While even the title emphasises its undeniably racist overtones, the short film is also widely recognised as one of the most masterfully made cartoons of all time, particularly by animation industry professionals.
Set in the Second World War, the story's characters speak in rhyme and are based on jazz musicians of the time. A scene from 'Coal Black and de Sebben Dwarfs' It has been said it was meant to be called So White and De Sebben Dwarfs , but the title was changed over concerns that it was too similar to the original.
For the storyline, Clampett had apparently been inspired by the book Harlem as Seen by Hirschfeld by American caricaturist Albert "Al" Hirschfeld, as well as by a Duke Ellington performance, after which the jazz great and his cast suggested the animator make a musical cartoon that focused on "black" music. Some of it was pretty funny stuff that we actually used in the picture: real tall guys dancing with real short little women, and they'd swing their legs right over the tops of their heads.
No matter what the origin of the story is, this cartoon would certainly not jive with a modern audience today, not only because of the African-American stereotypes, but also because of its anti-Japanese jokes, as it was made the year after the Pearl Harbour attack. Hittin' the Trail for Hallelujah Land Sunday Go to Meetin' Time Uncle Tom's Bungalow The Isle of Pingo Pongo The film was censored due to the character of Uncle Tom, a doglike creature who runs afoul of some dancing skeletons who are also markedly similar to an earlier Disney creation entitled The Skeleton Dance.
Beyond this, a lack of focus and some half-baked gags are likely to make this cartoon more of a curiosity than a joy for modern viewers. Clean Pastures is, on the whole, a more entertaining and more complex offering. The music is a huge success, and droves of folks come to Heaven, including the Devil himself.
Offensive stereotyping abounds, but Clean Pastures has at least provided significant critical fodder. A pair of riffs on the idea of island savages, Jungle Jitters and The Isle of Pingo Pongo both released in share a few of the same barbarian-based gags as well as a surrealist bent.
The Isle of Pingo Pongo is set up as a parody of travelogues, while Jungle Jitters is more of a fish-out-of-water scenario, following a traveling salesman who gets kidnapped by natives. Unfortunately, the slapdash nature of this cartoon undercuts any potential message. The humor is lacking, it relies on an overuse of jokey narration, and the final punch line is a racist gambling joke. The only one of the Eleven directed by Chuck Jones, Angel Puss is at once one of the most blithe and most offensive of the banned cartoons.
The cartoon has the characteristic energy and wit of Jones throughout. Yet everything about the African American character, from his design,to his name Sambo to his voice to his superstitious and foolish behavior, is pure prejudicial horror, and seeing it in such a familiar context makes it all the more jarring.
Note too the heightened sadism of Puss, who turns to tormenting Sambo almost immediately. When he comes to, he repents of his sinful ways. Similar notes added to old Hanna-Barbera cartoons on other streaming platforms have been even more explicit, with episodes of Tom and Jerry flagged for depicting scenes of "racial prejudice". That warning says: "Tom and Jerry shorts may depict some ethnic and racial prejudices that were once commonplace in American society.
Such depictions were wrong then and are wrong today. Watch Live. Looney Tunes ditches guns for its modern relaunch - but dynamite and scythes are still allowed Elmer Fudd used to regularly wield shotguns and firearms in his hapless pursuit of arch-nemesis Bugs Bunny. Fill 2 Copy 11 Created with Sketch. Sunday 7 June , UK. Why you can trust Sky News.
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