Happy Mother’s Day to 10 of MickeyBlog’s Favorite Disney Moms
Today is Mother’s Day and while a lot of early Disney movies are missing mother characters, a great many moms and mother figures now exist within the world of Disney.
Mother’s Day Cupcake
In honor of Mother’s Day, the MickeyBlog team sat down to discuss all the best Disney moms. In no particular order, here are MickeyBlog’s favorite Disney moms!
Kala — Tarzan
Kala is Tarzan’s adoptive gorilla mother in 1999’s Tarzan. After losing her firstborn son to the leopard Sabor, she hears a crying baby and finds the orphaned infant Tarzan in a treehouse.
Photo: Tarzan
Kala saves Tarzan from Sabor and raises Tarzan as her own child, showing him unconditional love and support despite their differences — and in spite of the rest of her gorilla tribe protesting her decision.
Duchess — The Aristocats
Mother cat Duchess and her three kittens (Berlioz, Toulouse, and Marie) live a very pampered life in Paris with their owner Madame Adelaide Bonfamille. However, one day they’re kidnapped by their owner’s butler after he finds out that Madame’s will bestows her fortune onto her cats.
Photo: Disney
Although Duchess has lived a life of luxury, she protects her kittens above all and shows them her courageous nature through their adventures around Paris. She also finds her true love, Thomas O’Malley, and we can’t help but stan a girlie who knows what she wants.
Jill Andersen — Inside Out
While Riley is experiencing a complex array of emotions after her family moves from Minnesota to California and she begins transitioning from childhood to adolescence, her mom Jill shows her love, patience, and understanding.
Photo: Pixar
Even when Jill’s husband Bill gravely misunderstands the situation, Jill tries to keep things calm. And when Riley runs away (and eventually returns), her mother (and father) give her love and compassion, rather than anger.
Ming Lee — Turning Red
Ming Lee may be one of the most embarrassing parents in the Pixar universe, but she truly cares. When she thinks her daughter Mei has started menstruating, she enthusiastically brings her every kind of item she may or may need!
Photo: Pixar
Ming and Mei have an ultimate showdown in their red panda forms at the 4*Town concert, but they eventually reconcile and find common ground, with Ming accepting and supporting Mei in forging her own unique path through life.
Julieta Madrigal — Encanto
Julieta is truly a caretaker with her gift of healing, but she’s also a big supporter of her daughter, Mirabel. Mirabel does not have a magical gift like everyone else in the Madrigal family, but Julieta reassures her often that she is just as special as everyone else.
Photo: Disney
On the morning of Mirabel’s young cousin Antonio’s gift ceremony, Julieta lets Mirabel know that she is there if Mirabel wants to talk, and reminds her of all the qualities that make her unique. At the end of the movie, Julieta looks on proudly as Mirabel helps rebuild Casita.
Nani Pelekai — Lilo & Stitch
Nani may not be a biological mother but she stepped up to fill the role of both parents after her and younger sister Lilo’s parents were killed in a car crash.
Photo: Disney
Nani struggles with taking care of Lilo while juggling her job, the social worker, Lilo’s rambunctious tendencies, and…of course, their new “pet” Stitch, but she’s always there for Lilo, especially to remind her, “Ohana means family.”
Helen Parr — The Incredibles
Helen Parr, aka Elastigirl, aka Mrs. Incredible, reminds us that there is far more to being a mom than just existing for your kids. Although retired from the superhero life following the outlawing of Supers, Helen is quick to once again don her super suit to save her family.
Photo: Pixar
As Elastigirl once famously said, “Leave the saving of the world to the men? I don’t think so,” and there’s nothing she can’t do. Truly a “super mom,” Helen takes on her multiple roles with ease and expertise.
Mrs. Jumbo — Dumbo
When Mrs. Jumbo defends her son, Dumbo, she eventually gets locked in a cage and branded a “mad elephant” for her mama bear behavior. And is there anyone who doesn’t cry when a captive Mrs. Jumbo sings “Baby Mine” to Dumbo??
Photo: Disney
Dumbo eventually helps free his mother and the two seemingly live happily ever after, but many of us remember the strength and selflessness Mrs. Jumbo showed to protect her child above all.
Mrs. Potts — Beauty and the Beast
Mrs. Potts and her son Chip may be trapped as dishware, but there is no less love between them. Mrs. Potts manages to raise Chip, give him plenty of love, get him to bed on time, and even show him some fun in the enchanted castle.
Photo: Disney
Mrs. Potts also showed motherly behavior toward the Beast, despite his poor treatment of her. She could, however, stand her own around him in her attempts to teach him how to treat others kindly. Ultimately, Mrs. Potts took care of many in the enchanted castle, giving them the motherly love and guidance that were so needed.
Queen Elinor — Brave
And finally, we’ve arrived at Queen Elinor in Brave. The entire plot of the film rests on the fact that Elinor wanted her daughter, Merida, to follow tradition and get married. When Merida seeks a spell from a witch to “change” her mother for the better, Elinor is transformed into a bear.
Photo: Disney
Eventually, the two reach a mutual understanding, where Elinor sees Merida’s point of view and agrees to break tradition, and Merida realizes her mistakes and reconciles with her mother. It takes a strong mother indeed to let go and allow her child to forge their own path, and the two embark on a new future together.
And — All the Moms Out There!
To all the moms out there, whether you’re a single mom like Mrs. Jumbo, a superhero mom like Helen Parr, or an adoptive parent like Nani, we see you, and we appreciate you.
Keep reading MickeyBlog for more Disney news!
