Mother’s Day: A look at Disney’s animated moms — and the lack thereof

As Mother’s Day approaches, we thought we would take another look at the role moms — or the absence of moms — plays in Disney and Pixar animated movies.

Based on the 27 movies we looked at, it’s very nearly true that Disney “always kills the parents” (who among us hasn’t said that?). Of the 27 movies we looked at, seven featured moms who played a big role in their child’s life. In the other 20? The mother was dead or dramatically absent.

Something that isn’t true? The stepmother is not always evil. Mowgli, Tarzan, Hercules and Aurora were all raised by loving foster or adoptive parents. And one member of our Mom Hall of Fame — Perdita — had 84 foster pups in her care in addition to her own.

So let’s celebrate all moms — bio moms as well as adoptive, foster and step moms. Happy Mother’s Day!