I started watching Finding Nemo the other day. Nothing else was worth watching, and I was pretty tired hearing about health care reform and Sarah Palin “not quitting,” so I opted for a Disney movie. What could it hurt? I didn’t make it 5 minutes into the movie until something struck me as odd.

Marlin had just come-to after a barracuda attack to find his wife, Coral, and all his children had just been eaten. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted one, small egg that had somehow been passed up. Cradling it in his fin, Marlin said, ” Don’t worry Nemo; I promise I won’t let anything happen to you.”

That’s what irked me. “Hmm,” I thought. “This was Disney–the foundation of family values–and there was a single parent raising a child.”

But then I really started thinking about it: How many other animated Disney movies lacked a parental figure?

Cinderella — Sure, there was no mention of either one of her parents, but she did only have an evil stepmother. Where was the stepfather?

The Little Mermaid — I don’t remember seeing a Queen Triton.

Beauty and the Beast — Belle only had Maurice, the eccentric, off-the-beaten-path inventor, as a father. Again, no mom.

The Lion King — Simba had Sarabi, but Mufasa died within 20 minutes of the opening credits.

Aladdin — Aladdin was a swashbuckling orphan, but Princess Jasmine was raised by the single Sultan. No Sultress? In the second sequel, Aladdin and the King of Thieves, we later found out that Aladdin’s father, Cassim, was still alive and the leader of the Forty Thieves. But, where was Cassim’s wife?

Bambi — While young, Bambi’s mom talkes him to meet his father, Faline the Great Prince of the Forest, but only a scene’s later, Bambi’s mom is shot by a hunter. Bambi is left to fend for himself for much of the movie, only to be later reunited with his dad.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs — Princess Snow White only had a wicked stepmother, the Queen.

Dumbo — We never see a Mr. Jumbo.

Toy Story — Andy only has a mom that takes him everywhere.

I was curious about this new piece of information, so naturally: I Googled.

I couldn’t find any substainial sources that cite a reason why so many old, animated Disney movies only featured one parent. My search engine results were just littered with radicals claiming that Disney is tearing families apart and that the movies are just trying alert children of the divorce/death. But what exactly were Disney’s motives having only one parent featured in these movies? There are too many instances to claim it mere circumstance, and I don’t think that this question has ever been formally asked (if so, please humor me with responses; I’m curiously intrigued.)

As for Disney movie to come, The Princess and the Frog castlist has both a mother and father for Princess Tiana, but we’ll have to wait and see what Disney creatives have churned up for this one.