CMT - Robin Hood ('73)

I'm about to share one of the longest words I use on a regular basis. Anthropomorphism, is "the interpretation of what is not human or personal in terms of what is human or personal", according to Merriam-Webster. Simply put, it is the humanization of something that is clearly not human. If you're a fan of animation, you see this all the time.

"Cars" and "Planes" are obvious examples, but there are too many to mention here. It may suffice to say, that almost every cartoon animal fits the description. Even if they're mute like Wile E. Coyote, these characters emote and show expressions that are human in nature. As with any practice that is often used, we fail to acknowledge it and note its advantages.


Classic Movie Trailers - Robin Hood (1973)


Dramatic tension largely depends on identifying with the characters. They might actually resemble family, friends or ourselves. At the very least, our favorite films have familiar faces. We're comfortable with them, and they allow us to connect on an emotional level.

Have you ever considered that you might not want that connection? Sometimes, you're better off holding characters at arm's length. Disassociation doesn't always lead to disregard. If dramatic tension is removed, you might have a lot of fun.

I never felt that anything dire was going to happen in "Robin Hood". It is a movie by Disney, and it's from the early seventies, but Disney can still challenge and evoke tears from the audience. Here though, the tone of the movie was a ward against tragedy. 

There were too many smiles and too many songs. There was too much humor and good nature for somber moments to be natural. The animated animals gave us license to set our concerns aside. Subconsciously, we can be more at ease than we would be during a play.

Anthropomorphic tales also take advantage of symbolism. Robin was cast as a fox here, to show his cleverness. Prince John was a lion with no mane and a crown too big for his head. His advisor was a snake and that definitely wasn't by chance. These are not subtle choices, but they're amusing and  they work.

You may not see the irony at first, but it adds another layer to the comedy. There are reasons why there are many icons like Porky Pig, while characters like Popeye are harder to come by. There are heroes like He-Man and Birdman, but if you want to be funny in cartoons, you'd best bow to the animal kingdom. 

Tom & Jerry torture each other, but in context they're hilarious. Since we're talking about a cat and a mouse, their rivalry needs no explanation. So the duo is a perfect example, of why the technique works. When Sylvester is on the receiving end, it's funnier than it would be with Bluto.

I'd encourage all of you, to go and watch "Looney Tunes". You can get a much needed break, when your favorite TV show leaves you tense and worried. It's nice to be on the edge of your seat, but don't forget the comfort of an easy chair. If "Robin Hood" is any indication, there's some sly imagery that you might have missed.




Trailer Here.
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See "Robin Hood" on Netflix!

Next week: "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves".