Disney’s 15 Best Animated Moms

Summary

• Disney moms come in all shapes and sizes, but one thing they all have in common is their unwavering love and dedication to their children. From the overprotective Ming Lee in
  Turning Red
  to the patient and understanding Jill Andersen in
  Inside Out
  , these moms show that they will do whatever it takes to protect and care for their children.
• Every era of Disney has a great mom or two in its movies, from classic characters like Mrs. Jumbo in
  Dumbo
  through to modern Disney mothers like
  Onward’s
  Laurel Lightfoot.
• Whether single parents or one half of a Mother-Father duo, the best Disney mom’s manage to raise children who make strong and determined protagonists for their movies.

When it comes to Disney moms, everyone knows about the evil stepmothers and the ruthless queens willing to do anything to keep their power. However, in the world of Disney animated movies, there are also plenty of really good mothers, women who will go above and beyond to protect their children at all costs. Sadly, there are too many stories in Disney history where the heroes, often Disney Princesses, have to find their own path, with one or both parents dead. The good news is that, over the years, Disney moms have become more than plot devices used to help their kids find a purpose in life.

In some cases, a child has to lose their mother to really learn how to be a hero on their own. In other cases, mothers lose their kids, and they have to fight to either find them or wait for them to find their way home. The best Disney moms are the ones who will protect their children at all costs, even if it means putting their own lives on the line. A mother will stand up to immeasurable odds to protect her children, whether she is a human, cat, queen, superhero, or even a bear. These moms proved that Disney movies are about more than lost children coming into their own, and sometimes are about the best moms leading their kids to victory.

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15 Duchess

The Aristocats (1970)

Many of the best Disney mom’s feature in movies that focus on talking animals rather than human beings. When it comes to the feline characters created by the House of Mouse, few cats could have a mom as good as The Aristocat’s Duchess. Being raised by a wealthy older woman in the heart of Paris, Duchess and her three kittens were living a life of privilege in The Aristocats — that is until their madam’s butler became jealous of them and sought to dispose of them.

Seeing the cats separated from their owner was by far one of the saddest moments in The Aristocats. With Duchess and her three kittens lost on the streets of Paris, Duchess did everything she could to get her and her babies home. She became friends with an alleycat who was able to protect them on their travels, and she made sure her kittens came first. Duchess was the ultimate protector, but she also ensured her three children got a proper education prior to their daring escape.

14 Bambi’s Mom

Bambi (1942)

Bambi was released in 1942 making it one of Disney’s oldest films — and while Bambi’s mom is also by far the most tragic Disney mom due to her infamous death, she also shows herself to be one of the most caring and protective (even before she makes the ultimate sacrifice to ensure Bambi can escape). Bambi takes an incredibly dark turn when a lonely Bambi has find his way through life in the forest without his mom after she’s killed by a hunter, leaving him an orphan.

The absence left by Bambi’s Mom shows just how good a mother she was to the future king of the forest, however. Prior to her death, the two made it through winter together and they were excited about spring. Her short time in the film shows how much she cared for her only child and that she would do anything to get the two through the harsh winter. Bambi wouldn’t be where he was by the movie’s ending without his mother’s teachings. She may be the most tragic of all Disney moms, but that’s just as much due to how good a mother she was prior to her death as much as her death itself.

13 Laurel Lightfoot

Onward (2020)

While Onward may not be the most commercially successful Disney movie, it did introduce audiences to one of the studios’ best portrayals of a modern single mother — Laurel Lightfoot (voiced by Julia Louis-Dreyfus). Laurel Lightfoot shares a common trait with the best Disney moms. She is a widow, whose husband died years before. She was left to raise her two boys, Ian and Barley, the best she could. Not only that though, Laurel still manages to find time to have a healthy social life and set an example for her boys on how to be a well-adjusted adult.

When Laurel showed up and used herself to distract an evil dragon long enough for her sons to save the day, she proved that a mother will, in fact, do anything to make sure her children are safe.

Laurel also never lets her dating life get in the way of them discussing and having fond memories of their father. When her sons set out on a mysterious mission to find the magic that allowed them to talk to their dead father one last time, Laurel realizes the danger they are in and set out to protect her sons at all costs. When Laurel showed up and used herself to distract an evil dragon long enough for her sons to save the day, she proved that a mother will, in fact, do anything to make sure her children are safe.

12 Eudora

The Princess And The Frog (2009)

The Princess and the Frog hit screens in 2009 and broke the mold by giving fans Disney’s first Black princess. She was thoughtful, generous, and a hard worker — she was everything a young child could aspire to be. However, Tiana wouldn’t be the strong, determined, and ambitious young woman she was when The Princess and the Frog began without the amazing help from her mother, Eudora (voiced by the legendary Oprah Winfrey).

