Tim Burton's live action remake of Disney's 1941 elephant tale adds new and darker elements to this already poignant story. Themes of parent separation, death and animal cruelty might distress younger or sensitive children.

What is Disney's Dumbo based on?

Dumbo, American animated musical film, released in 1941, that was produced by Walt Disney and was based on a children's book of the same name written by Helen Aberson and illustrated by Harold Pearl.

Was Jumbo the elephant abused?

He didn't just sit in a cage during the 17 years he lived there. The English have always been sentimental about animals. Jumbo was looked after during the day but he was abused at night to make him docile, with straps and hooks. During the day children would pay him a twopence for a bun to feed him.

Is Dumbo a dark movie?

The dark legacy left by the horrific abuse and deaths faced by Jumbo and elephants like him is evident in Disney's Dumbo. Knowing the true story of circus elephants makes the light-hearted movie darker, more tragic, and much harder to watch without shedding a tear.

Why does Dumbo have a warning?

Here are 5: Dumbo (1941): Contains a scene of a group of cigar-smoking crows, with their leader named Jim Crow, referring to the racist segregation laws of the South, and voiced by a white actor.

Film Theory: Dumbo's Dank Adventure (Disney Dumbo)

What is the saddest part in Dumbo?

The most heart-wrenching moment in "Dumbo" occurs when the titular character visits his mother.

Why was Dumbo removed from Disney?

Under the service's Stories Matter section, Disney explained its decision of removing the content. 'Dumbo,' made in 1941, features a group of crows who "pay homage to racist minstrel shows, where white performers with blackened faces and tattered clothing imitated and ridiculed enslaved Africans."

What are the inappropriate scenes in Dumbo?

The MPAA rating has been assigned for “peril/action, some thematic elements, and brief mild language.” The Kids-In-Mind.com evaluation includes a brief kiss, several scenes with women wearing cleavage revealing circus costumes, a scene of a circus tent collapsing and killing a man, many scenes of risky tricks and ...

Does Dumbo have a happy ending?

In the end of the film, when Dumbo and his mother are freed, Max Medici reopens his own circus that's humane to all animals and performers, allowing monkeys, snakes, horses and more live freely and assuring guests that the Medici Family Circus, as it's now called, is a place for everyone to be free and happy.

Why was Jumbo the elephant killed?

After the show, Jumbo and a small elephant called Tom Thumb were being loaded into a circus boxcar when an unscheduled freight train came hurtling down the tracks towards them. Tom Thumb survived. But Jumbo was mortally injured and died minutes later with his longtime keeper and friend, Matthew Scott, by his side.

What did they do to Dumbo's mom?

Additional elements in this adaptation include children being separated from their parents—their mother has died from influenza and their father is away fighting in the war. And at one point in the story, Vandevere (the movie's impulsive antagonist), orders that Dumbo's mom be killed.

Was Rosie the elephant abused?

A 42-year-old Asian elephant named Tai — most recently known for the role of Rosie in Fox's Water for Elephants — was abused by its trainers in 2005, according to Animal Defenders International.

Why did Dumbo hallucinate?

"Pink Elephants on Parade" is a song and scene from the 1941 Disney animated feature film Dumbo in which Dumbo and Timothy Q. Mouse, having accidentally become intoxicated (through drinking water spiked with champagne), see pink elephants sing, dance, and play musical instruments during a hallucination sequence.

What's the oldest Disney movie?

In 1937, Walt Disney Animation Studios released its first fully animated feature film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, pioneering a new form of family entertainment.

Did they use real animals in Dumbo?

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Burton didn't need the prompting. He has always been against using live animals in this way ("That's why I don't like the circus") and insisted that all the circus animals in "Dumbo," including his star elephant, be CGI. (Real dogs and horses do appear.)

Are there any curse words in Dumbo?

Adults will likely find the film's flaws irksome. And parents will be disappointed to find even a small amount of profanity in a Disney feature: there are four curse words in the film and a brief humorous reference to alcohol. There is also some peril and violence in the movie, but none of it is gratuitous or gory.

Why was Dumbo drunk?

To cheer Dumbo up, Timothy takes him to visit his mother; on the way back, Dumbo cries and then starts to hiccup, so Timothy takes him for a drink of water from a bucket which, unknown to them, has accidentally had a bottle of champagne knocked into it by the clowns.

Does Dumbo have a disability?

At first glance, Disney's Dumbo may not be though of as a film that portrays disability, but its protagonist Dumbo has a deformity– extra large ears. In the film, the baby elephant is ostracized. He is not allowed to participate in the circus and is seen as an outcast amongst his peers.

Why is Aladdin not on Disney?

There are a number of Disney films that require a disclaimer about "negative stereotypes" on its streaming service. Disney has added a content advisory warning to well-loved family films, such as 1992's Aladdin, that says the stereotypes "were wrong then and are wrong now".

Why can't kids watch Peter Pan?

Content that may disturb children

In addition to the violent scenes mentioned above, Peter Pan has some scenes that could scare or disturb children under five years. For example: Some children in this age group are likely to be frightened or disturbed by the idea that Peter Pan and the Lost Boys have no parents.

Why is Disney getting rid of Peter Pan?

In typical Disney fashion, the decision to close Peter Pan's flight stems from the recent progressive push within the company. First, Splash Mountain was killed and now is being replaced with a Qdoba as we reported here.

What is the dark side of Dumbo?

Dumbo also exposes the dark side of the circus—from Michael Keaton's character, who's intent on exploiting Dumbo at all costs, to the humiliation and pain that animals experience when they're forced to perform stupid tricks.

Was Dumbo drunk or high?

Dumbo, crying after visiting his mother, gets the hiccups, so Timothy takes him to the vat for water. Both of them get drunk, and hallucinate pink elephants. Dumbo and Timothy are later discovered asleep high up in a tree by Dandy Crow and his friends.

Is Dumbo overrated?

Although it may have been considered impressive back in the 1940s, many viewers believe "Dumbo" (1941) doesn't hold up when judged by today's movie standards.