Does Disney have something...

Most of Disney's stories come from old old fairytales. Mothers died frequently in those days than more than anyone else, usually in childbirth. Fathers remarried or farmed their children out. So the theme of absent mothers or wicked step mothers is actually based in historical fact. I think Disney himself must have had a dysfunctional family life, or an absentee mother himself though. He changed so much else about these fairytales, but he didn't change the absentee mother thing. Interesting post. Now I have to google Disney and find out truth! lol

hello ersmommy1!I haven't thought it that way before but I guess maybe they can't relate themselves to mommies since the writers or cartoonists are mostly men.at least that's what I think.

Nice discussion. I had actually never even thought about this. But now that you have pointed it out and listed a few of the common movies that are on my movie shelf I will have to watch them over again just to make sure I didn't miss something. Interesting detail to notice and not ponder before. Thanks, now my brains going to be busy all night.

As long as I can remember, kids in Disney movies seem to be without one or both parents, or the parents (Mary Poppins, for example) are oblivious to the kids.

Don't forget Belle from Beauty and the Beast. Her mother is not in the movie either. I think she has died. I had never really thought about it until you posted this discussion, but you are right the mothers seem to be out of the picture. I wonder why that is?

I think there has to be something unhappy about a character to get the story going. I'm not sure. But I see the theme.