Splash Mountain Characters Also Retired?

[dd316]

Not that they were out much anyway, but with the demise of Splash Mountain is it possible we will never ever see Br'er Bear, Br'er Fox and Br'er Rabbit again?

I've seen some "rare" characters making appearances lately, but I imagine these characters are done.

 

[mom2rtk]

I see no way these characters appear ever again.

 

[Smugpugmug]

The only way you'll ever see these characters is if you go to Tokyo Disneyland. Their version of Splash Mountain is staying as is and you can still buy merchandise of them there.

The main purpose of the retheme in the states is for Disney to distance themselves from the movie Splash Mountain is based on, so I doubt they'll ever appear again in DL and WDW.

 

[BrianL]

I say bring 'em out for the Halloween party with all the other villains!

...it's a joke, folks.

 

[BostonEd]

It's too bad. I was hoping maybe "SotS" could have been re-done in a more respectful way. I really think it would have just needed a few tweaks--pretty important tweaks, but still! "Zip ah dee doo dah" is such an iconic song--and a good song. What will happen to it?

 

[starlite_]

It's too bad. I was hoping maybe "SotS" could have been re-done in a more respectful way. I really think it would have just needed a few tweaks--pretty important tweaks, but still! "Zip ah dee doo dah" is such an iconic song--and a good song. What will happen to it?

While I don't hate the characters themselves, unfortunately that franchise when done by Disney will always be associated with bigotry. I don't see how they could salvage it at all. I agree it is a pretty iconic song, I always used to sing it when I was super happy when I was younger. Now that I know it's stains I figure it's better to let it go~

 

[Kennywood]

Song of the South will offend people who want to be offended. It's a shame, though, because James Baskett (Uncle Remus) was given an honorary Academy Award for his performance.

He was the first African-American male to win the award. Ignoring Song of the South diminishes and ignores his historic achievement.

 

[starlite_]

Song of the South will offend people who want to be offended. It's a shame, though, because James Baskett (Uncle Remus) was given an honorary Academy Award for his performance.

He was the first African-American male to win the award. Ignoring Song of the South diminishes and ignores his historic achievement.

Ah yeah, the historic achievement of when he wasn't allowed to go to the premier because of segregation. Such an important moment in history indeed.

 

[Brian Noble]

Song of the South will offend people who want to be offended.

Guilty as charged.

 

[Kennywood]

Ah yeah, the historic achievement of when he wasn't allowed to go to the premier because of segregation. Such an important moment in history indeed.

Speaking of diminishing James Baskett's historic accomplishment....

 

[BrianL]

Song of the South will offend people who want to be offended. It's a shame, though, because James Baskett (Uncle Remus) was given an honorary Academy Award for his performance.

He was the first African-American male to win the award. Ignoring Song of the South diminishes and ignores his historic achievement.

Ah yeah, the historic achievement of when he wasn't allowed to go to the premier because of segregation. Such an important moment in history indeed.

These are both good points. The thing is that there were good things about the production and also problematic things. It shouldn't have to be treated as all or nothing, but sadly, that's the only way people want to see anything anymore. Discussion and thought can be a good thing!

 

[HokieRaven5]

Disney replaced James Baskett’s Character with a Frog on Splash Mountain. They made sure to not acknowledge Uncle Remus as a part of the attraction. Nothing is being taken away from Baskett or his achievement.

 

[TikiRob]

It's too bad. I was hoping maybe "SotS" could have been re-done in a more respectful way. I really think it would have just needed a few tweaks--pretty important tweaks, but still! "Zip ah dee doo dah" is such an iconic song--and a good song. What will happen to it?

The song's roots are just as problematic as the movie.

 

[GoingSince1990]

I feel a bit bad for poor Brer. As far as I know he himself has never said or done anything racist; it is just his misfortune to have a character tell his story in a movie that is now considered offensive.

 

[BostonEd]

The song's roots are just as problematic as the movie.

Oh I’m unfamiliar with that. Interesting.

 

[lilmc]

Yes, we’ll never see those characters again. That’s the whole point of the re-theming

 

[TheDailyMoo]

You know what else is really "problematic"? The Hall of Presidents...but we're not screaming to get rid of that...just saying you can tie anything into something that can be construed as problematic. Maybe it's better not to feel so angry and offended about everything you're told to...at least come up with those feelings yourselves and don't let Twitter tell you what you should be outraged about.

 

[GoingSince1990]

You know what else is really "problematic"? The Hall of Presidents...but we're not screaming to get rid of that...just saying you can tie anything into something that can be construed as problematic. Maybe it's better not to feel so angry and offended about everything you're told to...at least come up with those feelings yourselves and don't let Twitter tell you what you should be outraged about.

Indeed. Thomas Jefferson owned hundreds of slaves and never freed any of them, while Brer Rabbit owned zero slaves. And which animatronic are they taking away?

 

[BrianL]

Oh I’m unfamiliar with that. Interesting.

The connections with the song are somewhat tenuous - but the information is out there. I'll leave it at that and let people decide for themselves.

 

[middlechild]

Joel Chandler Harris, who wrote the stories, supported reconciliation post Civil War according to Wikipedia. Disney, in my opinion, looked at the technology of making James Baskett walk from black and white to color with the animation, with the folklore providing a world of wonder at a dark time in history. The three vignettes tell a stories from a folklore tradition. Could there have been a different treatment to Harris's stories, that would allow the folklore to stand on its own? Sure. But we will never know, as the characters like Brer Rabbit are now as tarnished as the treatment of people post Civil War. Yes, the characters are gone for good. as are Zip and Laughing Place and briar patches. Bobby Driscoll starred, and died at 31, gone too soon. I would love to see the same folklore fables treated differently and brought forth again, for the morals are still valid today.