Animation, Stories, Parents, & Families

Not long ago I watched a couple Disney flicks with my daughter. We started with "Finding Nemo", and even though Alyssa says she is still scared of the sharks I was proud of her for not covering her eyes during their scene. Shortly after we watched "Chicken Little". I noticed in these two shows as I have noticed before with other popular Disney films that the main characters are raised in single-parent homes--mostly sans mother. We know through these stories that Nemo's and Chicken Little's mothers had passed on, but in many other Disney features that specific detail is left out. I'm not thinking by any means that Disney has something up their sleeve, most all of the films I'm thinking of are based on folk stories that have been around for ages. I also have nothing but respect for people in a single-parent family make up. My observation simply has to do with story telling in general. Has it just been easier to pass these stories along by keying in on the single relationship between the protagonist and one of his/her parents? Does the story move along quicker when that is the case? Does our protagonist find him/herself quicker or more completely? Who knows. In the family classic Old Yeller, brothers Travis and Arliss aren't orphaned; however, they do grow up a bit that summer with "Old Yeller" visiting their family while their father is off on a cattle drive. Despite this observation I must note a couple of movies where parenting solo is not the case. "Swiss Family Robinson" and more recently "The Incredibles" depict families that overcome extraordinary odds by working together. I naturally have an affinity for The Incredibles since I married a Mrs. Incredible who looks quite similar to Disney's version of Helen Parr (aka Elastigirl). In these films the family is the protagonist relying on the talents and abilities of its individual parts. I like to think that families of all different make ups can do the same just as well. I'm certain that is why we come into this world into families. If I'm to pass anything on from my personal story, it is this: I am who I am because of my family and the individuals therein who have shared their strengths with me to help me along my way.