Warning: This post contains spoilers for Pixar movies you should probably have seen by now. Continue at your own risk.

When you think of Pixar, what comes to mind? Wonderful storytelling like that found in Toy Story, Cars, Finding Nemo and so forth? Is it the technical achievement and raising of the animated bar? Do you think of the shorts? The features? The tie-ins? The history?

It’s okay to say “all of the above,” because why wouldn’t you? Pixar is awe-inspiring from every angle and we all know it.

However, when I think of Pixar, I think of the emotional exchange, something I like to call the “Pixar Pull” because I love alliteration and also it’s their thing. Pixar is the master of invoking very real connections between its characters and the audience, something it has perfected into a secret sauce of wonder, humor and melancholy. Spoiler alert: the Pixar secret sauce may contain tears. In fact, they might be the key ingredient.

The collective canon of Pixar’s work contains a number of things that are (almost) always present: the vocal talents of John Ratzenberger, the yellow Pizza Planet truck, nods to other Pixar and Disney films, and, of course, that pivotal hook of emotion that turns a fun family outing into a room full of parents crying into their popcorn. Every. Single. Time. Pixar makes us feel, on a regular basis, like nobody else in Hollywood (or Emeryville) can, and we love them for it.

That said, some sad scenes are more powerful than others, ranging as they do from prompting a lump in your throat/something in your eye to sequences so relatable and tender that your sobs are audible against the deep breaths and soft whimpers of the stranger weeping next to you. You know what I’m talking about.

Which leads me to this, my official ranking (which is totally unofficial) of the greatest Pixar tearjerker moments of all time (or at least until The Good Dinosaur opens). Needless to say, if you haven’t seen the movies there will be major spoiler alerts ahead.

5. WALL-E - Perhaps the end of the film, when the adorable hero WALL-E is unable to remember Eve, the love of his life, despite wooing her across the universe, crosses over into the genre of romance, but hey, love is pretty sad, too, people (and robots). Also sad? The planet.

4. Toy Story 2 - Jessie’s story is one of heartbreak and rodeos. Mostly heartache. Also, Sarah McLachlan knows what she’s doing.

3. Monsters, Inc. - When Sulley has to say good-bye to Boo? Holy cow, that’s some magic right there, and by magic I mean I cry like a baby—or a big, furry monster that has to part with someone he really loves. I’ve heard it both ways. 

2. Inside Out - The whole movie is about emotions, which almost feels like cheating. Almost. Granted, there are a number of scenes with Riley, her loss of innocence, and the effects of childhood as seen through various lenses, all of which are big (huge) criers; however, the best/saddest moment belongs to Bing Bong. His backstory and the eventual sacrifice he makes to save Joy, and with her the little girl he loves, scores five tissues and a sleeve on the tear-wiping meter because, are you freaking kidding me, Bing Bong?

1. Up - Was there any doubt? The opening montage covering the glory days of Carl and Ellie might be one of the best moments in all of cinema, let alone animation. Seriously, if you haven’t seen it then I pity you. I PITY YOU. For Pixar to pin so much -- the story arc, the love, the humor, the feels and the man -- on one little piece of the movie. You will need all the tissues for this one. Yes, all of them.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. Where was the beginning of Finding Nemo? Where was all of Toy Story 3 except for the funny parts? What about the family dynamic in Brave or Doc Hudson’s tale in Cars? In response to that I welcome you to the saddest part of this post, in which I must admit that a list of the five saddest Pixar moments can only have five sad Pixar moments. It’s okay. Hug it out.

What Pixar moments make you cry?