In truth, what Disney+ really needs is context. Nodding towards the existence of the bad isn't quite enough. WebWhy did the Swiss Family Robinson not get into the boat? By subscribing, I agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Or rather like the Monty Python skit with the Blamanche that rigged Wimbelton because as we all know Scots cant play tennis; this should give me great offense. Ernst (played by 60s-era Disney stalwart Tommy Kirk) is a bookish sort, but both he and Fritz end up havinguhlet's call them teenage yearnings for Roberta (Janet Munro), a young woman they rescue from the pirates and invite into their family. 23:42. WebThe Swiss Family Robinson recounts the adventures of a father, mother, and four sons marooned on a tropical island. Then, of course, there are the pirates and that's where the title card about stories mattering comes in. like people of color). Here's the polar opposite of a spoiler. Rather than remove this content, we want to acknowledge its harmful impact, learn from it and spark conversation to create a more inclusive future together., Continued: Disney is committed to creating stories with inspirational and aspirational themes that reflect the rich diversity of the human experience around the globe.. Ernst (played by 60s-era Disney stalwart Tommy Kirk) is a bookish sort, but both he and Fritz end up havinguhlet's call them teenage yearnings for Roberta (Janet Munro), a young woman they rescue from the pirates and invite into their family. "At that time, it was rather rare in our country for German books to be translated into French," says Professor Daniel Maggetti, director of the Centre des littratures en Suisse romande at the University of Lausanne. At Disneyland, back when it was open, you may well have trodden on the old Swiss Family Treehouseor Tarzan's Treehouse as it's now named. And yet, of course, it is problematic. I wouldnt be surprised! In truth, what Disney+ really needs is context. It's a little contrived that the island witnessed two boating disasters in the same short time frame the Robinsons crawling ashore after a shipwreck, as well as the pirates who attacked a boat and took Roberta and her grandfather captive. WebThose unique cultural indicators made the final cut of Swiss Family Robinson, and the boys' names stayed as Swiss-German as they were in the original 1840 novel Ernst, Fritz, and Francis. This is a story about a lily-white family arriving on a tropical island and colonizing it for themselves. I believe they were mostly voiced by Black actors too. The larger point is one I've repeated before, both on, a host. "The protagonists are characterised primarily by the Protestant ethics espoused by the father and pastor: the family, which venerates its homeland, is pious and believes in the virtues of hard work and religious obedience.". The pirates who antagonize the Robinson family are portrayed as a stereotypical foreign menace. But it's not enough. The films are still available on standard Disney+ profiles with a content advisory warning directing viewers to www.disney.com/StoriesMatter. WebSwiss Family Robinson: Pirate scene There has recently been discussion about the pirates in Swiss Family Robinson, with some audiences arguing that their inclusion And most importantly, Disney has to consider the bad influence of the award winning show Gravity Falls, where Gruncle Stan taught the kids: When the cops arent around, everythings legal! Or how about the time he had the kids print fake money and they ended up in jail? The message imparted there is broad and non-specific. Best not to simply pose as the new belief and instead recognize that humans are diverse but also very much alike. Im totally watching my DVD of Song of the South in honor of this absolutely nonsense! Thomas children dont need his permission to watch movies. This portrayal reinforces the perpetual foreigner stereotype, while the film also features lyrics that mock the Chinese language and culture such as Shanghai, Hong Kong, Egg Foo Young. The book presents a geographically impossible array of large mammals and plants that probably could never have existed together on a single island, for the children's education, nourishment, clothing, and convenience. Stranded on a desert island, the family tame their new environment and make it their home. WebWatch more of the latest Super WHY! Daniel Defoe's story of Robinson Crusoe has inspired many Swiss figures. And in much the same way that Clark Kent's glasses conceal Superman's identity, in the world of this film, that head wrap somehow makes the pirates and the boys not notice 26-year-old actress Janet Munro's adult, feminine facial features. The first piece of the puzzle that is this film's legacy is its box-office success. And there are plenty of people commenting here about censorship and these movies being cancelled, so maybe dont speak for everyone. Probably because of the cultural dominance and popularity of Lost,adults watching Swiss Family Robinsonmay be predisposed to not accepting a tropical island at face value. Does this mean Disney will reimagine Tom Sawyers Island? You cant learn from something that doesnt exist. William and the older boys explore various environments