Br'er Fox and Br'er Bear

Br'er Fox and Br'er Bear (also spelled Brer Fox and Brer Bear, /ˈbrɛər/) are fictional characters from African-American oral traditions popular in the Southern United States. This character has been recorded by many different folklorist but well known from the Uncle Remus folktales adapted and compiled by Joel Chandler Harris.

Br'er Fox and Br'er Bear
Br'er Fox and Br'er Bear, from Uncle Remus, His Songs and His Sayings: The Folk-Lore of the Old Plantation, 1881
First appearance19th century
Created byTraditional, Robert Roosevelt, Joel Chandler Harris, Alcée Fortier, Enid Blyton
Voiced byBr'er Fox:
James Baskett (Song of the South)
Stan Freberg (Mickey Mouse's Birthday Party[1])
Jess Harnell (1989-Present)
Br'er Bear:
Nick Stewart (Song of the South, Mickey Mouse's Birthday Party,[1] and Splash Mountain)
James Avery (1990-2011)
In-universe information
SpeciesRed fox
Brown bear
GenderMale
Br'er Fox and Br'er Bear in Song of the South (1946). Disney's versions of the characters are drawn in a more humorous and cartoony style than the illustrations in Harris's books.

The cult film Coonskin, directed by Ralph Bakshi, focuses on a trio of characters inspired by the original folktales. Br'er Rabbit, Br'er Bear and Br'er Fox (renamed "Preacher Fox" in the film) all appear, and the elements of the stories are moved to a then-contemporary urban setting.

Disney adaptions

In the animated sequences of the 1946 Walt Disney-produced film Song of the South like in the tales, Brer Fox is the stories' antagonist, while Brer Bear is his dim-witted accomplice. Brer Fox was voiced by actor James Baskett, who also portrayed the live-action character Uncle Remus. In contrast to the earlier illustrations of Frederick S. Church, A. B. Frost, and E. W. Kemble, the Disney animators depict the characters in a more slapstick, cartoony style.[2]

The Disney versions of the characters have made appearances in other works:

  • Brer Fox and Brer Bear appear in the Splash Mountain attractions at Disneyland, Magic Kingdom and Tokyo Disneyland. They also appear with Brer Rabbit at the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts for meet-and-greets, parades and shows.
  • An entire segment dedicated to the pair is featured in the 1956 one-hour television special Our Unsung Villains.
  • Brer Fox and Brer Bear make cameo appearances in several episodes of the Disney's House of Mouse television series, with Bonkers in the episode "Casabonkers", and in the direct-to-video release Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse.
  • Brer Bear has made cameo appearances in other Disney films. He can be seen frequently in various scenes in Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and he is also seen in The Lion King 1½ along with many other Disney toons coming into the theater in the ending scene.
  • Brer Bear has also made sporadic appearances in Disney's Gladstone comics.[3] Although one Disney comic names Br'er Bear a title of "Honorary Constable of Cockleberry County"[4] his "performance" is more akin to Fearless Fosdick; as a comic relief villain Br'er Bear-along with Br'er Fox & Br'er Weasel-are members of the "Foul Order of Foulfellows".[5] {A possible member of the foulfellows is Br'er "Zeke" Wolf aka Big Bad Wolf although a running gag is that whenever he tries to catch either the Three Little pigs or a chicken, his plans go awry and Br'er wolf gets being pounded by Br'er Bear!}[6][7][8]
  • Brer Fox is slightly smarter than Brer Bear-although like his contemporary villain compatriot Brer Zeke Wolf aka the Big Bad Wolf a running gag is that he usually fails whatever he tries[9][10] Only once did he ever succeed at anything-when he stole a chicken from a pen kept by the three Little Piggs[11]
  • They appear often in the Dutch Donald Duck comics, usually hunting Broer Konijn (Dutch for Brer Rabbit).
  • Both Brer Bear and Brer Fox make an appearance in the video game Disneyland Adventures and both can be seen near Splash Mountain in Critter Country.

See also

References
  1. "A Spin Special: Stan Freberg Records". Retrieved 2017-09-21.
  2. Brasch, Walter M. (2000). Brer Rabbit, Uncle Remus, and the 'Cornfield Journalist': The Tale of Joel Chandler Harris. Mercer University Press. p. 275.
  3. Walt Disney Comics Digest #27 February 1971 "The Seven Dwarfs "The Inside Hideout"
  4. "Walt Disney Comics Digest" #23 July 1970 "Stomps in the Night"
  5. Walt Disney Comics Digest # 21 April 1970 "The Conscience Plot",
  6. "Walt Disney Comics Digest #19 January 1970 "The Moon Creature"
  7. "Walt Disney Comics Digest # 27 February 1971 "Gingerbread House Hoax"
  8. "Walt Disney Comics Digest # 29 June 1971 "The Sleepwalker"
  9. "Walt Disney Comics Digest # 21 April 1970 "The Conscience Plot" and "Brer Rabbit Meets the reluctant Dragon"
  10. "Walt Disney Comics Digest # 29 June 1971 "Farm Friends and the Flying Farm Hand"
  11. "Walt Disney Comics Digest #21 April 1970 "Mumbo Jumbo"
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