Br'er Bear is the secondary antagonist in the animated sequences of the 1946 feature film Song of the South. He is Br'er Fox's dimwitted partner.
Unlike the character's depiction in the earlier illustrations of Frederick S. Church, A. B. Frost, and E. W. Kemble, the Disney animators redesigned Br'er Bear in a more slapstick, cartoony style.
Br'er Bear is portrayed as silly, goofy, prone to violence when provoked and gullible, leaving him open to being tricked repeatedly by Br'er Rabbit when he accompanies Br'er Fox (due to neglecting the latter's warnings of Br'er Rabbit's many tricks).
Br'er Bear first appears in the segment "Br'er Rabbit runs away". He is introduced when Uncle Remus says "When he hears ol' Br'er Bear ambling' down the road". He then is tricked by Br'er Rabbit into getting himself tied up in Br'er Fox's trap for Br'er Rabbit. When Br'er Fox finds Br'er Bear tied up, he cuts Br'er Bear down. Br'er Bear then gets into an argument with Br'er Fox claiming "I was making a dolla' a minute!". When Br'er Fox convinces him it was a trick, Br'er Bear begins to march towards Br'er Rabbit claiming "I'm just gonna knock his head clean OFF". He and Br'er Fox both lunge at Br'er Rabbit, who escapes the fight, leaving Brer Fox to get repeatedly and inadvertently beaten by Br'er Bear.
Br'er Bear helps to create the Tar Baby in the second segment. He is sitting on a log while Br'er Fox builds the baby. Br'er Fox then comments that all it needs are eyes and rips the button off Br'er Bear's coat. Br'er Fox then rips the bowl off Br'er Bear's pipe to create a nose for the tar baby. Br'er Fox then rips hair off Br'er Bear's butt to give the baby some hair. They then carried the baby out into the woods on a log. Br'er Rabbit then gets caught in the tar. When Br'er Fox and Br'er Bear retrieve Br'er Rabbit, Br'er Fox wants to cook him, but Br'er Bear just wants to "knock his head clean OFF". Br'er Bear then swings widely at Br'er Rabbit and Br'er Fox, causing Br'er Fox to toss Br'er Rabbit into the Briar Patch. When Br'er Rabbit acts like he is dead, Br'er Fox and Br'er Bear remove their hats in respect. When Br'er pops up, Br'er Bear softly hits Br'er Fox in the head in disappointment before leaving him.
In the third segment, Br'er Bear and Br'er Fox have finally captured Br'er Rabbit. Br'er Fox is preparing to roast Br'er Rabbit as Br'er Bear sits at the table. When Br'er Rabbit burst out laughing and tells Br'er Fox about his laughing place, Br'er Bear wants to see this laughing place. The 3 Br'ers then walk through the forest, Br'er Rabbit and Br'er Bear sing "Everybody's got a Laughing' Place". Br'er Bear dives into the trees declaring " me first, me first", because he thinks Br'er Fox will try to beat him into the laughing place. Br'er Bear is then heard yelling in pain and emerging with a beehive on his nose declaring "There's nothing in here except BEES!". When Br'er Fox laughs at him, Br'er Bear and Br'er Fox are then chased around by bees, then chased away by bees with Br'er Rabbit laughing.
The Mouse Factory[]
Br'er Bear made recurring appearances in the live-action wrap-around skits alongside the other costumed characters and celebrity guests.
Br'er Bear makes cameo appearances in several episodes of the House of Mouse TV series, with Br'er Fox trying to eat Br'er Rabbit. He also appears in the direct-to-video release Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse.
In Ask Von Drake he appears in "The Ludwig Von Drake Song" as he's part of the headcount of all Disney characters in the club.
In Bonkers, Br'er Bear made a cameo appearance in the episode "CasaBonkers" during the Rubber Room song. He is seen trying to make a hot dog with various meats and cheese. When he smashed the top bun on, the hot dog itself popped out and barked at him.
Br'er Bear's silhouette can be seen at the end of The Lion King 1½ with several other characters in the theater.
Like many of the Disney characters from movies, Br'er Bear appeared in the Disney comics. Usually, he was with his castmates from Song of the South, being tricked by Br'er Rabbit. Sometimes Br'er Fox would be the one to try and bilk Br'er Bear out of something, such as his chicken herd. This would often be a mistake for Br'er Fox as Br'er Bear would catch on at the last minute and proceed to threaten him.
Disney comics were also known for juxtaposing characters from different movies and shows, and Br'er Bear was one such case where he was hunting Bambi and his forest friends. Br'er Bear comes across his fellow villainess, the Witch, who is mixing a cauldron. When Br'er Bear demands to know what the "magic potion" is, she tells him it is nothing special and it is best not to be concerned. However, Br'er Bear believes she is mixing a potion for super strength, and that she should not be hogging it, so he helps himself to some of it. When Br'er Bear blanches in disgust at how awful the formula tastes, the Witch angrily says all she was doing was making ordinary turpentine, and that is why she warned him not to drink any. Br'er Bear is then too weakened and humiliated to continue hunting Bambi, and Bambi and his forest friends rejoice that they are safe for now and that Br'er Bear was his own worst enemy due to his arrogance and refusal to heed warnings.
