Song of the South is a 1946 American live-action/animated musical film produced by Walt Disney and released by RKO Radio Pictures, based on the Uncle Remus stories collected by Joel Chandler Harris. It was Disney's first feature film using live actors, who provide a sentimental frame story for several animated segments. The film depicts the character Uncle Remus, presumably a former slave, cheerfully relating to several children, including the film's protagonist, the folk tales of the adventures of anthropomorphic Br'er Rabbit and his enemies, Br'er Fox and Br'er Bear. The film's song "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" won the 1947 Academy Award for Best Song, is frequently used as part of Disney's montage themes, and has become widely used in popular culture. James Baskett was given an honorary Academy Award in 1948 for his portrayal of Uncle Remus; the first Oscar (although an honorary one) to an African-American actor. The film inspired the Disney theme park attraction Splash Mountain.
The film's depiction of black former slaves, and of race relations in Reconstruction-Era Georgia, has been controversial since its original release, with a number of critics — at the time of its release and in later decades — describing it as racist.[4] Consequently it has never been released in its entirety on home video in the United States.[5]
Appearences in EDP Projects[]
- Animation Lookback: Walt Disney Animation Studios
- Top 10 Controversial Cartoons When talking about #10 on the list, Coonskin, he says that it was based on the tales of Uncle Remus, as soon as the similarities are mentioned, a poster of Song of the South slowly slides onscreen from the right until AniMat punches it off screen, promising to get to it later. Also, Song of the South is ranked up at #2 on the list due to committing the controversy crime, questionable portrayal of slavery. Footage from the film is also shown while he talks about the controversy. In addition to this, when he talks about #1 on the list, "The Censored Eleven" he gives two understandable reasons as to why it beat Song of the South, while explaining, footage from said Disney film (specifically the "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" scene) is shown.