There really is no mob that Disney is giving into. Splash was always on borrowed time.
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Tiana's Bayou Adventure: Disneyland Watch & Discussion
- Thread starter Californian Elitist
- Start date
SuddenStorm
Well-Known Member
It's interesting that despite being Disney's 'banned' film, it's also the only Disney feature length film you can watch online, for free, and find the link on the first page of Google results and without having to go through any sketchy websites. Which makes the idea that Song of the South is a banned film surface deep at best. Anyone who wants to watch it can, and with greater ease then any other Disney film.
I don't think the film should be accessible to anyone who wants to watch it, since it's best viewed with a decent understanding of the film's history and not for simple viewing pleasure. A premium release that's priced as a collector's item, and not something Mom would buy in the clearance section at Walmart would be perfect. Give it a decent amount of bonus features discussing the film's creation, and the controversy it's caused from the day it was released. Better yet, make it a limited run of only a few thousand copies. Have cultural historians reflect on the film and it's legacy.
And then have the lawyers crack down on the various free streams that are readily accessible by simply Googling "Song of the South HD online"
I feel like Disney+ is the perfect platform for an updated series of shorts utilizing the Br'er characters. Those stories have always been better suited for a series of shorts vs a feature length film, because they're often shorter tales with a morale.
This would also have worked to distance Splash Mountain from Song of the South further, and would have provided the opportunity for increased merchandising of Splash Mountain and the Br'er characters.
Brer Panther
Well-Known Member
It makes me wonder, since there are a lot of people who think The Princess and the Frog is racist, what if in a few years people start demanding the ride be rethemed again?
I think most Disney fans who knew about SotS pretty much knew Splash had a limited shelf life.
There is no comparison and the odds of this happening are quite slim to none.
Brer Panther
Well-Known Member
I've seen people dub The Princess and the Frog racist, usually for very similar reasons to those used to claim that Song of the South is racist (that the characters are oddly cheery for a time period in which black people faced problems, characters being stereotypes, etc.). Why the film is being weaponized against Song of the South makes me raise an eyebrow.
Tamandua
Well-Known Member
Splash Mountain has always had some level of controversy because song of the south has been criticized ever since it was made in the 40s. Disney clearly wasn't that worried about it decades ago when they decided to make the ride. Before the internet and social media, mini mobs didn't have the kind of power they do today. Of course, when the movie was more accessible, people would hear about the controversy, go watch the movie out of curiosity, and generally think the entire thing was way overblown. I think this still happens for the people who go track down the pirated copies online, but these days people are more likely to just hear about how bad it is, take the mob's word for it, and make their judgement without watching it.
Even if you think the movie is terrible, there's nothing offensive about the ride that I can see. Getting rid of it is the epitome of throwing the baby out with the bath water.
Brer Panther
Well-Known Member
I've said it before, but this "controversy" is really just because "Song of the South" is an easy target.
The claims of racism towards PatF are usually geared towards specific parts and factors of the film. SotS is considered to be a racist film altogether and has historically been shunned by both the public and the media since its release back in the 40s. PatF is not being condemned for the same things SotS is continuously condemned for. Overall, it is not considered to be a problematic enough film to denounce. This is evidenced by the fact that it’s readily and officially available to the public, has a presence in Disneyland, sells merchandise, has face characters, etc.
There’s no comparison.
Animaniac93-98
Well-Known Member
Or whether it will be 2D or 3D animated.
Animaniac93-98
Well-Known Member
It's taking Disney half a decade to add a restaurant and roller coaster to EPCOT.
It might not ever get delayed, just follow Disney's pattern of taking forever to do anything. Converting Maelstrom to Frozen took almost 2 years, and that was a smaller water ride than Splash.
Animaniac93-98
Well-Known Member
That's what they said, but I still don't believe it as they hadn't even started any of the serious logistical planning to figure out how to do it, or how much work needed to be done prior to June 2020.
It's possible it was proposed before then, but having an idea and having a plan are not the same thing.
Brer Panther
Well-Known Member
And I still don't think it's just a coincidence that Frederick Chambers just so happened to suggest the very same idea that they were supposedly planning before June 2020.
If they really did have it planned before, that means either Frederick found out about it and claimed he came up with the idea himself to get undeserved fame or Disney used him to turn people against Splash Mountain so there wouldn't be backlash over their tethering a popular ride.
EPCOTCenterLover
Well-Known Member
I'd say the same could be said for Song of the South. But what's done is done. Disney won't reverse its course on Splash regardless of how much be debate.
SotS is a racist film, according to many. PatF has elements or plot points that are problematic but it is not a racist film.
Your third sentence is spot on. Disney most likely won't be changing their minds and some folks are telling themselves things to try and ease the disappointment, which is understandable. But Disney has made it very clear that they will not be embracing SotS anytime soon and they still have intentions on getting rid of Splash.
Look who's on DL merchandise for sale now
Animaniac93-98
Well-Known Member
Left Hand not talking to Right Hand.
Or it's old merch stock that was either ordered or sitting in storage since before June 2020.
He’s been there.
lazyboy97o
Well-Known Member
Or it’s not the creative an idea that’s been pitched by Armchair Imagineers before...
But the ride is about getting to a celebration by the theocratic colonialists who subjugated, enslaved and killed the indigenous peoples of Louisiana, California and Florida. There’s no way Disney would build a Coco ride about Miguel trying to get to the party at the Mission.
Animaniac93-98
Well-Known Member
I'm still trying to figure out how a ride about a cartoon alligator looking for a musical instrument is either "inclusive" or a good representation of African American culture, and not just an excuse to sell more Princess merchandise.