Disney + removes some of its classics from the children’s catalog due to inappropriate content

Madrid. Entertainment giant Disney has opted to bolster security on its Disney + streaming platform by removing classic movies such as “Dumbo” or “Peter Pan” from the children’s catalog that include negative portrayals and / or mistreatment of people. or cultures, although they will remain available in adult accounts.

As a company spokesman told Efe, this measure reinforces the one adopted last October when revised content notices were added for some Disney + titles, where it was reported that, being so ancient, could include some racist connotations.

Now several of his animated classics such as “Dumbo” (1941) “Peter Pan” (1953), “Lady and the Tramp” (1955), “The Jungle Book” (1967) and “The Aristo Cats” (1970) they have come to be considered content suitable only for over 7s and have been blocked in child profiles (under 7) due to their inappropriate content.

The company decided to ban films on children’s accounts after contrasting the opinion of a group of external experts, made up of “leading organizations that advocate for the communities they represent and are at the forefront. to drive narrative change in the media and entertainment. “

A stance that fits into the commitment to “create stories with inspiring and ambitious themes that reflect the rich diversity of the human experience around the world,” as reflected on Disney on its website.

Until now, the mouse company had handled the issue by issuing the warning message, which was projected 10 seconds before the start of the film.

Even then, Disney stated that it did not consider it necessary to alter the content of the films because, even if they were wrong stereotypes “then and now,” the fact that they were in their original version allowed “learning and generating conversations to create together a more inclusive future “.

The formula now chosen by Disney in its new streaming platform is to prevent children under the age of seven from accessing the tapes, not even warned, and remove from the catalog the films considered inappropriate for their racist content, leaving the option only in viewing larger ones.

The problem with the racist connotations of some classics is old, dating back to the very release date of certain films.

In “Dumbo,” for example, a scene includes a group of crows using stereotypes to represent African Americans and being led by a baptized character Jim Crow, a derogatory term formerly used to insult black men in the United States.

A similar problem occurs in “The Jungle Book”, while “Peter Pan” has been criticized for the way he represents Native Americans and “The Aristo Cats” for his stereotype about Asians in the image of Shun Gon, a Siamese cat, as is similar to “Lady and the Tramp” with two Siamese cats appearing in the film.