Censored Eleven
The following definition comes from an online post summarizing the "Censored Eleven".
The Censored 11 are eleven Warner Brothers cartoons that are considered offensive or politically incorrect by today's standards because of their depictions of African-American racial stereotypes. This list was created in 1968 by United Artists (then owners of the A.A.P. library) and is of cartoons withheld from distribution by the current distributor. After obtaining the rights to the pre-1948 Warner Bros. cartoons in 1986, Ted Turner refused to allow any of these films to be transmitted on television or released on videocassette or laserdisc. This policy was maintained by Time Warner after purchasing Turner Broadcasting in 1996 and continues to be upheld to this day.
The previous notion of 'product of their time' culminates in this section. The popularity of animation grows, with the medium being used to portray subjects known today as racial stereotyping. These eleven cartoons are prohibited from public viewing. Below are some explanations as to why the cartoons are censored.
Jungle Jitters (Freleng; 1938)
The Censored 11 are eleven Warner Brothers cartoons that are considered offensive or politically incorrect by today's standards because of their depictions of African-American racial stereotypes. This list was created in 1968 by United Artists (then owners of the A.A.P. library) and is of cartoons withheld from distribution by the current distributor. After obtaining the rights to the pre-1948 Warner Bros. cartoons in 1986, Ted Turner refused to allow any of these films to be transmitted on television or released on videocassette or laserdisc. This policy was maintained by Time Warner after purchasing Turner Broadcasting in 1996 and continues to be upheld to this day.
The previous notion of 'product of their time' culminates in this section. The popularity of animation grows, with the medium being used to portray subjects known today as racial stereotyping. These eleven cartoons are prohibited from public viewing. Below are some explanations as to why the cartoons are censored.
Jungle Jitters (Freleng; 1938)
- A dopey traveling salesman knocks on the door of the hut belonging to a group of cannibal African natives, who would love to have him for dinner.
- Yes, even a Bugs Bunny cartoon is on the Censored 11 list. In this cartoon, Bugs is being hunted by a Stepin Fetchit-esque black hunter with a weakness for gambling.
Some other examples of controversial cartoons include Speedy Gonzales, which was strongly criticized for Latin American stereotypes portraying laziness and unintelligent beings. Trader Mickey, a Walt Disney production was considered controversial because of its content, that included Mickey and Pluto being captured by an African tribe. They are thrown into a pot of stew, but then are let go after Mickey teaches the tribe Jazz music. Mickey Man Friday where Mickey befriends a tribe member, saves him, then makes him his sidekick. However, many have argued that the sidekick was actually a slave.
Some more cartoons that are considered "inappropriate" emerged during the "Dark Age of Animation, when the first "X rated" cartoon was released. Explore the page to find out more.
Some more cartoons that are considered "inappropriate" emerged during the "Dark Age of Animation, when the first "X rated" cartoon was released. Explore the page to find out more.
- "The Censored Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies Guide: The Censored 11."The CENSORED Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies Guide. Warner Bros., n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2015.
- Old Cartoons Were RACIST! Adapt. Eliot Dewberry. ETC News, 2014.
- Jungle Jitters. Dir. Friz Freleng. Merrie Melodie Cartoons. 1938.
- James, Randy. "The Top 10 Controversial Cartoons." Populist. TIME, 5 Dec. 2011. Web. 11 Mar. 2015.