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This sensational hand-painted and hand-inked production cel captures a memorable moment between Br’er Rabbit and Br’er Fox from Walt Disney’s 1946 live-action/animated musical film Song of the South. The scene depicts the clever Br’er Rabbit being held by the ears as Br’er Fox excitedly shakes his hand, believing that he has finally devised the perfect punishment. “Briar Patch! I’m glad I thought of that! Yes, indeed! I’m sho’ am glad I thought of that!” Br’er Fox declares after being persuaded by Br’er Rabbit to throw him into the very briar patch that Br’er Fox believes his enemy fears.
Of course, the scene represents one of Br’er Rabbit’s most famous tricks. By pretending to dread being thrown into the briar patch, Br’er Rabbit manipulates Br’er Fox into believing that the idea was entirely his own. This 16-field cel wonderfully captures the humor and energy of the animated sequence, with Br’er Fox’s triumphant expression contrasting perfectly with Br’er Rabbit’s apparent distress—and his secret confidence that the fox has fallen directly into his trap.
Released by RKO Radio Pictures in 1946, Song of the South was produced by Walt Disney and was Disney’s first feature film to use live actors as a framework for animated sequences throughout the story. The film was based on the Uncle Remus stories collected by Joel Chandler Harris and featured the adventures of the anthropomorphic Br’er Rabbit and his adversaries, Br’er Fox and Br’er Bear. Uncle Remus, portrayed in the film by James Baskett, served as the storyteller who introduced these folktales.
Joel Chandler Harris created the character of Uncle Remus in 1876 and began publishing the stories as a serial series. Harris wrote that his purpose was to “preserve in permanent shape those curious mementoes of a period that will no doubt be sadly misrepresented by historians of the future.” The stories became enormously influential in American popular culture. President Theodore Roosevelt famously praised Harris, saying, “Presidents may come and presidents may go, but Uncle Remus stays put. Georgia has done a great many things for the Union, but she has never done more than when she gave Mr. Joel Chandler Harris to American literature.”
Because of the film’s depiction of Black former slaves and race relations in Reconstruction-era Georgia, Song of the Southhas been controversial since its original release. A number of critics, both at the time of its premiere and in later decades, have described the film as racist. Consequently, Song of the South has never been released in its entirety on home video in the United States.
Br’er Fox is the fast-talking, sly fox who is always attempting to trick and trap the seemingly helpless—but endlessly resourceful—Br’er Rabbit. With his red fur, sharp teeth, yellow-green hat, pale shirt, forest-green vest, and green trousers, he is one of the film’s most visually recognizable animated characters. His confidence and enthusiasm are frequently his undoing, particularly when dealing with Br’er Rabbit. One of his most memorable declarations comes when he believes he has finally succeeded: “I GOT ’im! I got the little rabbit! I sure’s got ’im! Heh heh heh! I got the little rabbit this time for sure!”
Br’er Fox was animated by two of Disney’s legendary animators, Marc Davis and Ollie Johnston, and was voiced by James Baskett, who also starred in the film as Uncle Remus. In recognition of his performance as the famous storyteller, Baskett received an Honorary Academy Award, making him the first Black male performer to receive an Oscar.
Song of the South is also notable for its ambitious combination of live-action filmmaking and traditional animation. Its song “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah” won the 1947 Academy Award for Best Song and became widely associated with Disney and popular culture. The film also inspired Disney’s famous log-flume theme park attraction, Splash Mountain.
This exceptional production cel preserves a wonderfully expressive moment from one of Disney animation’s most historically significant and visually distinctive—and controversial—films. Capturing the classic personalities and comic interplay of the ever-resourceful Br’er Rabbit and the perpetually outwitted Br’er Fox, the cel represents a memorable example of the craftsmanship and character animation of the Walt Disney studio during the 1940s.
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