In the early part of The Princess and the Frog, Tiana is loved by both her mother and father. However, tragedy then strikes when her father passes away and leaves Eudora a widow and single mother. Eudora’s one of the best seamstresses in New Orleans and wanted Tiana to settle down and have a family, but at the same time, she’s also incredibly encouraging of Tiana and her dreams.

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11 Perdita

101 Dalmatians (1961)

One Hundred and One Dalmatians hit screens in 1961, showing viewers that no family is too big if there’s enough love involved. After a sweet courtship, Pongo and Perdita found out they were expecting a lot of puppies. What was supposed to be a joyful affair turned into a breaking and entering, when Anita’s boss — Cruella De Vil —stole the puppies. This event, while tragic, is also what spurred Perdita to show why she’s considered one of the best Disney Mom’s (and Pongo, by extension, is also one of the best Dads created by the House of Mouse).

Perdita and Pongo didn’t sit around hoping the humans would find their pups. They escaped their home, followed their noses, and spoke to other dogs in the city to do everything they could to save their puppies from becoming next year’s fashion piece. They were successful, and in doing so Perdita showed herself to be one of the most dedicated Disney moms.

Perdita’s name is also the Italian word for loss, which is incredibly fitting given the plot of 101 Dalmatians.

10 Mrs. Potts

Beauty And The Beast (1991)

Belle didn’t have a mother in Beauty and the Beast, but there was a mother present throughout the animated film — Mrs. Potts. Mrs. Potts was a teapot and one of the most likable characters in Beauty and the Beast. She was a mother to her child (a teacup) named Chip, and not only did she take care of her child, but she also did everything she could for the Beast as well.

One of the more peculiar Disney moms, Mrs. Potts didn’t let being turned into a teapot throw her off her mothering A-game.

More than that, she took Belle into their castle as if she were her own. Mrs. Potts wasn’t just doing her job or being hospitable. She was a mom, doing what moms do best — taking care of those around them. One of the more peculiar Disney moms, Mrs. Potts didn’t let being turned into a teapot throw her off her mothering A-game. Throughout Beauty and the Beast she shows that she’s a strong maternal influence, not just for Chip and Belle, but for the Beast and many of the other animated furniture items in the castle.

9 Ming Lee

Turning Red (2022)

On the outside looking in, Ming Lee (voiced by Sandra Oh) was the antagonist of Turning Red. However, this was because she was trying to be the best mother she could be for her daughter. Out of the Disney moms, Ming Lee seemed to go overboard on her controlling umbrella parent attitude, but she had a good reason to be so overprotective.

Ming Lee knew all along how important self-control was to the women in her family due to their habit of turning into red pandas when their emotions get the better of them, and she wanted to protect her daughter from the curse. When she succumbed to the curse and turned into a monster, it was through her love for her daughter, and her daughter’s love for her, that the two were able to stop the rampage and come to an understanding in the end.

8 Jill Andersen

Inside Out (2015)

Jill Andersen (voiced by Diane Lane) in Inside Out is Riley’s mom and, aside from being one of the few Disney moms who still has the father of their child alongside them, also shows herself to be a caring, understanding, and patient wife and mother. Inside Out shows the world from the perspective of a little girl named Riley. The movie takes place mostly inside Riley’s head through the actions of her emotions, who are the main characters in Inside Out. While fans love Joy, Sadness, Anger, and Fear, it’s Riley’s mom that deserves a standing ovation.

Riley becomes upset when she is forced to move away from her home, her friends, and her hockey team. Being an incredibly intuitive and caring parent, Jill sees the changes Riley is going through and does her best to give her daughter purpose again. She’s empathetic and compassionate and truly tries to understand what’s going on inside her daughter’s head. It’s especially impressive given that, when it’s Jill’s head audiences are given a glimpse into, Sadness is shown to be the emotion in control, suggesting that Jill had to overcome many of her own issues to be such a good mom.

7 Julieta Madrigal

Encanto (2021)

Encanto was a movie about family, and when it comes to Disney moms, there were two in the 2021 smash-hit that played very different roles. First was Abuela, who did everything she could to protect her magical family after her own family died to get her to safety. She refused to allow her children and grandchildren to face the same dangers she did, in an almost suffocating manner.

While Mirabel had to do things her way, her mother was always there to support her.

However, Abuela’s granddaughter changed the way she looked at the world, this was thanks to how Mirabel was raised by her mother, Julieta (voiced by Angie Cepeda). While Mirabel had to do things her way, her mother was always there to support her. She was also the healer of the family, showing her real power as a mom. Julieta may not be as central a character in Encanto as Abuela or Mirabel, but she’s clearly one of the best Disney mom’s given how well-adjusted and determined Mirabel turned out to be despite being the only Madrigal without powers.

