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The Little Drummer Boy

Name: The Little Drummer Boy
Director: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin, Jr., Takeo Nakamura
Released: 1968
Duration: 25 min

Representation Score

2.3/10

Limited

1968

Approved

Director

Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin, Jr., Takeo Nakamura

Runtime

25 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

The Little Drummer Boy upholds traditional cultural values without challenging them. The narrative structure reinforces established religious and familial hierarchies. By sticking to biblical traditions, the film avoids representing diverse identities or modern social issues.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Little Drummer Boy have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film follows a strict assumption that everyone is straight and cisgender, with no representation of LGBTQ+ identities or same-sex relationships.

How does The Little Drummer Boy portray gender?

Limited

Characters adhere to traditional gender roles, with Mary portrayed as a nurturing mother and Joseph as a protective father.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Little Drummer Boy?

Fair

The film includes a diverse cast of shepherds and Magi, reflecting a non-Anglo-Saxon setting, but this diversity is tied to the historical context rather than modern representation.

How does The Little Drummer Boy represent religion and culture?

Minimal

The story emphasizes Christian morality and the importance of religious institutions, promoting the sanctity of the traditional family unit.

Does The Little Drummer Boy include disability representation?

Limited

The film centers on the protagonist's journey without material resources, avoiding the exploration of neurodiversity or physical disabilities.

Present on Screen

The film creates a distinctive stop-motion aesthetic through the work of Rankin and Bass.
The historical settings are used to include a diverse cast of shepherds and Magi.

Limited or Absent

The film relies on traditional gender roles that reinforce domestic hierarchies.
The storytelling does not address neurodiversity or physical disabilities.
The narrative does not offer a critique of Western spiritual or social structures.

Official Synopsis

After being kidnapped and escaping, young drummer boy Aaron searches for his camel and finds him in the Nativity of the Baby Jesus. Aaron gives Baby Jesus the only gift he has, a song on his drum.

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