Pixar Hates Dads
Ok, Pixar doesn’t really hate dads. My observation is only with 3 of their films that have parents in them; Toy Story 1 & 2, and the latest release “UP”. In these Pixar/Disney movies there was no dad! There was no mention or view of a father. Another Disney movie – Bolt, the dad is not in the picture at all either. Is this a simple misunderstanding? Is this an oversight on Pixar’s part? Is Disney and Pixar moving away from the traditional 2 parent model?
Granted, there are many families that have been broken up by divorce or death, but as a society shouldn’t we strive for the ideal, intact family with a mother and a father? Studies clearly show the benefits of this on children. Don’t get me wrong, I love Pixar movies, however I am just questioning why in the above mentioned Pixar/Disney movies that show a parent that it only shows a mom with no reference to a father. Our entertainment shapes the culture in many ways through the portrayals of characters, the lifestyles, and what is acceptable, etc.
As a dad, I am concerned about the messages from the media that downplay the role of a dad, the importance of a dad, etc.
“As a society shouldn’t we strive for the ideal, intact family with a mother and a father?”
Yes!!!
http://www.cadz.net/mdr.html
http://www.marriagedivorce.com/mdreform2.htm
Um…
Ratatouille: a dad and brother present, no mother.
Finding Nemo: mother dies in first five minutes, entire movie is about the father/son relationship.
Up: although Russell’s parents are almost not seen at all on screen, the one that is a much bigger character from Russell’s perspective as he talks to Carl is his father. The whole movie he just wants his dad to pin on the badge for him.
Monsters, Inc.: this is one is certainly metaphorical but the connection is obvious between Sulley and Boo and a growing father/daughter relationship.
And of course, The Incredibles, which has an entire family unit, totally intact.
Sorry, I just don’t see your argument. Also, Bolt was not Pixar.
I saw “Up” last weekend and the little boy DOES talk about his father as being absent and uninvolved in his life. I expected to see the father show up at the end of the film – but boy’s mother does! It makes you wonder if Pixar does hate fathers.
Derrick, you obviously didn’t read the first sentence of the post. Richard specifically stated 3 movies that were involving human families. Richard didn’t have the movies you mention in his post. In Toy Story, it showed just a mom and two kids. No mention of a dad. In UP, the dad wasn’t present at all.
I think I see where Richard is going with this. The media glorifies all kind of stuff that it didn’t used to. Ever wonder why the profanity allowed on TV is very selective? Such as God Damn is allowed but not other words. Why are we seeing in some movies that the Bad guy is shown in a sympathetic light?
These are subtle things, but they are making an impact.
Now that Richard has pointed it out, I tend to agree with his post. We don’t watch network TV anymore because of it and the music today is just as bad. We have 2 kids in grade school and they are still getting exposed to junk from other kids. They need us to teach them what is appropriate. I feel like we are the only parents who think like this.
Thanks Richard.