Br'er Bear also appeared regularly in the Li'l Bad Wolf comics, usually as a foil to and a constant thorn in the side of Zeke Wolf. These stories tend to portray him as less villainous, as he's genuinely friendly with Li'l Wolf and the Three Little Pigs, on several occasions saving the pigs from being eaten by Zeke.
Br'er Bear appears in the game as a meet-and-greet character at the entrance to Critter Country, between The Haunted Mansion and Splash Mountain.
Br'er Bear also joins Br'er Fox in the Splash Mountain mini-game. Br'er Rabbit and the player pay a visit to Br'er Fox's house, where Br'er Rabbit tricks his foes into believing that he tripped and fell and is now helpless in front of their door. Br'er Bear and Br'er Fox rush out only to find a "present". Br'er Bear eagerly opens it to discover a beehive, although he doesn't realize it's a hive until the bees come out and attack. Br'er Bear accompanies Br'er Fox in chasing after Br'er Rabbit and the player, but they are ultimately foiled.
Br'er Bear appears as a walk-around character in the parks. He is considerably more common than either Br'er Fox or Br'er Rabbit. For meet and greets, he is often seen in Critter Country and Frontierland. He also makes rare appearances in Epcot.
Br'er Bear is also prominently featured in all versions of the log flume ride Splash Mountain, in which he and Br'er Fox attempt to catch Br'er Rabbit once more.
Br'er Bear, Br'er Fox, and Br'er Rabbit appeared near the end of Mickey Mouse Revue to sing "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah".
In Animal Kingdom, he appeared in Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade and its holiday overlay Mickey's Jingle Jungle Parade.
Gallery[]
Disney Fanon Wiki has a collection of images and media related to Br'er Bear.
Trivia[]
In 1989, when Nick Stewart was called back to Disney to reprise the role of Br'er Bear for the Splash Mountain ride, Disney Historian, Jim Korkis, asked him if he thought it was at all degrading to play Br'er Bear in Song of the South, regarding all the controversy of the portrayal of African-Americans. Stewart laughed and replied, "Disney treated us like Kings". He concluded saying that the money he earned being Br'er Bear in Song of the South went towards a theatre for African-American actors to play roles other than butlers and maids. He also said he was to do the same thing with the money from the Splash Mountain ride.[3]
Video Games:Disney Villains Challenge • Disney's Villains' Revenge • Disney Villains Cursed Café Villains:Fairest of All: A Tale of the Wicked Queen • The Beast Within: A Tale of Beauty's Prince • Poor Unfortunate Soul: A Tale of the Sea Witch • Mistress of All Evil: A Tale of the Dark Fairy • Mother Knows Best: A Tale of the Old Witch • The Odd Sisters: A Tale of the Three Witches • Evil Thing: A Tale of That Devil Woman • Cold Hearted • Never Never • Fire and Fate • Kill the Beast • Heartbroken Disney Chills:Part of Your Nightmare • Fiends on the Other Side • Second Star to the Fright • Be Careful What You Wish Fur • Liar, Liar, Head on Fire • Once Upon a Scream • The Circle of Ter-ROAR
Bonkers • Video game (Super Nintendo)• Video game (Sega Genesis/Mega Drive) • Bonkers
Characters
Heroes:Bonkers D. Bobcat • Fall-Apart Rabbit • Leonard Kanifky • Fawn Deer • Skunky Skunk • W.W. Wacky • Charles Quibble • Ludwig Von Drake • Mad Hatter • March Hare • Toots • Harry Handbag • The Mean Old Wolf • Jitters A. Dog • Slap, Sniffle and Plop • Charlie Pig • Maggie Toon • Alto • Mac the Bass • Pops Clock • Roderick Lizzard • Tuttle Turtle • Tanya Trunk • Tiny • Linda Quipps • Sgt. Frank Grating • Bucky Buzzsaw • Smarts • Grumbles Grizzly • Rita • Broderick the Radio • Police Light • Scribble • Snitch
