The Count retelling the antics of Br'er Igor
Br'er Bear, top left, and other ursines putting something in the pot, or rather, hat
Br'er Rabbit is a wily trickster rabbit figure featured in folk tales, outwitting predators and others. The origins of the tales are complex, with counterparts found in African stories (and a few are adapted from the tales of Anansi the Spider), as well as in Cherokee folklore. The popular name Br'er (sometimes spelled Brer) Rabbit arose in American oral tradition and in the collected adaptations by Joel Chandler Harris, first published in 1881. The most famous Br'er Rabbit story, about his encounter with a man made of tar (Tar Baby) has equivalents (with and without actual rabbits) in South Africa, the Bahamas, and elsewhere.
The Chandler Harris versions of the stories, related by Uncle Remus, relied heavily on stereotyped Southern black dialect, reflected in the best known adaptation, Walt Disney's Song of the South (1946). By the time the character was featured in the theme park ride Splash Mountain (debuted at Disneyland in 1989), the dialect had been dropped.
References[]
- When telling a bat-time tale to his bats in Sesame Street Episode 3262, the Count's narrative is a blend of The Tale of Peter Rabbit and "Br'er Rabbit and the Briar Patch." The Count describes one of the bat siblings, Br'er Igor, pleading, "Please, please, please don't throw me into the guano-filled bat cave!"
- The Disney version of Br'er Bear is one of several Walt Disney World bears (including cast from the Country Bear Jamboree) who appreciate Fozzie's comedy act in The Muppets at Walt Disney World.
Connections[]
- Wayne Brady voiced Brer Wolf in The Adventures of Brer Rabbit (2006 video)
- Nick Cannon voiced Brer Rabbit in The Adventures of Brer Rabbit (2006 video)
- Danny Glover narrated audio book versions of Brer Rabbit and the Wonderful Tar Baby (1990) and Brer Rabbit and Boss Lion (1992) and voiced Brer Turtle in The Adventures of Brer Rabbit (2006 video)
- Józsa Hacser voiced Mrs. Wolf on a 1967 Hungarian TV puppet series
- Jess Harnell voiced Br'er Rabbit in Splash Mountain and other Disney projects
- Phil LaMarr voiced Brer Gator in The Adventures of Brer Rabbit (2006 video)
- Éva Schubert voiced Mrs. Fox on a 1967 Hungarian TV puppet series
- Wanda Sykes voiced Sister Moon in The Adventures of Brer Rabbit (2006 video)
- Ginny Tyler voiced Miz Possum in the videos Brer Rabbit Tales (1991) and Brer Rabbit's Christmas Carol (1992)