Feminisney: “The Jungle Book” and “The AristoCats”
In the world according to animals, matters of equality can take a backseat.
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After a week off to recoup and watch the craziest Oscars ever, we’re back to this investigative series. These films mark the last two animated films Walt Disney was alive to play a role in, both in the Disney catalogue and in the Feminisney series (unless I can find Fun and Fancy Free, Melody Time, and The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, but that seems unlikely since the video store doesn’t seem to have them). The Jungle Book was the last Walt produced, dying mid-production. The AristoCats was the last he greenlit. These are films that, unlike Robin Hood and the recent Zootopia, focus on animals who live within the real and human world (but still talk like people). One movie got remade as a beautiful Academy Award-winning Jon Favreau film. The other will be eternally remembered as the movie with the cat jazz song. But how feminist could the furry folks of Disney possibly be?
The Jungle Book
Watching this movie, I came to the awkwardly sudden realization that this is essentially Tarzan, but in India. Except it’s more that Tarzan is this story, but with white British folks and gorillas. But more on that way later. What you should know is The Jungle Book is based on the Rudyard Kipling book of the same name. Other versions, including the 2016 remake, follow the story more closely and focus on its darker nature more. Walt didn’t want that (a recurring theme across most of the Disney catalogue), and created what is one of the most recognizable, classic hits for the studio, earning $205.8 million worldwide through its multiple releases. The plot is simple: Boy raised by wolves in Indian jungle. But Shere Khan the Tiger has returned, so gotta get the kid back with other humans before the tiger kills him. But I’m not here to sing its praises so much as to analyze its equality. So, let’s get to it.
Number of named characters with speaking lines: 11
Number of named female characters with speaking lines: 1
Does the film pass the Bechdel Test? Nope. Need more than one female for that.
Number of named non-white characters: 1
Number of named non-white female characters: 0
Number of openly non-heterosexual characters: 0
Number of openly transsexual characters: 0
Is there a heterosexual romance? Yes (2, the elephant couple and one at the very end of the film)
True Love’s Kiss? No.
Number of female mentors or rulers? 0
Number of named female characters wearing “men’s clothes” (pants instead of dresses): 0 (With 0 men wearing “women’s clothes”.)
Main character male or female? Male
Number of named female characters saved from peril by male characters: 0
Number of times named female characters saved from peril by male characters: 0
Number of named male characters saved from peril by female characters: 0
Number of times named male characters saved from peril by female characters: 0
Number of named female characters breaking gender stereotypes with their actions (performing “masculine” feats): 0
Number of named male characters breaking gender stereotypes with their actions (performing “feminine” feats): 1 — when Mowgli carries the water, something the song specifies is a woman’s job
As you can tell from the numbers, this film doesn’t have much going for it as a feminist tract. (The 2016 version, while a better movie, has some slightly better moments). While Mowgli does meet a girl at the end of the film, and she does speak (or, well, sing), she is never given a name. The only other female character IS given a name: Winifred, the wife of Colonel Hati (part of the military elephant patrol). While she does have a couple nice moments showing herself as the smarter and wiser of the couple, that’s not nearly enough representation to make up for the flaws throughout. Especially the part where Mowgli is instantly (and let’s be honest, sexually) enamored by the first human he sees in his life through her looks and voice alone. Considering these kids are… what, 10? 12 at most? That’s awkward as hell. There’s great songs, but there’s no way we can call this movie remotely feminist. Especially since the song the girl sings is all about reinforcing stereotypical gender roles. Oy vey.
Fun Notes:
I’m not advocating for child nudity or anything, but isn’t it weird that Mowgli, raised by animals, wears underwear, right?
How does Kaa have magic eyes? The animals are largely realistic except for that one fact.
The history between the jungle animals is solidly implied, but more time spent with Mowgli would’ve been great. The extra 30 minutes of run time for the 2016 film really helped develop characters and Mowgli’s interactions with them. Especially Shere Khan.
“A female leading my herd? Utterly preposterous!” One of two lines that’s kinda heinous (though the character saying this is an idiot, so…).
I’m sad The Beatles turned down the role of the vultures.
This might be the first Disney movie that deals with death in a lengthy way. I mean, the death doesn’t actually happen, but Mowgli didn’t even know what death was. And Bagheera gave a eulogy and everything.
“Forget about those, they ain’t nothin’ but trouble.” Baloo talking about women. Come on, bear, you’re supposed to be cool.
The AristoCats
First, a minor note: Until this rewatch, I honestly thought it was The Aristocats. But the title sequence clearly capitalized the C, so… AristoCats it is.
