Censored Fantasia

FantasiaMan · Post by **FantasiaMan** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 11:45 am

How do you feel that the supposedly "Uncut" & "Original Roadshow Version" of Fantasia DVD is censored?

For those who don't know, the Pastoral sequence in Fantasia was apparently altered for the VHS & DVD releases of the film. There was originally a black centaurette named Sunflower who helped the other centaurettes getting dressed & put on makeup. In some cases, scenes previously shown were repeated over the original scene or the scene was zoomed in so you couldn't see Sunflower, but made the picture look very grainy & out of place.
This scene is as contraversial as the Martins & McCoys sequence in Make Mine Music & Pecos Bill in Melody Time & most importantly, Song in the South .

What is your opinion on this topic & do you think that the next release of the film on DVD should be changed back to what it originally was in 1940?

Lars Vermundsberget · Post by **Lars Vermundsberget** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 7:26 pm

I would like to get the original version of Fantasia - hope we will eventually.

But I also accept the current DVD as a very worthwhile representation of the original Fantasia.

Right from the start, Walt Disney wanted Fantasia to evolve from year to year, even though I'm sure this isn't quite what he had in mind.

Lucylover1986 · Post by **Lucylover1986** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 7:51 pm

They should for the Platinum edition restore it to it's original release. Here's a quick webpage about this. I saw a better one before which had all the comparison shots but I can't find it:

http://www.thememoryhole.org/arts/sunflower.htm

Disney-Fan · Post by **Disney-Fan** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 2:40 am

I think Disney are cowards for not showing the full thing. It's not right. Lets hope they come the their sences when it's time to reintroduce Fantasia as a Platinum Edition.

JiminyCrick91 · Post by **JiminyCrick91** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 8:58 am

Even thou MOSTLY I hate censorishp BUT THIS WAS DONE AT WALT'S ORDERS WHEN STILL LIVING AND IN GOOD HEALTH!!! SO YOU SHOULD BE FINE WITH IT! Sorry it's just I have said that SO many times.

Little Red Henski · Post by **Little Red Henski** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 9:17 am

This censorship was done After Walt's death.

When did Walt ever want Black people censored? The point is they put uncut version on the box which is a lie.

JiminyCrick91 · Post by **JiminyCrick91** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 9:38 am

Well fine

I geuess I got bad info But I doubt it.

MK Sharp · Post by **MK Sharp** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 11:22 am

Whilst I think the current version on DVD is a vast improvement on previous issues - inasmuch as it's uncut as far as length goes - I'd rather see a completely uncensored version. If for no other reason than that those few shots where they zoom into the picture are appallingly grainy and nasty looking.

Am I the only person who finds it faintly odd that in order to avoid being accused of racism, Disney has removed the black characters from the segment entirely?

SATXMo · Post by **SATXMo** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 11:49 am

Hi there, first post on the boards, though I am a longtime lurker.

I feel the need to chime in here -- normally, I'm against censored versions of films being issued, but in this case, I prefer the censored version to the uncensored one. I have seen the uncensored footage, and for me, personally, if I saw those images of the hair-braded black centaurette shining the shoes of another centaurette within the context of the film itself, it would take me completely out of the film. It's just too ugly an image to be included with the rest of that sequence.

Now, should the censored footage find its way to a supplement or "extra" on a forthcoming Fantasia release? Perhaps. But not within the film itself.

Alice · Post by **Alice** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 12:00 pm

OMFG! That's HORRIBLE!

the black centuratte looks mentally retarded!

mikemgmve · Post by **mikemgmve** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 12:53 pm

SATXMo wrote:Hi there, first post on the boards, though I am a longtime lurker.

I feel the need to chime in here -- normally, I'm against censored versions of films being issued, but in this case, I prefer the censored version to the uncensored one. I have seen the uncensored footage, and for me, personally, if I saw those images of the hair-braded black centaurette shining the shoes of another centaurette within the context of the film itself, it would take me completely out of the film. It's just too ugly an image to be included with the rest of that sequence.

Now, should the censored footage find its way to a supplement or "extra" on a forthcoming Fantasia release? Perhaps. But not within the film itself.

I don't know, I don't feel it's that offensive as long as you keep in mind when this film was made, that's just how things were. I think it serves as a valuable lesson and as a remark on how we have made some growth as a society.

Lars Vermundsberget · Post by **Lars Vermundsberget** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 1:31 pm

Alice wrote:the black centuratte looks mentally retarded!

