Cannibal Capers

For the 1935 short film, see Kannibal Kapers.

Cannibal Capers is an animated Disney short film in the Silly Symphonies series. It was released on March 13, 1930.^[1]

Cannibal Capers
Directed by	Burt Gillett
Produced by	Walt Disney
Music by	Darrell Calker
Animation by	Les Clark Floyd Gottfredson Jack King David Hand Ben Sharpsteen Johnny Cannon Tom Palmer Norm Ferguson Wilfred Jackson
Backgrounds by	Carlos Manriquez
Production company	Walt Disney Productions
Distributed by	Columbia Pictures
Release date	March 13, 1930 (1930-03-13)
Running time	5:56
Country	United States
Language	English

Plot

The film begins with a group of cannibals gathering together for a tribal dance. The dance is later interrupted by a fierce lion who engages in a silly chase with one of the cannibals. The film ends with all of the cannibals surrounding the hysterical lion.^[2]

Reception

The Film Daily (July 13, 1930): "One of Walt Disney's best Silly Symphonies to date. After the little band of cannibals have disported awhile in highly amusing fashion, a ferocious lion turns up and the whole gang takes to its heels. The cannibals' intended victim, however, jumps out of the boiling pot and gives the lion the run-around, winding up by getting hold of the lion's false teeth and using them to scare the jungle beast out of his skin."^[3]

Billboard (July 19, 1930): "Plenty of laughs to this animated cartoon of the Walt Disney Silly Symphony series. The conveying of numerous byplays sparkling with originality and cleverness, is a big factor in mirth producing, tho there's no overlooking the skillful animation... Strongest risibility tickler is the battle between a lion and the cannibals. Lion first chases the black-skin around, but the worm turns and the fellow has the battle won. Book this to give your audience laughs."^[4]

Home media

The short was released on December 19, 2006, on Walt Disney Treasures: More Silly Symphonies, Volume Two^[1] in the "From the Vault" section, because of the depiction of African natives (because the film was targeting adult audiences).^[a][5] Two versions of the short are included: the original theatrical release and the 1950s version for television with the ending cut short.

Notes

1. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures owns the theatrical distribution on behalf of Walt Disney Pictures and Walt Disney Animation Studios, while ABC Signature and Touchstone Television's successor company 20th Television owns the television distribution on behalf of Walt Disney Animation Studios to the film. Distributed media for Disney titles handled by Studio Distribution Services in North America and Happinet through its Media Marketing unit in Japan.