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Sir Etch-A-Sketch signs in with tidbits on Disney's JOHN HENRY
Hey folks, Harry here this time with Sir Etch-A-Sketch. In a separate letter he wrote to me he detailed the harrowing search for his identity there at the wonderful world of Disney. I'm really glad that he has evaded all of their searches... I had feared for the worst, but when you are as good as our dear Mr Sketch, I suppose one of them detection devices just don't mean a whole helluvalot. Welcome back folks, Etch is going to work on getting us an advance look at John Henry so we can see for ourselves the depths of this 'offensive' material.... sigh...
Harry,
I've been undercover recently here at Disney due to an increase in eyes. Seems that the stuck-ups here at the Mouse House just did not approve of my previous tales of woe in this misbegotten corporate shill-hole.
Why am I so negative? Harry, I envy you. Being out there in Austin where you do not have to see the pandering first hand. I love the history of this old place that I once said that I would work nowhere else on the surface of this planet. Though from time to time I frequently find myself questioning the very nature of the business.
I know this makes me sound like some embittered employee angry at the entire world of the suits, but frankly I am one of those suits. I did not want to be an animator, I felt I could do more by bringing about change through the actual day to day politics of the ones with Mickey lapel pins.
Right now, here at Disney we have a great film. Something that Walt would have been proud of. These spineless worms about me though just are so afraid of offending even a single viewer that they have become paralyzed by their own senses of inadequacy.
JOHN HENRY would win BEST ANIMATED SHORT at this coming year's OSCARS without a blink of the eye. Originally it was slated to go out with TOY STORY 2. Internally that was what we were shooting for.
The film is done. It is sitting in a can. It is just sitting there. Next time you come out Harry, give me notice and I will screen it for you. You see Disney hierchy is frozen by the fear of offending the African-American communtiy with the caricature nature of JOHN HENRY. It is that same self-policing that occurred when they digitally removed the cigarette from Pecos Bill's mouth. The Emperor has no teeth. We have to make pre-digested IV movies and entertainment. I have shown JOHN HENRY to some black friends of mine. They loved it. It's a classic folk tale.
As FDR said, "The only thing we have to fear... is fear itself."
That is right. He was President of the United States. Harry, I know you are excited about seeing LUXO JR. I know the press release made you happy. That you had not seen LUXO JR. on the big screen. Harry. It could have been JOHN HENRY.
It is my belief that it is time to thaw out Walt and bring him back to life because this studio's balls went on ice with him. Southerners did not get all riled up by Pecos Bill. Northwesterners didn't get angry at Paul Bunyon. Why then are we ashamed of John Henry. He was a steel driving man. Perhaps they will place it with DINOSAURS, but do not count on it. My fear is that it will never see release.
It is my sincerest hope that the next time I write you it will be with some good news regarding this, but if there is one thing I have learned here it is that hopes crash and burn faster than I care to talk about.
Have a great Butt-Numb-A-Thon, I am thinking of coming out for it,
Sir Etch-A-Sketch
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Ok, I slightly remember the legend of John Henry (I also remember having to sing about him in gradeschool.), but I'm sure there are people who don't. Since I don't remember all the details, is there anyone who could enlighten us as to the basics of the legend (all I remember is he worked against a machine or something...ok, maybe I don't remember!)? OR...maybe tell us how the story goes in the Disney short?
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If the short is as good as Sir Etch-A-Sketch says it is I guarantee that we'll all see it...eventually. When our society has finally dislodge the large metal rod from it's rectum and loosened up, I'm sure we'll see a whole slew of lost films. Have faith! The Pop-Culture Renaissance is on it's way! I just hope that the poor director of this short is to alive to reap it's rewards..
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What a shame. When I was down in Disney World in September I went on the Animation Tour in MGM. They had still frames of some of the upcoming films. I got to see some from John Henry and it looked gorgeous. This could have been a great film. Hopefully, it will still get released. I agree with everyone that Disney has lost their balls. SOmeone needs to slap Eisner on the head. Why doesn't Disney have a showing for members of the African-American community? If it is offensive they could change it. They should at least try.
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This short should probably be attached to something a little more sedate than Toy Story 2 or Dinosaur. Don't you think it would be a bit depressing prior to seeing one of these films?
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Aladdin pissed off the Arabs. Pocahontas pissed off the Indians. Mulan pissed off the Chinese. I'm sure there's a gorilla somewhere that's pissed off about Tarzan. If people would stop being so damned hypersensitive, there would be a lot more room for creativity in movies.
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People, check out the old George Pal Puppetoon of John Henry. Great Stuff (you've seen it haven't you Harry?)!
______Oh, and as for the Disney short, don't hold old Walt up as infallible. He was a racist CIA stooge remember (and good friend of J. Edgar). As far as self cencorship, Walt is the one who told his artists to remove the teats and udders from cows to stop any potential embarrassment from awkward questions. I'm not saying he wasn't a great producer and visionary, but he was human too y'know, and indulged in cencorship himself.
________Although if he did come back, I'm sure he'd kick those braindead suits (who use the word 'creative' as a patronising putdown) IN THE NUTS, as a certain other cartoon character would say. -
I think it's kind of odd that they would hold this just because of his skin color. This would just show how backwards this country has become. I mean, if they're afraid of backlash from John Henry, why aren't they afraid of backlash from midwesterners on the stereotypical appearance of Woody.
Does this mean that everything put out by Disney from now on will be completely non-ethnic? Come on! Just cause a few people throw a hissy fit, doesn't mean you should stop producing good work.
For gods sake people, lets lighten up a little. -
What does THAT mean? White? American? Geez, some of us live in the 'rest of the world', y'know. Everyone's ethnic to somebody else in the end, so you can't win that one no matter how you look at it.
You're right about lightening uo though. -
Yeah, there is no such thing as non-ethnic. That was part of my point, but I guess I didn't explain it good enough. They'll have to revert back to doing thier stick figure-mickey mouse-generic stuff that's been done to death.
I'm wondering if all of us white-mutt-americans should get upset at all the white characters in Disney films, cause all the characters in Disney films are stereotypes... -
Fair enough dude - it went right by me. All I can say in my defence is that it was in the wee small hours when I wrote it (down under). Either that, or I'm just gettin' old.
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Hey folks, John Henry is in circulation! I saw it last week at the Ottawa Animation Festival and it is also scheduled to play at the Chicago International Children's Film Festival later this month. And from what I've heard, Mark Henn will be there for a Q&A along with directors of some of the other films in the festival.
By the way it looks beautiful!
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