and develop homes and gardens at various sites about the island. It's an attractive premise which appeals to readers. I vent occasionally myself and often feel better afterward, but I dont waste my time on non-issues like this. Dumbo is racists? As the island from Lost wasn't just some tropical isle where a plane crashed and a bunch of survivors had to make do with limited resources, adults will realize that the seemingly innocuous (if abundant and danger-laden) setting of Swiss Family Robinson is also not at all random or obscure. The message also encourages the viewer to visit a. that's intended to explain how stories matter stories of all kinds and shapes, highlighting the diversity that Disney is trying to achieve now while also describing and calling out the films they released that failed to represent diverse cultures effectively. (Sadly, there is no Will Robinson of whom to speak.) The films werent removed, just blocked from the childs profile. This article is about the original novel. Grow up!!!! But on top of that, Swiss Family Robinson looms so large in the hearts and minds of millions becauseit offers big, grand, unpredictable adventures while also being relatable. window.mc4wp.listeners.push( McclearnJoshua2716. We understand and can read the problem is my kids shouldnt need my permission to watch Peter Pan or the aristocrats or Dumbo..my God everything offends somebody..all thats happening is more of a divide is drawn because we go to much to the other extreme because someones feelings are hurtridiculous. It's not just that there's no Dr. Smith the antagonistic force in Annakin's adaptation is as much the various natural elements working against the Robinson family as they build a massive treehouse and begin exploring the island on which they live, as it is the pirates who attacked their ship and are coming back to get their just desserts. Peter Pan, released in 1953, is tagged for its stereotypical depiction of Native people that neither reflects the diversity of Native peoples nor their authentic cultural traditions. In addition to mockery and appropriation of Native culture and imagery, Peter Pan repeatedly uses the offensive term redskins.. In this sequel, of the family's final years on the original island, the family is called Zermatt.[3]. If anything, , it would have to be on the technical side. 23:41. If the Robinsons were real people, the psychological scars suffered would run deep and would take years of therapy to alleviate. The narrative fosters the notion of belonging and Swiss heritage, which made it easier for readers to identify with it," notes Daniel Maggetti. 23:39. Things are getting a little more than silly. There are all kinds of things wrong and shocking about how the character of Roberta is handled in Swiss Family Robinson. After the shipwreck, the survivors have to rebuild a world in which to live. Cookies help us deliver our Services. (There are no doubt some viewers who may genuinely wonder, for good or ill, why there's a warning in front of The Jungle Book at all, in spite of its own colonizer background. That hasnt changed. Roberta will, of course, fall for one of the young Robinson men that largely is what her character exists for, or so it feels.Then, of course, there are the pirates and that's where the title card about stories mattering comes in. However, it is no longer available in the childrens category. So stupid. They make their way to shore, where they build a settlement, undergoing several adventures before being rescued; some refuse rescue and remain on the island. Thankfully, you still can. Adapted from the 1812 novel of the same name, has the perfect kind of high-concept hook that's inspired everything from multiple direct adaptations to the 1960s TV series, : a family is stranded at sea after an attack by pirates, and must fend for itself on a deserted-island paradise. Today, the island bears the name 'Robinson Crusoe' and about forty descendants of the von Rodt family still live there, observes Stphane Gol, Swiss director and author of, Swiss technology tackles the climate crisis, The Rorschach test, invented by a Swiss psychiatrist, turns 100, The Swiss Family Robinson, Crusoe's Swiss cousins. A Swiss Family Robinson remake is currently in the works for Disney+, as well as a live-action Peter Pan & Wendy, both of which we can expect to handle race much better than the original films. who wrote the story for his children at the end of the 18th century. Adapted from the 1812 novel of the same name, Swiss Family Robinson has the perfect kind of high-concept hook that's inspired everything from multiple direct adaptations to the 1960s TV series Lost in Space: a family is stranded at sea after an attack by pirates, and must fend for itself on a deserted-island paradise. It's a handsomely mounted production. Revisiting 'Swiss Family Robinson,' Disney's Problematic Box Office Smash From 1960, As they're sometimes wont to do, Disney made news a couple weeks ago. Many appear in yellow face or brown face and are In its explanation for the advisory warnings, Disney+ writes,These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. The song We are Siamese is from Lady and the Tramp. But another film getting this title card is our column's subject: the 1960 adventure adaptation. 