His major loss translated to his art, and none of the early Disney princesses had moms. You may not have realized the missing mom factor though, because the latest Disney princesses—Mulan, Tiana, Rapunzel, and Merida—all have mothers. Sure, Mr. Disney isn't around to see them, but we're sure he would have been proud!

Yes, though Disney is famously known for the "missing mother" trope, many iconic characters have active, influential mothers. In The Incredibles, Helen Parr (Elastigirl) is a central protagonist who balances superhero duties with parenting. Kanga from Winnie the Pooh is a constant, nurturing presence for Roo. In Brave, Queen Elinor's relationship with Merida is the emotional core of the film. Other notable mothers include Mrs. Jumbo (Dumbo), Queen Leah (Sleeping Beauty), and Fa Li (Mulan). Animal characters often feature strong maternal bonds as well, such as Sarabi in The Lion King, Perdita in 101 Dalmatians, and Duchess in The Aristocats. Even in sequels, we see original protagonists become mothers, such as Ariel in The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea. While many "Disney Princess" stories historically lacked mothers to heighten the heroine's sense of isolation or independence, modern storytelling has shifted to include complex mother-daughter dynamics, as seen with Ming Lee in Turning Red (2022) or Queen Iduna in the Frozen franchise.