With the exception of the lion king, why is it that no mother seems safe when it comes to a Disney story. They either are dead or just not present. Does anybody know why it seems this way?
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Why are these disney characters the first to die?
- Thread starter Tinkerbell12406
- Start date
Keyblade Holder
New Member
Hmmmm.... Good Point Tink. Maybe Walt had some mother issues to work out. Actually Dumbo had a mother figure, but you're right there arent too many other movies I can think of off hand. Chicken Little's mom was even dead. I thought she was alive and cl__________g in the children's book....
Monty
Brilliant...and Canadian
- In the Parks
- No
Peter Pan - Mother quite alive, Mr. and Mrs Darling go out for the evening.
Lion King - Mother quite alive, King Mufasa and Queen Sarabi bring Simba into the world.
Mary Poppins - Mother quite alive, an active Suffragette.
Toy Story - Mother quite alive, only ankles and the hem of her skirt are seen, but she's there.
101 Dalmatians - Mothers quite alive, Pongo and Perdita are owned by Roger and Anita.
Lion King - Mother quite alive, King Mufasa and Queen Sarabi bring Simba into the world.
Mary Poppins - Mother quite alive, an active Suffragette.
Toy Story - Mother quite alive, only ankles and the hem of her skirt are seen, but she's there.
101 Dalmatians - Mothers quite alive, Pongo and Perdita are owned by Roger and Anita.
CleveRocks
Active Member
One thing that makes a story good is CONFLICT. What better conflict than losing a parent???!!! Conflict is present in every good story you've ever read or seen. There's always a villian or a struggle of some kind. Again, no greater struggle than losing (or functioning without) a parent. And everyone loves to root for the underdog ....
I'm talking about the majority of the Disney Movies.
Wheres Aladdins parents? Where's Jasmine's mom?
Bambi:Mother is shot
Lilo and Stitch: Parents are dead
Cinderella: Mother is missing
Beauty and the Beast: Belles mother is missing
Little Mermaid: no mention of the mother
Finding Nemo: Mother eaten in first five minutes
Peter Pan: never had a mom! Mr. and Mrs. Darling mother to Wendy, Micheal and John
Pocahontas: Mother missing
Chicken Little: Mothers dead
Goof Troop: Mothers Dead
I was only curious why the mother gets the axe (or bullet in bambis case)
Mr Disney
Active Member
- In the Parks
- Yes
:sohappy:
Monty
Brilliant...and Canadian
- In the Parks
- No
I realize there are more dead/missing than not. :animwink:
I think, as said, controversy and overcoming it are central to storytelling. To be honest [despite being a separated male parent], children develop stronger attachment to their mothers and, as a result, mothers are the best to write off to create controversy.
I don't think there's any Freudian deep-seated loathing of all things motherly in Walt himself. :lol:
I think, as said, controversy and overcoming it are central to storytelling. To be honest [despite being a separated male parent], children develop stronger attachment to their mothers and, as a result, mothers are the best to write off to create controversy.
I don't think there's any Freudian deep-seated loathing of all things motherly in Walt himself. :lol:
Connor002
Active Member
I believe Walt* once said something along the lines of "you need to start the character out with a disadvantage, so that there is instantly an emotional connection," in other words, by removing a key figure in the lies of the main character, he/she/it begins the story at a disadvantage, which appeals to our emotional connection with the character in question.
*I am not sure of Walt saying that, if not, then I said it. More or less the same thing.:lookaroun
*I am not sure of Walt saying that, if not, then I said it. More or less the same thing.:lookaroun
Connor002
Active Member
I suppose it could be argued that his mother's death played a role, as it was rather tramaazing to him, but I'm not sure as to which movies were made before her death and which after...
Her mom dies and her dad remarries and then he dies.
DDuckFan130
Well-Known Member
In the original drafts of Aladdin, he did have a mother. I believe there was even a song surrounding that (trying to recall what I saw on the DVD). But they cut that part out in the final drafts.
Aladdin does have a father, but does not get revealed till movie 3 http://imdb.com/title/tt0115491/
Connor002
Active Member
Here we see another possible reason: why devote screen time to characters not integral to the story?
The same was done for The Lion King 1&1/2. Timon's father was originally in the script, but never made the final cut.
hrcollectibles
Active Member
I'm talking about the majority of the Disney Movies.
Finding Nemo: Mother eaten in first five minutes
I watched Finding Nemo the other night and Noticed there was like no time before Nemo lost his mother and his brothers and sisters.
aka_emilicious
Well-Known Member
You can't really blame Disney for most of the classic movies. I mean Cinderella and others are based on classic fairy tales they didn't write. But I guess they saw a pattern and stuck to it.
And did anyone mention Sleeping Beauty? Both parents are there but have to send their daughter away.
And did anyone mention Sleeping Beauty? Both parents are there but have to send their daughter away.
Best Disney sequel ever! :sohappy:
DDuckFan130
Well-Known Member
One of my favorites too :lol:
Epcot82Guy
Well-Known Member
Yes. The emotional connection is very important. It often also depends on the role of the main character. If you have a "feminine" character, you can play the overbearing or overprotective father role easier. The overprotective mother tends to play as more typical than stifling. Therefore, the story of discovered independence and self-awareness works best with an overbearing father (either protective or strict) and either a young child (M or F) or a daughter coming into her own. It's all for storytelling to, as someone else said, start with a disadvantage. Loss of a parent and/or physical disabilities are two things that almost every person can either sympathize or emphathize with immediately and throughout their lives (I would guess most retired adults can still muster some strong feelings about losing mom or dad, regardless of whether it has or has not happened).
Yellow Shoes
Well-Known Member
The dead or missing parent is a classic convention of children's literature.
Contrary to what do-gooders would have you believe, it is important for children to examine their fears in a "safe" environment.
The death of a parent is the absolute #1 fear of young children. So if Cinderella, or Belle, or Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, can persevere and triumph without a parent, a child can process that fear through the character.
And it's not just Disney (although most of us still have a hard time dealing with what Uncle Walt did to Bambi's mom)
Look at TV
My Three Sons
Bonanza
Brady Bunch
Full House
etc.
Contrary to what do-gooders would have you believe, it is important for children to examine their fears in a "safe" environment.
The death of a parent is the absolute #1 fear of young children. So if Cinderella, or Belle, or Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, can persevere and triumph without a parent, a child can process that fear through the character.
And it's not just Disney (although most of us still have a hard time dealing with what Uncle Walt did to Bambi's mom)
Look at TV
My Three Sons
Bonanza
Brady Bunch
Full House
etc.