One recurring theme in Disney movies is the inclusion of parents in each of the stories they tell. They always play a part in the outcome of the movie, but some are better than others. They serve as lessons for parents as they show both their best and worst qualities throughout the films.
Disney movies are not just for children, as even parents can learn a thing or two by watching the stories play out on the screen before their very eyes. The stories within the movies can be very informative as the best and worst qualities of parents are put on full display.
Best: Never Give Up
Rapunzel's parents in Tangled never gave up hope in their search for their daughter s they continued to light a lantern every year in her honor, even if it was sad.
They had hoped the lanterns would help her find her way home and if it wasn't for this quality she never would have. It was a sad day when she was taken, although their persistence is what made it all better when she returned.
Worst: Bad Temper
Parents have a tendency to overreact, and King Triton from The Little Mermaid and Chief Powhatan from Pocahontas are guilty of this. They chose sternness and yelling to impress a point upon their daughters, but it obviously didn't work in either scenario.
These two parents wanted their children to be safe and their bad tempers pushed them toward the thing that both men feared the most.
Best: Risking Their Lives
Maurice from Beauty and the Beast was ready to do anything to help his daughter, even if it meant risking his own life. He told the story of the Beast to the villagers who all thought he was crazy, but it did make him more likable to fans.
When they failed to help him, he rushed off into the forest on his own, even if it meant an end to his days as he did his best to save his daughter.
Worst: Failure To Believe In Them
The Sultan in Aladdin and Chief Powhatan from Pocahontas had issues believing in their children and the power and ambition they possessed. Jasmine knew she was capable of taking her father's place one day, and she proved it with her actions and intelligence when Jafar came to power.
Chief Powhatan didn't want to believe his daughter when she shared her stories of the men from England, as he saw them as a threat to their well-being. It might differ from true historical fact, however, in the movie, Pocahontas did find happiness with John Smith and brought about peace between the two civilizations.
Best: Puts Their Needs First
Some Disney parents understood that their children's needs were always to come first, and Duchess from The Aristocats is a perfect example of this.
When they found themselves dropped off in an unfamiliar place, she made sure her children had their fill before she even had anything to eat. She even befriended Thomas O'Malley to help them find their way home and continues to be protective over her children to ensure their safety.
Worst: Jealousy
The Evil Queen from Snow White and the Seven Dwarves is a perfect example of jealousy as she literally poisoned her stepdaughter in order to become the fairest in the land, even if it did make her one of the most intelligent characters.
Lady Tremaine from Cinderella was no better as she turned her stepdaughter into a servant and tried to prevent her from winning the hand of the Prince. Some might even consider Scar from The Lion King, even if he was only an Uncle, as Simba looked up to him, and yet, he still tried several times to kill Simba in order to become king.
Best: They Care About Their Desires
The King from Cinderella is the best example of caring about his child's desires as he loosened the rules and allowed his son to pick his own bride. He even went to such lengths as to take the time to invite every fair maiden in the land, and then visit each of their homes with the glass slipper to uncover the woman he wanted as a wife.
Chief Powhatan and even the Sultan have this trait as both allowed their children to pick their husbands, rather than force them to marry for alliance purposes. It made them better parents as they allowed their children to be happy by giving them exactly what they wanted in the name of love.
Worst: Failure To Encourage Imagination
Imagination is vital to a child's development as it teaches them to see alternative views of the world, as well as have a bit of fun. However, George Darling from Peter Pan prevented his children from exploring these imaginative fantasies.
Just because he didn't believe in Never Land didn't mean he had to ruin it for his children, as they would learn to grow and mature with time.
Best: Serve As Teachers
Parents are meant to teach their children how to become who they were always meant to be, and Mufasa from The Lion King is the best example of this trait.
He shows Simba the lands he will govern and serves as a role model for his son to follow. Mufasa creates teachable moments out of everything and is always ready with a few words of wisdom even after his death.
Worst: Hiding Them From The World
The King and Queen of Arendelle in Frozen had one poor quality as parents, and it was in the form of sheltering their daughters from the world. They should have made Elsa feel special and learn how to control her powers, but instead, they hid her away and left her in an impossible situation when she became queen.
Elsa blames herself for their death, which made Anna the better sister, and for bringing pain to those around her when they should have shared her powers with the kingdom from the start.