This will be unpopular, but to be fair to Disney et al, the same could be said for most classic fairy tales from hundreds of years ago. Disney didn't invent the formula. Their whole company was founded on taking public domain fairy tales and animating them. Dead and absent parents, evil step-mothers, and tragic orphans have always been a staple of children's adventure stories for the obvious reason that children with two loving and active parents don't get into dangerous and exciting adventures.