User Reviews

While not one of my favourites, Ub Iwerks was responsible for a lot of interesting work. Especially when working with Walt Disney, his oldest friend and one of his best, and co-creating one of animation's most famous characters in Mickey Mouse. His career since opening his own studio had interest value but the quality was variable, often being successful in the animation and music but wanting in the story and variable in gags, lead characters and tone.

1933 to 1936 saw twenty five cartoons, mostly based on famous fairytales and familiar stories, as part of Iwerks's "ComiColor" series. The "ComiColor" series is very much worth watching and interesting, as is the case with many series some cartoons are better than others (my personal favourite being 1934's 'Jack Frost' which was reviewed by me three years ago) but there are no real animation nadirs. 1935's 'Little Black Sambo' is decent enough but not great.

'Little Black Sambo' is slight in the story department with not enough content for the short length and is at times too saccharine and lacking tightness and variety.

Its characters should have been more interesting, their personalities are bland generally with a lead character that is a little too cute and not much more. The wit and imagination has been more frequent and stronger in other cartoons in the series before and since, there are not enough gags and some of the stereotypical conflict is not for the easily offended, the mother's dialogue early on is enough to make one unsure whether to continue.

However, 'Little Black Sambo' is certainly worth the watch. It isn't too dull and doesn't feel too stale.

There are a few amusing moments that aren't too corny and never repetitive, and there is a genuine likeability. The best and most interesting character is the dog with the funniest moments, though the tiger is not close behind. They and Sambo have a very nice chemistry together that drives 'Little Black Sambo' well.

Furthermore, the animation is great. Meticulously detailed, fluid in drawing, vibrant in colour and often rich in imagination and visual wit. The music is cleverly and lushly orchestrated, is infectiously catchy and adds a lot to the cartoon.

In summary, decent. 6/10 Bethany Cox

As a history teacher and lover of films, I occasionally like watching cartoons that have been banned, as they tell us a lot about our society and how far we have come over the years. What was perfectly acceptable decades ago is now, in some cases, seen as gross and inappropriate. Occasionally, these cartoons which have been removed from screening aren't particularly offensive but often, as in the case of this cartoon, they are so god-awful it's hard to imagine that people would have laughed at and enjoyed these films! Thirteen of these cartoons have been packaged together on a DVD entitled "Cartoon Crazys: Banned and Censored" and while the print quality of many of the cartoons is less than stellar, it's a great chance to see how sensibilities have changed.

Of all the cartoons in the set, it was easiest at the onset to understand why U.B. Iwerks' LITTLE BLACK SAMBO was taken out of circulation. It's been the focal point of outrage and debate in the 1950s and 60s and today I can't imagine any school having a copy of this offensive book or film in its library--though all through the 50s, most schools did! While the Black stereotypes aren't as bad as some cartoons, Sambo is a typically gross giant-lipped child and his mother warns him to be careful of the tiger because "he loves to eat dark meat"! Sheeesh!

As far as the artwork goes, it's competent and the color is very crude, though by 1935 standards it isn't, as the old fashion 2-Color Technicolor was still in use. It used three strips of film--one black & white, one orange-red and the other green-blue. As a result, the colors don't look realistic and tend towards orange and green--though the print on this DVD isn't bad at all.

If you watch it, you will no doubt be shocked and surprised. However, this cartoon is rather innocent compared to some of the more outrageous examples of bigoted cartoons. If you want a BIG shock, try to watch SCRUB ME MAMA WITH A BOOGIE BEAT!

Little Black Sambo (1935)

*** (out of 4)

This animated short, even though directed by a legend, has become known for its racial stereotypes, which has caused the film to be pretty much thrown in the vaults and hidden except for various public domain releases showcasing controversial shorts. Sambo, a black kid, has his mother washing him, throwing black baby powder on and warning him to stay away from the tiger who likes "black meat". The family dog decides to scare the kid by dressing up as the tiger but sure enough to real one shows up. I think a lot of these banned cartoons are just victims of an overly politically correct country but you can certainly see why this one crosses the line. It's rather shocking to see how much stuff was allowed back then because there are some pretty crazy scenes here including one where the black boy turns white after seeing the tiger. Outside the racial stuff this is still a pretty good cartoon with some very good animation and even better laughs. The dog really steals the film as he's constantly trying to start trouble but finds himself getting more into it.

Oh come now, what's really so bad about this, apart from the animation being a little on the crude side, I thought it was just a bit of silly fun that I found quite charming. It's a very slapstick and cartoony sort of cartoon and I loved its tongue in cheek tone and humour, and I think it really excelled when it came to the frenetic, freewheeling style of the sight gags, like when the tiger was stuck in the back end of the log and the little kid was stuck in the front and they made a bizarre and hilarious kind of chimera together, and I loved the goofy dog he was very funny and he really made the short work for me. To me apart from the over the top caricatures of the boy and his big ol' mama, there nothing really harmful or particularly mean spirited about this short at all, it's fun! Some people really need to learn to chill out and laugh at themselves a bit more. Have a nice day 🌻

I haven't seen this movie but I know more than any of you guys who call the book racist. Well here is a fact for you. Sambo has nothing to do with Africans or Africa. The story is about a brave kid set in India. Helen Bannerman lived in India for 30 years, she doesn't know ABC about Africa. There are Tigers, Mongoose, Elephants, Muggers (you would know they are crocodiles if you are Indian), Mangoes, Ghee, Dhobi (you would know what that means if you are Indian). Where the heck is Africa coming from here. Africa get out of Little Black Sambo please and never again try to own it or use it for racism. These are stories of very brave Indian kids.

This is how all cartoons should be. Kudos to the creators.