That said, this is the first truly original plotline in a Disney animated feature film that has a plot since Song of the South, I believe. The story focuses on the cats of an elderly French aristocratic lady. Her butler, who seems a nice enough fellow, loses his daggum mind when he overhears that his employer might be giving away all her money to her cats upon her death and decides… well, I’m not sure, but it seems he decides drowning them or something is the thing to do. Then, in the style of the purest of talking animal films Homeward Bound, the cats must find their way back to their owner. But this film may have more feminism than one might expect from felines.
Number of named characters with speaking lines: 17
Number of named female characters with speaking lines: 6
Does the film pass the Bechdel Test? Yes. The geese talk about walking and such.
Number of named non-white characters: 0
Number of named non-white female characters: 0
Number of openly non-heterosexual characters: 0
Number of openly transsexual characters: 0
Is there a heterosexual romance? Duchess and Thomas O’Malley (and Marie has a huge crush on him as well)
True Love’s Kiss? No.
Number of female mentors or rulers? Duchess is a single mom, so kinda? And Madame Adelaide also apparently owns her house?
Number of named female characters wearing “men’s clothes” (pants instead of dresses): 0 (With 0 men wearing “women’s clothes”.)
Main character male or female? Mixed: The focus is on a family of a mom, a daughter, and two sons, with another protagonist male introduced later.
Number of named female characters saved from peril by male characters: 1: Marie
Number of times named female characters saved from peril by male characters: 2 (Saved by Thomas twice)
Number of named male characters saved from peril by female characters: 1: Thomas
Number of times named male characters saved from peril by female characters: 1 (Saved by the geese… after they imperil him.)
Number of named female characters breaking gender stereotypes with their actions (performing “masculine” feats): 0
Number of named male characters breaking gender stereotypes with their actions (performing “feminine” feats): 0
Going by the numbers, this movie is above and beyond The Jungle Book in matters of equal representation. Probably the best things this movie has going for it are Madame Adelaide, a wealthy aristocratic woman who never mentions having a husband or wanting one, and Duchess, the single mother of three kittens who has apparently raised them with poise and class. Granted, they’re the cats of a wealthy owner so she doesn’t have to do much on the providing end of things, but she does take care of them after they are kidnapped and clearly cares for them. It’s nice to see Disney provide a positive example of single motherhood for once (unlike, say, in Cinderella). While a curious part of me wonders who the father of Duchess’ kittens are, it doesn’t matter remotely to the story or their characters.
That said, there are a few issues that come along with the way the upper class of society regards strict roles and proprieties. “Act like a lady,” “act like a gentleman,” that sort of nonsense. It’s not nearly as bad as the gender roles enforced in other movies (even The Jungle Book in that aforementioned song) since it’s more about “propriety,” but you still have some gender norms being enforced (like wearing a tie for boys or pretty pink bows for ladies, even though in the early 20th century pink was a boy’s color).
And not just gender roles. The goose sisters decide to shame Thomas O’Malley when it’s discovered he is NOT married to Duchess (they seem to be assuming he’s still the father). This actually goes both positive and negative. While it enforces the whole heterosexual marriage Victorian-esque ideal, at least they’re yelling at the dad. The popular thing these days is to call the woman a slut. There’s also the weird thing with Marie being so clearly infatuated with the much older male cat Thomas O’Malley, but I feel like that can slide a bit as infatuation for older, “cool” people seems to be natural for kids. Though talking about how dreamy he is is… yeah.
Still, the movie definitely has some positives. Even with Marie. After all, “Ladies do not start fights, but they can finish them” is a pretty nice subversion of the “proper” gender roles.
Fun Notes:
Before I go into the fun notes, while looking for pictures for this post, I found this. And I need all of you to see it. Because fanart is fascinating.
“Why should you be first?” “Because I’m a lady, that’s why.” “You’re not a lady!” “You’re nothing but a sister!” — As a guy with two sisters… *looks back at earlier line about women ending fights* Um, no comment.
“Females never fight fair!”
I kinda love that Roquefort, a mouse, goes out of his way to find the cats. It’s cute.
Fortuitous for Edgar to realize he’d need a fishing rod to retrieve his hat, basket, and umbrella. Also, he acts almost as though he can understand the dogs.
“Any woman would like it!” Corny sweet-talking about how pretty they are? I mean, I don’t think so? Compliments are nice, but y’all barely know each other and a woman’s more than her looks, so. Ladies, let me know if “any woman would like” a man talking with saccharine sweetness about your eyes.
Perhaps the best gag of the movie is the guy drinking wine seeing the cats “chased” by Roquefort.
