10 Biggest Clichés Of The Disney Renaissance
7. The Hero Will Have Lost At Least One Parent
Get those hankies ready, because this is where the sad stuff begins.
It may be used to amplify the villain's villianocity, like Scar letting Mufasa fall to the crushing hoofs of a stampede, or Frollo spilling Quasimodo’s mother's blood on the steps of Notre Dame, or it may happen just to add an extra note of sympathy and another reason to root for our hero, but by the time the first act ends our Disney Renaissance protagonist will pull a Bambi and have lost at least one parent.
Even if the parents don't meet their end on screen like in the emotionally torturous opener to Tarzan, something would have happened to them before the opening credits rolled (or hit the black screen with a giant THUD!).
Ever wondered what happened to Ariel or Belle's mothers? Or why Aladdin lived the life of a street rat by himself? It may be expanded upon in straight to video sequels or live-action remakes, but the fact remains the hero will be down to one or none parental figures before the journey kicks off. Apart from Hercules, who has, like, four parents, and two of them are Gods. Lucky git.