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The Graduation Exercises

The Graduation Exercises

1935

Approved

Director

Manny Gould, Ben Harrison

Runtime

6 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

Scrappy and Oopy are on their way to Scrappy’s last day of class. Oopy’s distractions cause Scrappy to be late to graduation, so Oopy devises a plot to sneak into class so Scrappy can still graduate.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

1.9/10

Minimal

Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Minimal

The film lacks any evidence of LGBTQ+ characters or non-cisnormative identities. It adheres to the standard comedic tropes of 1935 animation.

Gender Representation

Limited

Gender roles appear to follow the rigid binaries typical of the era. There is no evidence of female agency or the subversion of traditional hierarchies.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Limited

The narrative focuses on two central characters within a likely homogeneous casting framework. No non-white majority casts or ethnic metaphors are present.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Limited

The story centers on graduation, a traditional Western institutional milestone. It reinforces social structures rather than offering a critique of them.

Disability Representation

Minimal

There is no representation of physical or neurodivergent disabilities. Character actions are driven by comedic impulse rather than lived disability experiences.

Strengths

  • The film provides a clear, focused narrative centered on a relatable academic milestone.

Areas for Improvement

  • The work lacks meaningful representation of diverse identities, including LGBTQ+, racial, and disability-related perspectives.
  • The narrative reinforces traditional social and institutional hierarchies rather than challenging them.

AI Analysis

The Graduation Exercises is a product of its era, prioritizing slapstick comedy over intentional social representation. The narrative architecture follows traditional comedic structures that lack the depth required to disrupt conventional social hierarchies. While the film explores themes of academic achievement and institutional rules, it does so through a lens that reinforces existing social norms. The characters Scrappy and Oopy drive a plot centered on school-based milestones without addressing broader intersectional identities. Ultimately, the film functions within the mainstream animation standards of the mid-1930s, offering little in the way of diverse perspectives or subversions of the status quo.

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