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A Haunting We Will Go

Name: A Haunting We Will Go
Director: Burt Gillett
Released: 1939
Duration: 8 min

Representation Score

1.0/10

Minimal

1939

Approved

Director

Burt Gillett

Runtime

8 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

This 1939 short reflects the biases and limitations of its era. While it features a central protagonist, the characterization leans heavily on historical racial stereotypes. The narrative structure upholds traditional social hierarchies without challenging them. It lacks representation for LGBTQ+ identities, disabilities, or diverse gender roles, focusing instead on a singular male perspective. Overall, the film embodies the conventions of the Golden Age of animation, emphasizing established archetypes over progressive representation or multi-layered depth.

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Category Breakdown

Does A Haunting We Will Go have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film focuses on a child protagonist and supernatural ghosts. It doesn't include any LGBTQ+ characters or explore queer identities, sticking to the assumption that everyone is straight or cisgender.

How does A Haunting We Will Go portray gender?

Limited

The story centers around a male child character. It doesn't provide much depth or ability to act for female characters and doesn't challenge traditional gender roles, reflecting the gender norms of the time.

How racially and ethnically diverse is A Haunting We Will Go?

Minimal

The character L'il Eight Ball is based on racial caricatures common in early 20th-century media. This portrayal uses historical stereotypes rather than offering nuanced or deep character development.

How does A Haunting We Will Go represent religion and culture?

Limited

The storytelling follows a traditional, morality-based plot. It reinforces conventional social structures and doesn't offer institutional critique or moral relativism found in modern narratives.

Does A Haunting We Will Go include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no visible or invisible disabilities shown in the film. Characters operate within the typical range of abilities expected in the animation genre.

Present on Screen

The film features a central protagonist who drives the supernatural narrative forward.

Limited or Absent

The use of racial caricatures like L'il Eight Ball relies on harmful historical stereotypes.
The narrative lacks women's ability to drive the story and meaningful gender diversity.
There is a complete absence of LGBTQ+ representation or disability visibility.

Official Synopsis

The introduction of Lantz's little black-boy character, L'il Eight Ball, finds him going to bed in his small cabin and being visited by a baby ghost. He avers he is not afraid, and his isn't, so the little ghost transports him to a haunted mill where the adult ghosts hang out. They run the little hero through all the standard ghost tests and, while he is shaken, he still will not admit to being scared.

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