Song of the South facts for kids

Song of the South is a movie made by Walt Disney. It came out on November 12, 1946. The movie is based on the famous Uncle Remus stories by Joel Chandler Harris. It mixes live actors with animation, bringing cartoon characters to life alongside real people.

This movie has not been fully released on home video in the USA. This is because some parts of the movie are seen as unfair or hurtful to black people. Because of this, it's a movie that many people talk about, and there are lots of rumors about it.

About the Movie's Story

Song of the South tells the story of a young boy named Johnny. He goes to live on a plantation in Georgia after his parents separate. Johnny feels lonely and sad at first. He finds comfort in an older man named Uncle Remus.

Uncle Remus's Tales

Uncle Remus shares many stories with Johnny. These stories are about the adventures of Br'er Rabbit, Br'er Fox, and Br'er Bear. The animated parts of the movie show these animal characters. They teach Johnny important lessons about life and how to deal with problems.

Mixing Live Action and Animation

One special thing about Song of the South is how it combines real actors with cartoons. This was a new and exciting way to make movies back then. It made the animal stories feel very real and magical.

Why the Movie Is Not Widely Available

Song of the South has been a topic of discussion for many years. Some people believe that the movie shows a misleading or unfair picture of life for Black people in the American South after the American Civil War.

Concerns About How People Are Shown

Critics say that the movie does not fully show the difficulties faced by Black people during that time. They feel it presents a too-simple or even happy view of their lives. Because of these concerns, Disney has chosen not to release the movie widely in the USA.

Limited Release in Other Countries

Even though it's not available in the USA, Song of the South has had limited releases in other parts of the world. It was released on home video in places like Asia, Europe, and South America.

Popular Songs and Rides

Despite the movie's limited availability, some parts of Song of the South are still very famous.

The Song "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah"

The song "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" is one of the most well-known songs from the movie. It is a very cheerful and upbeat tune. This song became incredibly popular and even won an Academy Award for Best Original Song.

Splash Mountain Theme Park Ride

For many years, a popular ride at Disney theme parks was called Splash Mountain. This ride was based on the stories and characters from Song of the South. Riders would go on a log flume adventure with Br'er Rabbit.

Changing the Ride's Theme

Recently, Disney announced that the Splash Mountain ride will be changed. It will now be based on the movie The Princess and the Frog. This change is happening because of the ongoing discussions about the themes in Song of the South.

Images for kids

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  Clockwise from left: Ginny (Luana Patten), Uncle Remus (James Baskett), Johnny (Bobby Driscoll), and Toby (Glenn Leedy)

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  Br'er Rabbit takes Br'er Fox and Br'er Bear to his "laughing place"

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  The film premiered at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta in 1946.

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  The Disney theme park ride Splash Mountain (pictured in Disneyland) is based on Song of the South.

See also

In Spanish: Canción del sur (película) para niños