Mother’s Day: An ode to Disney animated moms

For Mother’s Day, we have updated our graphic that looks at the role of moms — or the absence of moms — plays in Disney and Pixar animated movies.

Based on the more than 30 movies we looked at, it’s very nearly true that Disney “always kills the parents” (who among us hasn’t said that?).

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!