Controversial cartoons (LA Times)

[Brian Damage]

“Bid 'em In”


BET has been trying to break into animation for a few years now. With "Bid 'em in," they bring a matter-of-fact, sing-songy tone to a slave auction. When this screened at Comic-Con in 2006, the crowd sat in awkward silence, before erupting in applause at the end.
(BET.com)

[Brian Damage]

“Red Hot Riding Hood”

This Tex Avery classic take on the fairy tale begins quietly enough, until the Wolf threatens to quit, claiming the cartoon he's in is nothing but “sissy stuff.” Cut to “Grandma’s joint,” where Little Red Riding Hood is re-imagined as a nightclub stripper.

There are two endings for the toon: a never-released one in which Wolf and Grandma have inter-species babies, and a second, in which the Wolf blows his head off. The former is said to exist today only in stills because censors disapproved of the implications of bestiality.
(Cartoon Network)

[Brian Damage]

"Stripperella"

The promos for Stripperella say, "She's an exotic dancer by night, a sexy superhero by ...later night." And there you go. Most fans love the animation, but fight scenes on top of a giant vibrating banana are probably what put it over the line.
(Spike TV)

[Brian Damage]

“Superman and the Eleventh Hour”

This 1940s cartoon opens in Yokohama, Japan, where Superman and Lois Lane are visiting. No explanation given, but the reason is clearly wartime propaganda. Superman has apparently traded in his quest for truth, justice and the American way to become a covert wartime agent. When Lois asks about the racket outside the windows, Superman replies: “It could be sabotage, I hope.”

Gone is Superman’s wholesome-like heroism, and in its place is a militaristic vindictiveness and a spite that audiences found unnerving.
(YouTube)

[Brian Damage]

“All This and Rabbit Stew”

Back in 1941, when this cartoon was released, people did not have a problem going for broke with offensive black stereotypes. Bugs’ adversary in this film is a slow-witted, inarticulate, slouching black man with a pale mouth who is out hunting rabbits. Bugs outsmarts him several times and then wins the man’s clothes in a game of dice.
(YouTube)

[Brian Damage]

“Be Human”

There’s a whole lot of cruelty to animals in this 1936 Betty Boop short. Betty sings about how we should all treat animals as equals, even as the evil mustachioed farmer next door whips his dog, punches his cow in the mouth and throttles his chicken for not laying enough eggs.
(Inkwell)

[Brian Damage]

"South Park"

It seems that the most popular phrase from a person viewing "South Park" is "Did they really say/do that?" With spoofs -- some mean-spirited, some probing, most funny -- on celebrities (Tom Cruise, Barbra Streisand, Rosie O'Donnell, etc.), the handicapped (Timmy and Jimmy), religion (Scientology, Judaism, Mormonism, Christianity), Trey Parker and Matt Stone have cemented the show in the annals of television history.
(Comedy Central)

[Brian Damage]

Fritz the Cat," "Heavy Traffic" and "Coonskin"

Ralph Bakshi had no trouble seeing cartoons as an adult form of entertainment. His first feature film “Fritz the Cat” was completed in 1972 and became the first animated movie to earn an X rating. He followed that up with “Heavy Traffic” about a Jewish cartoonist and his black girlfriend, and then followed that with “Coonskin” about race.
(LAT Library)

[Brian Damage]

“Tokio Jokio”

This wartime Warner Bros. cartoon is infamous for its offensive Japanese caricatures and heavily accentuated vocal narration, mocking everything from the country’s military might to its food. Yet there are moments, such as the shot of an electric chair reserved for Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, that let viewers know this is no joke.
(YouTube)

[Brian Damage]

"Boondocks"

The comic-strip-turned-TV-show "Boondocks" gives viewers a glimpse into the minds of two very different kids. Aaron McGruder's creation incorporates adult language so fluidly that it gives the comic a realistic tone. Uproar sprang from the show’s liberal use of the 'N-word' -- from the mouths of babes no less. Though groups like the NAACP have long attempted to cut the word from the vocabulary, 10-year-old Huey and 8-year-old Riley Freeman let it flow freely.
(Cartoon Network)

[Mikado]

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

“Bid 'em In”


BET has been trying to break into animation for a few years now. With "Bid 'em in," they bring a matter-of-fact, sing-songy tone to a slave auction. When this screened at Comic-Con in 2006, the crowd sat in awkward silence, before erupting in applause at the end.
(BET.com)

Id have been feeling pretty aukward too.........

[Mikado]

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

“Red Hot Riding Hood”

This Tex Avery classic take on the fairy tale begins quietly enough, until the Wolf threatens to quit, claiming the cartoon he's in is nothing but “sissy stuff.” Cut to “Grandma’s joint,” where Little Red Riding Hood is re-imagined as a nightclub stripper.

Actually, shes more of a dancer than a stripper (IMO)....according to Leonard Maltin, one of the things that most bothered the censors was "Woolfie's" reaction to seeing "Red" for the first time: His entire body got rigid as his eyes popped out and followed her curves. This scene was left in the movie, though toned down a bit. A funny side note: While the film was being made, the original cels* of Red were stolen, by persons unknown!!( *cels are plastic sheets which are inked and painted with the art that is actually filmed for animation ) Fortunately, the original animation drawings* hadnt been thrown out, and new cels were made to replace the stolen ones. ( *Traditonal animation is first hand-drawn on paper; then traced onto the cels, painted and filmed )

[Mikado]

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

"Stripperella"
The promos for Stripperella say, "She's an exotic dancer by night, a sexy superhero by ...later night." And there you go. Most fans love the animation, but fight scenes on top of a giant vibrating banana are probably what put it over the line.
(Spike TV)

Personally, I think what killed this show was simply BAD SCRIPTS, the show was neither sexy, dramatic or funny......it was a bore to watch.

[Mikado]

Superman: The eleventh hour and Tokio Jokio.......I've seen both, and they are both reflections of the time, Tokio Jokio is the much more offensive of the 2 (By FAR )....but, this is a time when Hollywood was ORDERED by the US gvmt to make the Japanese appear as sub-human, and Hollywood did as it was told. Today these films are shamefull to watch, only useful in a historical context.

[Mikado]

Rabbit Stew: Ive seen it, and its as bad as it looks from the picture above, nuff said!