Last month I put the spotlight on some of the best
mothers and mother-figures in Disney’s animated canon. While slightly less
joked about than Disney moms, Disney dads are just as subject to mishaps and
untimely demises as their female counterparts. From Bambi’s absent father to
Jasmine’s well-meaning but utterly unfit to rule father, to countless deceased
fathers, the land of Disney can certainly be a dicey place for dad. Just like
Disney moms, however, Disney fathers and father-figures are some of the best in
cinema. Here’s to three jolly-good fellows who could teach us all a thing about
parenting and appreciating our parents.
 |
| Mighty big paws to fill |
MUFASA: Disney’s answer to Atticus Finch, Mufasa might
well be the king of Disney dads as well as king of the Pridelands. Throughout The Lion King, Mufasa leads by example
and uses seemingly mundane moments as opportunities to instill his son, Simba,
with respect for the world around him. For instance, in one of the film’s most
quotable moments, he teaches Simba that every living thing down to the very
grass that we walk upon plays its own crucial role in the circle of life. He
then goes on to remind his son that their roles as rulers of the Pridelands come
with responsibilities as well as privileges. Mufasa also makes a careful effort
to curb Simba’s budding sense of entitlement and holds him accountable for his
mistakes. He then goes a step further by showing his son that there is a lesson
to be learned from every mistake and openly acknowledges his own mistakes.
Despite his numerous responsibilities, he also makes time for his family and
treats his role as father with equal importance as his role as leader. Mufasa
puts his own safety at risk on multiple occasions in order to protect Simba and
eventually makes the ultimate sacrifice in an effort to save Simba’s life. Even
after his death, it is the memory of Mufasa and all that he instilled in Simba
that inspires Simba to stop running away from his problems and claim his proper
place both in his family and on the throne. Twenty three years after The Lion King’s release, Mufasa still
reigns as one of the best fathers in cinema.
 |
| Why fit in when you can stand out? |
MAURICE: Beauty
and the Beast’s Belle is often remembered as one of Disney’s first truly
modern princesses due to her intelligence, independence, and nonconformity. One
viewing of this classic and you’ll see that viewers can thank Belle’s inventor father,
Maurice, for instilling those qualities in her. While the rest of the village
dismisses her as ‘a beauty but a funny girl’, Maurice sees the true value in
his daughter’s mind and willful personality and encourages her to develop them.
He consistently shows an interest in her life and passions, but also allows her
privacy and personal space; a tricky line for any parent to walk, let alone a
single dad in the 18th century. When she confronts him with her
inability to fit in, rather than blame her for defying local norms he instead
insists that she’s perfectly fine just as she is. While he does suggest that
she befriend villain Gaston, he quickly dismisses the thought when she explains
her dislike for him, whereas most parents of that era would have insisted that a
match with Gaston was her best option. It’s obvious watching the two interact
that they enjoy a supportive and trusting relationship that many real-life
families would envy, quirks and all. Later, after Belle bravely takes Maurice’s
place as the Beast’s prisoner, Maurice springs into action and courageously
sets out to rescue her alone when the town ignores his pleas. Even in the
film’s final act he trust’s Belle’s judgment in spite his own terrifying
experience with the Beast, and helps her reach the Beast in time to warn him
when Gaston and the local villagers invade the castle. While the locals may
dismiss him ‘crazy old Maurice’, it would be crazy not to include Maurice on
any list of great Disney dads.
 |
| The things that happen when you wish upon a star |
GEPPETTO: No list of Disney dads would be complete
without the studio’s first animated father, Geppetto. After years of devoting
himself to his work, carpenter Geppetto realizes that he has left no time to
start a family of his own. After wishing upon a star, however, his patience is
rewarded when the benevolent Blue Fairy appears and brings one of his hand-made
marionettes to life. One obstacle still remains in the way of the unusual
family’s happiness; the puppet, Pinocchio can only become a real boy if he
proves himself worthy by leading a good and virtuous life. Over the course of
the film Pinocchio gives in to one temptation after another until little hope
remains that he’ll ever become real. Through all of his mistakes, however,
Pinocchio can always rely upon Geppetto for consistent guidance and
unconditional love. Geppetto even puts his own life at risk when he faces the
monstrous whale Monstro in order to bring runaway Pinocchio safely home.
Geppetto also does his best to instill the willful Pinocchio with a strong moral
base by teaching him right from wrong and the value of hard work. While
Pinocchio might initially reject his father’s advice, it is the values and
lessons that Geppetto teach him that ultimately allow him to become real. While
Pinocchio might not have always been a real boy, the love between him and
Geppetto is never less than utterly real.
No comments:
Post a Comment