Removal of movies on Disney Plus - a harbinger of things to come?

mharrington

mharrington

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
It's no secret now that several Disney films have been pulled from the kids sections/kids' accounts of Disney Plus, all containing some form of racial imagery. These included "Dumbo" (the black crows), "Peter Pan" (the Indians), "The Aristocats" (the Chinese drummer cat in Scat Cat's band), and "Swiss Family Robinson" (the Asian pirates). Here is just one such article here (as such, I'm guessing it's not strictly American, but worldwide): https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/13832487/disney-blocks-kids-watching-peter-pan-dumbo-aristocats/.

I wouldn't be so worried, as I'm not a child, except I have a sneaking suspicion (one that was shared by at least a few on another thread who posted about this in the context of Disney parks: https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads...ildrens-section-implications-for-park.971696/) that this is only the beginning, that some time in the (hopefully distant) future, they could very well pull these movies entirely from their libraries. I really hope that's not the case.

Back when "Dumbo" was rumored to be shown on Disney Plus with the crows censored (which would have made the film nonsensical), I preemptively bought a Blu-Ray of the movie. Now, I have done the same with "Peter Pan". I really hope this is not the case, but I took no chances. There may be a future where films like "Dumbo" and "Peter Pan" could go the way of "Song of the South".
 
Swedish Chef

Swedish Chef

New Member
I wonder if Swiss Family Robinson had more to do with the suggestion of animal abuse in some scenes and possibly in filming, and the way it belittled the character the brothers rescued just because she was a girl. (Couldn't keep up, had to be helped hiking through the jungle, always needing protection from the tiniest of threats, stuff that wouldn't go over well today.)

From what I remember of the pirates, they were no more controversial than Captain Sao Feng and his crew in POTC 3, and just happened to be Asian, but not negative stereotypes? If that is the case, what's so wrong with it? Whites and Latinos have gotten to play pirates' plenty through the years in film. Why can't Asians have some fun with the genre?
I need to go back and re-watch Swiss Family. It's been years.
 
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mharrington

mharrington

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Swedish Chef said:
And while we're on the subject, does anyone know why Make Mine Music never appeared as content on Disney+ ?
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I guess the "Martins and Coys" segment was more problematic than Pecos Bill (or Goofy in "Saludos Amigos") smoking? Yeah, I don't understand it either.

My point, though, is that if films are not safe in the children's sections/accounts, then how can they be safe anywhere?
 
Buck Wheelie

Buck Wheelie

Well-Known Member
If they removed the movies or content from their site totally I would say that is there business. When they are just removing it from kids accounts they are stepping over a line into parenting. Parents are the judge of what their kids have access to. I don't have little kids anymore or subscribe to Disney+. I think if I did subscribe I would cancel it for this reason.
 
Robbiem

Robbiem

Well-Known Member
Here in the UK an adult account will soon unlock the star content that some people wouldn’t want younger folk to access.

Restrictions should be by rating, if Disney think the movie is ‘problematic’ they can submit for reclassification and accept a decision which aligns across the industry
 
MisterPenguin

MisterPenguin

President of Animal Kingdom
Premium Member
Robbiem said:
Here in the UK an adult account will soon unlock the star content that some people wouldn’t want younger folk to access.

Restrictions should be by rating, if Disney think the movie is ‘problematic’ they can submit for reclassification and accept a decision which aligns across the industry
Click to expand...
The industry doesn't (yet) have a rating system for "This was made for children back in the racist times."

TV shows have age ratings like films do, however, they have a system which explains why the rating is restrictive, e.g., "Coarse Language," "Nudity," "Graphic Violence." That would give parents a more finely tuned way to sift media for their children. But old films don't have such established ratings.
 
Robbiem

Robbiem

Well-Known Member
MisterPenguin said:
The industry doesn't (yet) have a rating system for "This was made for children back in the racist times."

TV shows have age ratings like films do, however, they have a system which explains why the rating is restrictive, e.g., "Coarse Language," "Nudity," "Graphic Violence." That would give parents a more finely tuned way to sift media for their children. But old films don't have such established ratings.
Click to expand...

Some sort of filter system like you describe for tv above would be a sensible move (after all everything on Disney + is effectively a tv show just a different length). Some parents may be quite happy with the old classics but might not want their children watching violence or bad language
 
Disstevefan1

Disstevefan1

Well-Known Member
mharrington said:
It's no secret now that several Disney films have been pulled from the kids sections/kids' accounts of Disney Plus, all containing some form of racial imagery. These included "Dumbo" (the black crows), "Peter Pan" (the Indians), "The Aristocats" (the Chinese drummer cat in Scat Cat's band), and "Swiss Family Robinson" (the Asian pirates). Here is just one such article here (as such, I'm guessing it's not strictly American, but worldwide): https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/13832487/disney-blocks-kids-watching-peter-pan-dumbo-aristocats/.

I wouldn't be so worried, as I'm not a child, except I have a sneaking suspicion (one that was shared by at least a few on another thread who posted about this in the context of Disney parks: https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads...ildrens-section-implications-for-park.971696/) that this is only the beginning, that some time in the (hopefully distant) future, they could very well pull these movies entirely from their libraries. I really hope that's not the case.

Back when "Dumbo" was rumored to be shown on Disney Plus with the crows censored (which would have made the film nonsensical), I preemptively bought a Blu-Ray of the movie. Now, I have done the same with "Peter Pan". I really hope this is not the case, but I took no chances. There may be a future where films like "Dumbo" and "Peter Pan" could go the way of "Song of the South".
Click to expand...
Yes censorship will become very important going forward . What we see must be controlled; freedom of thought must be kept at a minimum. You will only see what is allowed with the ultimate goal to get all to think and do things that are considered correct and equitable.
 
G

GimpYancIent

Well-Known Member
Disstevefan1 said:
Yes censorship will become very important going forward . What we see must be controlled; freedom of thought must be kept at a minimum. You will only see what is allowed with the ultimate goal to get all to think and do things that are considered correct and equitable.
Click to expand...
Absolutely. All thought, information, data, recorded history (all the way back from when humans crawled out of caves) must be controlled, filtered, edited and CENSORED. All must think as one!
 
mharrington

mharrington

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Disstevefan1 said:
Yes censorship will become very important going forward . What we see must be controlled; freedom of thought must be kept at a minimum. You will only see what is allowed with the ultimate goal to get all to think and do things that are considered correct and equitable.
Click to expand...

Sadly, you could be right.
 

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