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6 Mrs. Davis

Toy Story (1995)

Mrs. Davis — known to most fans of the Toy Story franchise simply as Andy’s Mom — was one of the first Disney moms of the studio’s modern era and helped pave the way for many characters like Laurel Lightfoot on Oneward and Eudora in The Princess and the Frog. Although she plays a minor role in the Toy Story franchise, it’s obvious that Andy’s Mom is a single mother, raising a young boy and girl on her own.

It’s not clear what Andy’s Mom does outside of being a full-time parent, but viewers can hear her sweet nature through her voice, and the fact Andy and his sister have a stable home shows she must be balancing a career with her parental responsibilities. From birthday parties to yard sales to packing Andy up for college, Andy’s mom has been alone this whole time and has done everything to make her kids’ lives good ones. She’s made some of the saddest moments in Andy’s life tolerable by showering him with care and affection.

5 Kala

Tarzan (1999)

The mama gorilla in Tarzan has been through the trenches, and Kala shows just how good of a Disney mom she is from the offset since she raises Tarzan despite almost every other gorilla in her group being firmly against the idea. After wanting to care for a baby that wasn’t taken by the wild leopard who terrorized them, she found an infant Tarzan needing desperate help.

Knowing he was a human who could one day hurt them, she took the risks head-on and raised him anyway — even when her husband and the group thought she was wrong. She loved her little boy Tarzan so much that she was even willing to let him go to be with fellow humans like himself. In short, she’s one of the most selfless Disney moms and proved that a mother’s love and care could help create a great hero.

4 Nani

Lilo & Stitch (2002)

Nani isn’t Lilo’s mom, but she’s the closest thing she’s got. In Lilo and Stitch, Nani is the legal guardian to Lilo after their parents passed away. She is a young woman who not only had to deal with the death of her parents, but now she has to worry about raising her little sister, working, and running a household; things that she had to do overnight.

Lilo is not the most stable little girl to care for, but Nani does the best she can, considering their situation.

Although she and Lilo bump heads from time to time, her sole reason for living is to give Lilo a happy and healthy home. That’s a lot to take on for a young woman, but she does it with grace. It also isn’t easy, as Lilo is not the most stable little girl to care for, but Nani does the best she can, considering their situation. While Nani may technically not be a mother herself, she still easily counts as one of the best Disney moms, doing a better job at raising her sister than many other mothers in the franchise do with their actual children.

3 Mrs. Jumbo

Dumbo (1941)

Dumbo can be a tearjerking Disney movie no matter how much time passes or how many times it’s viewed, and the treatment of Dumbo’s mom, Mrs. Jumbo, and her protectiveness of her baby is a key reason why. In the film, Mrs. Jumbo’s son, Dumbo, has massive ears. They’re so big that he trips over himself and his tiny frame.

However, once Mrs. Jumbo hears other kids picking on Dumbo, she goes to bat for her son. Unfortunately for her, this got her locked up in solitary confinement at the circus for her behavior. It’s clear that Mrs. Jumbo would have done anything for Dumbo and that love has stuck with fans for generations. The fact that Dumbo’s mother was punished for protecting her child shows that she was easily one of the best Disney moms, and she deserved better.

2 Queen Elinor

Brave (2012)

The complex relationship between a mother and daughter is at the center of Brave, and through this clash of personalities, Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson) showed herself to be one of the best Disney mom’s for one key reason – her ability and willingness to learn, grow, and compromise to gain a better understanding of her child. Merida was the protagonist of Disney’s Brave, but her mother, Queen Elinor, wasn’t far behind. As her only daughter, she wanted Merida to obey orders and to get married so that she was protected — but Merida had other plans.

As a queen, Elinor was seen as overbearing to Merida, but it wasn’t out of hate, it was done for love. Along with being a mother of four, Elinor took on most of the important political roles because of her strong yet calm demeanor and a lot of patience and understanding for her daughter. The fact that Merida turned her mother into a bear was bad, but her mom took it as well as could be expected thanks to love for her daughter.

1 Helen Parr

The Incredibles (2004)

Although Helen Parr (Holly Hunter) is also the superhero known as Elastigirl due to her incredible superpowers in The Incredibles, her most effective role is arguably her one as one of the best Disney moms. As the mother of three superpowered children, Helen had her hands full while chasing them around and dealing with an entire secret identity. Unlike her husband Bob, who found it hard to fully commit to civilian life, Helen took to her new role as a homemaker spectacularly, committing to it with the same zeal she used to defend the city with.

Helen Parr held the fort down while life unfolded around her and always adapted to the many fantastical problems thrown her way.

As a superhero lying low, Helen tried adjusting her children to normalcy in the human world. The act was harder than she realized due to the struggles of adolescence, and the fact that her husband wasn’t ready to stop being a superhero, but Helen Parr held the fort down while life unfolded around her and always adapted to the many fantastical problems thrown her way.

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