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The 1941 Walt Disney Animators Strike

The Walt Disney Corporation has such a good family-friendly image.  It really styles itself as an ideal place to work.  We can only imagine that things were even better in Disney’s golden era, when the man himself was still running things.  But that wasn’t always the case; in fact, in 1941 hundreds of Disney animators went on strike. The Business Insider has some fantastic photographs of and other images from the strike, and of the materials the strikers were circulating.  But it’s a bit lacking on the specific details of why animators would go on strike, especially so soon after … Continue reading →

Operation Dumbo Drop (1995)

The Vietnam War was unique in that, more than at any other time, combatants on both sides depended on the villagers for their cooperation. The VC demanded that the villagers be loyal to the cause and punished them severely if they were not, and the U.S. depended on the villagers to keep them safe and their whereabouts a secret. Once the U.S. convinced a village to be friendly with them, they did whatever they had to do to keep the loyalty of that village, knowing it could mean the difference between life and death. This is the background behind the … Continue reading →

Dumbo (1941)

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s a baby elephant with really big ears! Mrs. Jumbo belongs to the circus, and she is feeling lonely. All the other elephants have had children, and she hasn’t. But one night as the train is wending its way through the dark to the site of the next show, Mr. Stork flies overhead with his delivery. It’s a heavy one, that’s for sure. He pops his head into the elephant car, and sure enough, it’s for Mrs. Jumbo! She unwraps her bundle to find a sweet little guy with big blue eyes and … Continue reading →

Most Controversial Disney Films Pt. 1

As an adult I’ve gone back and re-watched many of my favorite Disney films. They’re as wonderful as ever, but in some cases I am disturbed by the content I find in them. I realize that many of these movies were made in a different era, but part of me wants to believe that Disney was always squeaky-clean and welcoming to people of all backgrounds. In this two-part article I’d like to address how we might approach the controversial material in Disney films, both as adults and as parents. Here’s a rundown of some of the more controversial Disney films: … Continue reading →

American Eskimo Dog

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The American Eskimo dog is a Nordic breed that shares ancestry with the Keeshond, the Pomeranian, and various Spitzes. Until 1917, it was called the American Spitz; these days, you can call it the Eskie. Why the name change from American Spitz to American Eskimo dog? Experts aren’t really sure. Some believe that the name “Eskimo” was included to emphasize the dog’s cold-weather origins. “Spitz” doesn’t quite evoke the same image of thickly-furred dogs. The breed rose to popularity during the 19th century, when the small white dogs were used in circus acts. The Eskie excelled at performing thanks to … Continue reading →

How Old Are Your Favorite Disney Films?

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I have a special little cupboard where I keep all of our Walt Disney children’s classics. OK, it is a pretty big cupboard and it is loaded with both DVDs and VHS tapes. Truth be told, I started collecting Disney movies long before I ever had children. Heck, I was collecting them long before I ever met my husband! I love the Disney classics and even some of the more recent children’s movies made by Disney/Pixar and I love that my kids are enjoying them too. The funny thing about Disney movies is that I could probably tell you where … Continue reading →

Appreciating Elephants

Happy Elephant Appreciation Day! This was perhaps the easiest of celebration days for me to find out about. History Mission Media, Inc. declared September 22nd Elephant Appreciation Day in 1996. The company is a digital and print publisher of graphics, but it’s owned by the Hepburn Family. (Maybe a relation of Katherine and Audrey Hepburn?) Wayne Hepburn, Mission Media’s publisher and president, started the day because the elephant: • is the largest living land mammal • has a unique nose –it’s trunk! • is noble • is an endangered species • has helped man in various ways throughout the ages … Continue reading →

Larger Than Life (1996)

In “Larger Than Life,” Bill Murray stars as Jack Corcoran, a motivational speaker who has carved his career out of the rock. He believes that his father died before he was born, so imagine his surprise when he gets a telegram stating that his father has just passed away, and he needs to come collect his inheritance. But imagine his even further surprise when he finds that this inheritance consists of a large trunk, some floppy shoes, a red nose, and an elephant. That’s right – his father was a clown, literally. Jack is legally obligated to take the elephant … Continue reading →

The Jungle Book 2 (2003)

At the end of “The Jungle Book,” we saw Mowgli lured into the Man Village by a beautiful girl with large brown eyes. As we begin “The Jungle Book 2,” we find that her name was Shanti, and she and her family have taken Mowgli in and given him a home. Shanti’s parents have done everything they can to make him feel more comfortable and welcome, and her little brother Ranjan practically worships him, but despite all this, Mowgli still misses his jungle life. It doesn’t make it any easier that he’s forbidden to cross the river – his new … Continue reading →

Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World (1998)

Several years have passed since John Smith returned to England, but Governor Ratcliffe hasn’t forgotten his grudge. Determined to blame John for all his own evil doings, the Governor then sees to it that John is killed. He presents his case to the King, who agrees to send an armada to the New World to wipe out the savages and obtain the gold for the crown. Meanwhile, Pocahontas is trying to forget John and the time she spent with him. She knows there is no gold, and John knew it too, but word has reached her that John is dead. … Continue reading →