAnimation/BatmanUnlimitedMonsterMayhem three]] ''WesternAnimation/{{Batman Unlimited|MechVsMutants}}'' movies are lighter fare than the aforementioned WesternAnimation/DCUniverseAnimatedOriginalMovies--and the ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamSeries'' seeing as several voice actors there reprise roles in the film, most notably Creator/RogerCraigSmith and Creator/TroyBaker reprising their respective roles from [[VideoGame/BatmanArkhamOrigins prequel]] [[VideoGame/BatmanArkhamOriginsBlackgate games]] as the Dark Knight himself and the Joker.

* [[WesternAnimation/BatmanUnlimitedAnimalInstincts All]] [[WesternAnimation/BatmanUnlimitedMonsterMayhem three]] ''WesternAnimation/{{Batman Unlimited MechVsMutants}}'' movies are lighter fare than the aforementioned WesternAnimation/DCUniverseAnimatedOriginalMovies--and the ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamSeries'' seeing as several voice actors there reprise roles in the film, most notably Creator/RogerCraigSmith and Creator/TroyBaker reprising their respective roles from [[VideoGame/BatmanArkhamOrigins prequel]] [[VideoGame/BatmanArkhamOriginsBlackgate games]] as the Dark Knight himself and the Joker.

** ''Disney/{{Bambi}} II'' is a midquel that focuses on Bambi's relationship with his father, but it's [[DownplayedTrope a somewhat mild example]], given the original mostly wasn't ''that'' dark to begin with, though had it's share of [MoodWhiplash extremely ominous moments]]. While the midquel does not feature violent shooting deaths or a forest fire, we see Bambi put in not one but two near-death situations, him coming to terms with his mother's death (even [[YankTheDogsChain getting his chain yanked]] and nearly getting shot by a hunter for believing she was still alive) and the stress of [[WellDoneSonGuy earning his stern father's approval.]] There's a stronger development of character trauma and psychoanalysis as well, with Bambi overcoming what is all but a family friendly rendition of PTSD, the Great Prince cutting off all emotions in despair over the loss of his mate prior to bonding with his son, and Ronno (the sinister rival from the first film) revealed to have initially been a mere childish bully who [[FromNobodyToNightmare slowly got more and more bitter and obsessive]] from [[AlwaysSecondBest Bambi constantly upstaging him]].

** ''Disney/{{Bambi}} II'' is a midquel that focuses on Bambi's relationship with his father, but it's [[DownplayedTrope a somewhat mild example]], given the original mostly wasn't ''that'' dark to begin with, though had it's share of ominous moments. While the midquel does not feature violent shooting deaths or a forest fire, we see Bambi put in not one but two near-death situations, him coming to terms with his mother's death (even [[YankTheDogsChain getting his chain yanked]] and nearly getting shot by a hunter for believing she was still alive) and the stress of [[WellDoneSonGuy earning his stern father's approval.]] There's a stronger development of character trauma and psychoanalysis as well, with Bambi suffering what is all but a G-rated rendition of PTSD, the Great Prince cutting off all emotions in despair over the loss of his mate prior to bonding with his son, and Ronno (the sinister rival from the first film) revealed to have initially been a mere childish bully who [[FromNobodyToNightmare slowly got more and more bitter and obsessive]] from [[AlwaysSecondBest Bambi constantly upstaging him]].

** ''Disney/{{Bambi}} II'' is a midquel that focuses on Bambi's relationship with his father, but it's [[DownplayedTrope a somewhat mild example]], given the original mostly wasn't ''that'' dark to begin with. While it does not feature violent shooting deaths or a forest fire, we see Bambi put in not one but two near-death situations, him coming to terms with his mother's death (even [[YankTheDogsChain getting his chain yanked]] and nearly getting shot by a hunter for believing she was still alive) and the stress of [[WellDoneSonGuy earning his stern father's approval.]] There's a stronger development of character trauma and psychoanalysis as well, with the Great Prince cutting off all emotions in despair over the loss of his mate prior to bonding with his son, and Ronno (the sinister rival from the first film) revealed to have initially been a mere childish bully who [[FromNobodyToNightmare slowly got more and more bitter and obsessive]] from [[AlwaysSecondBest Bambi constantly upstaging him]].

* ''Film/SpiderManHomecoming'', the first Spider-Man film set in the MarvelCinematicUniverse continuity, is this full force compared to the previous, more angsty and gritty Spider-Man films. Instead, ''Homecoming'' is a teenage comedy about [[ComingOfAgeStory a young teen boy learning to be a true hero]]. It's also the lightest MCU film, even compared to the two other MCU comedies released in 2017, due to the relatively small stakes; Spider-Man's just trying to save a few neighborhoods in Queens instead of the entire world/galaxy/universe.

* ''Film/SpiderManHomecoming'', which is in the different continuity of the aforementioned Spider-Man 2, (it's in the MarvelCinematicUniverse continuity), is this full force. Gone are the angst and grittiness replaced with a comedic teenage romp and a normal teenage boy learning to be a true hero in a ComingOfAgeStory.

* While the WesternAnimation/DCUniverseAnimatedOriginalMovies line normally provides DarkerAndEdgier fare, it did also produce [[WesternAnimation/AllStarSuperman an adaptation of]] ''ComicBook/AllStarSuperman'', which was PG. Not only is it lighter than the normally PG-13 ([[WesternAnimation/BatmanTheKillingJoke and two]] [[WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueDark R-rated movies]]) fare of the line, it's also lighter than the comics as Superman doesn't completely bend Atlas's elbow the wrong way. ''Film/GreenLanternEmeraldKnights'' and the ''Series/{{Batman}}'' tie-in film ''WesternAnimation/BatmanReturnOfTheCapedCrusaders'' are also PG.

** Although ''Disney/{{Hercules}}'' has some dark moments, it was intentionally created as a lighter followup 1996's ''much'' darker ''Disney/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame'' and to a lesser extent 1995's ''Disney/Pocahontas''. Notably, the take on Greek Mythology in the film is much more family-friendly than the original myths.

* The ''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}'' films of the 1960s-1970s Showa era were considerably more kid-friendly and light-hearted in tone compared to the ''very'' dark [[Film/{{Gojira}} original 1954 film]]. In comparison, ''Film/{{Godzilla 2014}}'' [[DarkerAndEdgier ZIG-]][[ZigzaggingTrope ZAGGED]] this (or downplayed, depending on your view). While it lacked the family-friendly tone or camp of the Showa era, it still portrays Godzilla is positive light. Godzilla avoids harming humans and saves humanity by defeating the Mutos. Unlike previous incarnations [[spoiler:, in which Godzilla is feared and despised even when he saves the world, this Godzilla is hailed as a hero with people cheering for him after his victory.]]

* The ''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}'' films of the 1960s-1970s Showa era were considerably more kid-friendly and light-hearted in tone compared to the ''very'' dark [[Film/{{Gojira}} original 1954 film]]. In comparison, ''Film/{{Godzilla 2014}}'' is both this AND DarkerAndEdgier. While it lacked the family-friendly tone or camp of the Showa era, it still portrays Godzilla is positive light. Godzilla avoids harming humans and saves humanity by defeating the Mutos. Unlike previous incarnations [[spoiler:, in which Godzilla is feared and despised even when he saves the world, this Godzilla is hailed as a hero with people cheering for him after his victory.]]