That's going a bit far, I think. The character is a typical "cartoon" character. But in this case somewhat out of line because the other characters are drawn in a different style.

Timon/Pumbaa fan · Post by **Timon/Pumbaa fan** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 3:36 pm

JiminyCrick91 wrote:Even thou MOSTLY I hate censorishp BUT THIS WAS DONE AT WALT'S ORDERS WHEN STILL LIVING AND IN GOOD HEALTH!!! SO YOU SHOULD BE FINE WITH IT! Sorry it's just I have said that SO many times.

Well I believe Walt wanted to cut something from Steamboat Willie(and I THINK he released a version with the scene out) however Steamboat Willie still has that scene(it even got rereleased on the recently released "Vintage Mickey"). So I don't see why they cut this character in Fantasia out. Maybe Disney was worried after the whole, "Song of the South" thing. But still unlike most people I can live with it because it's just ONE unimportant character.

Fidget1234 · Post by **Fidget1234** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 4:55 pm

If that pic is for real- i'd say it's interesting to see unused animation.
Kinda like the "burning down Pachas villiage" sequence in TENG- anyone ever see it in the deleted scenes?
It made it to pretty much the final animation....but had to have been cut at almost last minute...
Anyways, maybe someday we'll see all the censored animation on dvd someday...
I am just very anxious for SOTS to come to dvd.

anger is pointless · Post by **anger is pointless** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 8:05 pm

fantasia was one of those movies that i couldnt watch as a kid cause i have adhd bad and i also have a very short attention span so unless theres something i enjoy doing or watching i cant sit still long enough to watch it

i saw this movie when i was like 7 or 8 and it bored me to tears but that was when i was a kid and so ive been thinking about renting fantasia to see if i can watch it all the way through

anyway i think people deserve to be able to see this movie uncut and in widescreen

MK Sharp · Post by **MK Sharp** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 8:55 pm

anger is pointless wrote:anyway i think people deserve to be able to see this movie uncut and in widescreen

Trust me, if Fantasia was ever released in widescreen, the fury on this forum would know no bounds. Like most other films of that vintage, it wasn't produced widescreen.

Little Red Henski · Post by **Little Red Henski** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 9:02 pm

Alice wrote:OMFG! That's HORRIBLE!

the black centuratte looks mentally retarded!

So does Doopy and ton of other Disney characters what's your point. Anybody find it funny that Disney left the White slaves in the DVD. WTF.

Little Red Henski · Post by **Little Red Henski** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 9:36 pm

Timon/Pumba fan wrote:
JiminyCrick91 wrote:Even thou MOSTLY I hate censorishp BUT THIS WAS DONE AT WALT'S ORDERS WHEN STILL LIVING AND IN GOOD HEALTH!!! SO YOU SHOULD BE FINE WITH IT! Sorry it's just I have said that SO many times.
Well I believe Walt wanted to cut something from Steamboat Willie(and I THINK he released a version with the scene out) however Steamboat Willie still has that scene(it even got rereleased on the recently released "Vintage Mickey"). So I don't see why they cut this character in Fantasia out. Maybe Disney was worried after the whole, "Song of the South" thing. But still unlike most people I can live with it because it's just ONE unimportant character.

Sunflower is not the only Black character eddited out. There are 2 other pretty Black characters eddited out. The censorship was originally done in 1969 long before the banned on Song of the South.

Walt also ordered those World War 2 shorts on the Frontlines treasure locked in the vault forever.

Disney Princess Ariellen · Sat Oct 22, 2005 12:15 am

Fidget1234 wrote:If that pic is for real- i'd say it's interesting to see unused animation.

Oh, it is for real, I know that...the site that someone linked to earlier in this thread mentions that the image comes from a book called "Cartoon Confidential" that was written by Jim Korkis. I know Jim, and actually, we were just talking about Sunflower the other day.

I do think that the design of Sunflower very much clashes with the design of the rest of the sequence, though, that's just judging by one still. I also feel that if the change to the film was made in 1960, when Walt was alive, then I don't mind if it's been changed, just don't advertise the movie was being the "original, uncut version."

musicradio77 · Post by **musicradio77** » Sat Oct 22, 2005 1:27 pm

JiminyCrick91 wrote:Even thou MOSTLY I hate censorishp BUT THIS WAS DONE AT WALT'S ORDERS WHEN STILL LIVING AND IN GOOD HEALTH!!! SO YOU SHOULD BE FINE WITH IT! Sorry it's just I have said that SO many times.

They did the same thing did with "Song of the South" which is another banned Disney film.

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