The Wrights:Miranda Wright • Shirley Wright • Timmy Wright The Piquels:Lucky Piquel • Dilandra Piquel • Marilyn Piquel Villains:The Collector • Mr. Doodles • Ma Parker • Wooly and Bully • Flaps the Elephant • Chick and Stu • Wacky Weasel • Wolf • Baabara • Mikey Muffin • Dr. Blade • Helga • Pitts • Mr. Malone and the Ape • Holio Kalimari • Scatter Squirrel • Katya Legs-go-on-a-lot • Turbo, Banshee and Kapow • Mammoth Mammoth • Warris and Donald • Hoagie, Knuckles, and Chumps • Toon Pencil • Weather Toons • Mole • Seymour Sleazebottom and Limo • Squash and Stretch • The Rat • T.J. Finger • Gloomy the Clown • Mr. Big • Z-Bot • Ninja Kitties Cameos: Mickey Mouse • Donald Duck • Goofy • Pete • Dumbo • Hyacinth Hippo • Ben Ali Gator • Tyrannosaurus Rex • Chernaborg • Honest John • Gideon • Monstro • Br'er Bear • Lady • Tramp • The Doorknob • Big Bad Wolf • Jasper and Horace • Marsupilami • Darkwing Duck • Shere Khan • Greasy • Ferdinand the Bull
Episodes
Raw Toonage shorts and compilations: "Petal to the Metal" • "Spatula Party" • "Sheerluck Bonkers" • "Bonkers in Space" • "Draining Cats and Dogs" • "Get Me to the Church on Time" • "Ski Patrol" • "Get Me a Pizza (Hold the Minefield)" • "Dogzapoppin'" • "Trailmix Bonkers" • "Quest for Firewood" • "Gobble Gobble Bonkers"
Group One (Miranda Wright): "Trains, Toons and Toon Trains" • "Tokyo Bonkers" • "The Stork Exchange" • "Bobcat Fever" • "The Toon That Ate Hollywood" • "When the Spirit Moves You" • "Fistful of Anvils" • "What You Read is What You Get" • "Toon for a Day" Group Two: (Lucky Piquel): "Going Bonkers" • "In the Bag" • "Hear No Bonkers, See No Bonkers" • "Out of Sight, Out of Toon" • "Is Toon Fur Really Warm?" • "Calling All Cars" • "Fall Apart Bomb Squad" • "In Toons We Trust" • "Never Cry Pig" • "Hamster Houseguest" • "The Cheap Sheep Sweep" • "The Day the Toon Stood Still" • "Weather or Not" • "Basic Spraining" • "Once in a Blue Toon" • "Luna-Toons" • "Time Wounds All Heels" • "Poltertoon" • "Hand Over the Dough" • "The Rubber Room Song" • "Tune Pig" Group Three (Miranda Wright): "New Partners on the Block" • "Witless for the Prosecution" • "Do Toons Dream of Animated Sheep?" • "Quibbling Rivalry" • "Springtime for the Iguana" • "CasaBonkers" • "Love Stuck" • "Of Mice and Menace" • "Dog Day AfterToon" • "The 29th Page" • "Cartoon Cornered" Group Four (Lucky Piquel): "The Good, the Bad, & the Kanifky" • "I Oughta Be in Toons" • "Frame That Toon" • "A Wooly Bully" • "Stay Tooned" • "O Cartoon! My Cartoon!" • "Color Me Piquel" • "Stand-In Dad" • "Cereal Surreal" • "If" • "The Dimming" • "Toon with No Name" • "Get Wacky" • "The Final Review" • "Goldijitters and the 3 Bobcats" • "Seems Like Old Toons" • "Miracle at the 34th Precinct" • "Comeback Kid" • "The Greatest Story Never Told" • "Fall Apart Land" • "Imagine That" • "A Fine Kettle of Toons" • "Stressed to Kill"
Splash Mountain:Burrow's Lament • Little Brown Jug • Shortnin' Bread • Polly Wolly Doodle • Froggy Went a Courtin' • Shoo Fly (Don't Bother Me) • Goober Peas • Camptown Races • Dixie • Swing Low Sweet Chariot • When Johnny Comes Marching Home • Comin' Round the Mountain • Ol' MacDonald • Skip to My Lou • Freight Train Blues • Wabash Cannonball • St. James Infirmary • Tennessee Waltz • Show Me the Way to Go Home • Alabamy Bound • Down By the Riverside • My Old Kentucky Home • Blue Moon if Kentucky • Blue Ridge Mountain Blues • Carolina Moon • Deep River Blues • Goodnight Ladies • Honey Comb • Jailhouse Blues • Old Mill Stream • Salty Dog • Up a Lazy River • Tom Dooley • Oh, Susanna • John Henry • Sixteen Tons • I've Been Working on the Railroad • When the Saints Go Marchin' In • You Are My Sunshine
Locations
Georgia • Critter Country • Briar Patch • Chick-A-Pin Hill • The Corn Field • The Fishin' Place • Old Mill Pond • The Old Swimmin' Hole • Rainbow Ponds • Rainbow Hollow • The Burrows • Caverns • Doo Dah Landing • Critter Cave • Slippin' Falls • The Barn • Br'er Bear's cave • Catfish Bend • Br'er Terrapin's Home • Br'er Goose's Home • Br'er Gator's Home • Fowler's Cellar • Critter Country • Rufus' Cave • Tackle • Boat Rental • General Store • Dark Room • Pumpkin Patch • Turtle Ranch • Porcu Pines • Camp Alligator
Boats
Zip-A-Dee Lady
See Also
Disney Sing Along Songs: Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah • Tar Baby • The Laughing Place
