Subtle but powerful use of gesture and visual echo in Disney's Snow White (1937): the lost bird's reaction to Snow White's looming shadow and approach parallels the huntsman's looming shadow and approach to Snow White, animalizing her as innocent and vulnerable (1/5)

Let's break it down more carefully. Both the bird and Snow White are low to the ground, looking in the direction of a rock taller than they are. Suddenly a shadow creeps along the ground toward each of them and they turn (2/5)

Bird & Snow White look up to see the figure casting the shadow, towering over them & coming near. They shrink back in fear from hands they think will harm them. Note how the blue flowers & yellow leaves frame each, reinforcing the sense Snow White has taken the bird's place (3/5)

Snow White presses her face to the bird before bidding it farewell, which is echoed when the huntsman presses his face to Snow White's skirt and tells her to flee. Notice the similar arm gestures and positions (4/5)

This scene does so much emotional work, partly b/c visual echoes sharpen situational contrast. The bird was never in danger — Snow White is. It's also an old but effective narrative trick (esp. in horror): create tension, relieve it, suddenly reintroduce it more forcefully (5/5)