And while Rufio was at least a tad older and seemed slightly more mature, his tragic death in Hook also stung — especially given his character arc.
We could also mention the sad, soppy scene in the middle of Casper where ghost boy remembers his death and recounts the tale of how he died of pneumonia. And who, pray tell, can forget watching this brief scene laid heavy with knowledge of younglings getting absolutely massacred:
Why this was a trend:
Seeing someone, anyone, die tragically on screen can oftentimes help a person — yes, even a kid — cope with their grief. I lost my dad when I was very young, and watching little Vada in My Girl deal with the loss of her mother, her friend, and just coming to terms with death in general was in many ways a cathartic experience. It was relatable, as it most certainly was for many.