23:42. America is being down the path of stupidity and Disney is in the parade. It's more than a little goofy and unsettling. Such large and various wild animals aren't generally found all on one island together, adults may point out, only for Swiss Family Robinson to feebly explain this away by suggesting that the island wasn't always an island but was once connected to a continent via some kind of "land bridge.". "When, How Robinson Crusoe's island became a Swiss fiefdom, Daniel Defoe's story of Robinson Crusoe has inspired many Swiss figures. ", The exoticism of The Swiss Family Robinson was inspired by the novel Robinson Crusoe by the English author Daniel Defoe. (In that way, you could argue that it's a perfect template for some of the attractions of Adventureland, which even now traffics in stereotyping, as when showcasing a group of ravaging natives in the Jungle Cruise.) Add in the drowning and flailing zebra, Francis attempting to violently trap an elephant, and two dogs brutally fighting off a tiger in a scene that goes on for way too long, and Swiss Family Robinson isn't the cute and innocuous movie adult watchers remember from their childhood. (There are no doubt some viewers who may genuinely wonder, for good or ill, why there's a warning in front of, at all, in spite of its own colonizer background.). But it should/can be used as a learning tool. Eventually, a British ship that is in search of Jenny Montrose anchors near the island and is discovered by the family. He sings in a poorly accented English voiced by a white actor and plays the piano with chopsticks. })(); VIDEO: Take A Look at the Magic Behind the Making of Disneys Encanto and More Special Features on Say It With Pride: Disney+ Celebrates Pride 365 Comes Out on Disney+ YouTube and Facebook This Jun Tokyo Disney Resort Will Remove Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah From Music Loops, Disney Wins Lawsuit Over Duke Parents are still able to continue deciding what their children should and shouldnt see, even with the new changes being implemented. Its so good to know Disney is taking care of this for our childrens own good so they cant be damaged by these horribly offensive movies they produce decades ago. Keep venting on sites like this if you must. Swiss Family Robinson (1972) Family Animation. What a joke, Disney are crazy, Ill never pay Disney for anything as long as they keep this crazy radical mentality. Disney is no stranger to the concept of pirate characters in its films and its theme parks, but the pirates depicted in Swiss Family Robinson might as well be faceless stereotypes. The history of the Uncle Remus stories provide should not be lost to the world, and having a roundtable discussion regarding it and the film, and the performances in this film would be perfect on TCM. The family also befriends a large turtle and walks by some flamingos and ostriches at one point. On the island, the family must also constantly adapt to survive, which is a source of new adventures. The Robinson family's epic journey was born of the imagination of the Bernese pastor Johann David Wyss, who wrote the story for his children at the end of the 18th century. This resembles other educational books for young ones published about the same time. How did they manage their way to the sea? Things are relatively smooth for a while, and the Robinsons get settled until their adopted dogs have to fight off a hungry tiger, and then Ernst (Tommy Kirk) and Fritz (James MacArthur) go on a sailing sojourn to explore the rest of the island and rescue Roberta (Janet Munro) from a gang of bloodthirsty pirates. In a strictly modest Disney movie from 1960, showing off a belly button would be downright profane, so most instances of shirtlessness involve the Robinson guys hilariously pulling up their long pants almost up to their chests so as to not flash anything untoward. The aristocrat became governor of the archipelago, which he rented for 1,500 dollars a year. Quite a bit of euphemism-heavy birds and bees talk permeates Swiss Family Robinson. We want to hear from you! Presence Switzerland, The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs presents. WebS01E47 - The Swiss Family Robinson. William knows that they must prepare for a long time on the island and his thoughts are as much on provisions for the future as on their immediate wants. Here are the things in Swiss Family Robinson that are totally lost on kids. { So are they going to remodel the Peter Pan ride into something else? In The Song of the Roustabouts, faceless Black workers toil away to offensive lyrics like When we get our pay, we throw our money all away.. The novel opens with the titular family in the hold of a sailing ship, weathering a great storm. They're bloodthirsty and cruel, and they are also pointedly played by actors of color (or by actors who are made to. Wyss' attitude towards its education is in line with the teachings of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and many chapters involve Christian-oriented moral lessons such as frugality, husbandry, acceptance, and cooperation. 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