For decades, Warner Bros.’ Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons have been a staple of children’s entertainment. Originally created for theatrical exhibition in the 1930s, these cartoons set a standard that competed with and often surpassed television productions that followed. Even their classical music soundtracks hinted at higher aspirations. However, upon closer examination, eleven Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons have been withheld from syndication since the 1960s due to their controversial content.
The video above explores the “Censored Eleven,” a collection of cartoons suppressed for qualities like “exaggerated features, racist tones, and outdated references.” Produced between 1931 and 1944, these cartoons reflect widely held perceptions at the time that are now considered unacceptable. Examples include the depiction of black characters in “All This and Rabbit Stew,” and native islanders in “Jungle Jitters” and “The Isle of Pingo Pongo.”
One particularly contentious cartoon is “Coal Black and de Sebben Dwarfs” from 1943. Despite its grotesque appearance, director Bob Clampett later explained that it originated from a collaboration with an all-black musical group. The intention was to create a parody of Disney’s “Snow White” and pay tribute to real jazz musicians. While the animation in “Coal Black” is praised by historians, the cartoon remains banned.
Despite their controversial nature, many of these banned cartoons have been bootlegged and even restored for preservation. They are available on DVD collections, with intros by Whoopi Goldberg, who emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and learning from these historical artifacts.
While adults may grapple with the complexities of censorship and historical context, children remain discerning viewers of Warner Bros. cartoons. They understand the importance of honesty and the power of storytelling, even when it reveals uncomfortable truths.
Related Content:
1. The Beautiful Anarchy of the Earliest Animated Cartoons: Explore an Archive with 200+ Early Animations
2. Conspiracy Theory Rock: The Schoolhouse Rock Parody Saturday Night Live May Have Censored
3. Donald Duck’s Bad Nazi Dream and Four Other Disney Propaganda Cartoons from World War II
4. Dr. Seuss Draws Anti-Japanese Cartoons During WWII, Then Atones with Horton Hears a Who!
5. Watch the Surrealist Glass Harmonica, the Only Animated Film Ever Banned by Soviet Censors (1968)
Based in Seoul, Colin Marshall writes and broadcasts on cities, language, and culture. His projects include the Substack newsletter Books on Cities and the book The Stateless City: a Walk through 21st-Century Los Angeles. Follow him on Twitter at @colinmarshall or on Facebook.
