Now that Disney+ has been live for a couple of days, it has become apparent that they are being cautious about the content that is showcased and how it’s presented.
Subscribers have noticed that the streaming service is being cautious as some feature-length films and cartoons are not available to stream while others that could cause upset because of increased racial and social awareness in the years since their initial release have an added disclaimer.
While many folks did not expect to see Disney’s 1946 film Song of the South because of its “insensitive racial imagery” — other content is available on the service and is being handled gingerly.
Disney’s 1941 film Dumbo is available on the service with no edits, but it begins with a warning letting viewers know that the film includes “problematic racial imagery and dialect” from some of its characters, namely “Jim Crow,” who makes a nod to the segregation laws of the era.
The disclaimer reads:
This program is presented as originally created. It may contain outdated cultural depictions.
Certain titles also warned of “tobacco depictions” which was fairly common in films of the past but is now considered taboo in family shows.
Additional content that has the “outdated” warning at the beginning are: The Jungle Book (1967), Fantasia (1940), Swiss Family Robinson (1940, 1960), The Aristocats (1970). Peter Pan (1953), Lady and the Tramp (1955) and The Sign of Zorro (1958). Mickey Mouse shorts from the 1920s through the 1940s also have the “outdated” warning.
Some fans online praise Disney’s acknowledgment of potentially upsetting content, while others debate that history should remain history and be presented as it was originally created. Disney has not commented on its decision as of yet.
Source: Deadline
