‘Turning Red’ & ‘Encanto’ – When Did Disney Get Such Bad Mommy Issues?

If there is one thing Disney’s latest animated features have in common, it is their evident display of mommy issues.

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Encanto and Pixar Animation Studios’ Turning Red share stories where the protagonist’s chief issue is the tension she and others have with a motherly figure. Mirabel–and to some extent her whole family–with her Abuela, and Meilin Lee with her mother, Ming (and subsequently, Ming with her mother).

Abuela in ‘Encanto’ Credit: Disney

The tension differs significantly from Disney’s previous work like Snow White and Cinderella because our princesses dealt with an evil stepmother. Lady Tremaine, The Queen, and even Mother Gothel from Tangles are all false mothers attempting to push a false narrative onto our heroines. By no means am I trying to argue that stepmothers are inherently evil. They are not. After all, Cinderella gets her Fairy Godmother. Disney movies and the fairy tale inspirations are trying to tell us something about the mother-daughter relationship. That is, only a mother–a real mother–has the right to tell you what to do. After all, she is the one who brought you into this world. Not even Dad can tell you what to do.

Credit: Disney

The greatest example, in my opinion, is in The Little Mermaid. The lesson for King Triton–and all dads–is that it is futile to try and tell their daughters what to do. All a dad can do is be supportive and protective (sometimes).

Disney even doubled down on this concept with Toy Story. Andy’s dad is nowhere to be found, and the single mother home life doesn’t feel like there is anything missing. On the flip side, we see what happens when Marlin from Finding Nemo tries to be too motherly of a father after the death of Nemo’s mom Coral.

Credit: Disney

Related: Disney Fans Debate: ‘Who’s the REAL Villain in ‘Encanto’?’

Now, here’s the rub that appears to be rubbing millennial viewers and filmmakers the wrong way: From Peter Pan through even Moana–with the exception of Mulan–the Disney Princesses and heroines were revealed to essentially be younger versions of their mothers. Disney animators revealed the similarities to us through physical looks (Sleeping Beauty, Tangled) or when her father verbally admits it (Pocahontas). Disney also likened their heroines to their grandmothers with characters like Grandmother Willow and Grandma Tala. So the ironic relief is that even when there is no mom or grandma present in a Disney animated film, the precedent set shows that she would be on our heroine’s side.

Credit: Disney

The supportive love of one’s REAL mother is summed up beautifully in the song “Your Mother and Mine” from Peter Pan: 

Well a mother, a real mother, is the most wonderful person in the world
She’s the angel voice that bids you goodnight
Kisses your cheek, whispers sleep tight
Your mother and mine
Your mother and mine

The helping hand that guides you along
Whether you’re right, whether you’re wrong

Your mother and mine
Your mother and mine

What makes mothers all that they are
Might as well ask what makes a star
Ask your heart to tell you her worth
Your heart will say, heaven on earth
Another word for divine
Your mother and mine

Credit: Disney/Pixar

Credit: Disney