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The Graduation Exercises

Name: The Graduation Exercises
Director: Manny Gould, Ben Harrison
Released: 1935
Duration: 6 min

Representation Score

0.6/10

Minimal

1935

Approved

Director

Manny Gould, Ben Harrison

Runtime

6 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

The Graduation Exercises is a product of its era, prioritizing slapstick comedy over intentional social representation. The narrative structure follows traditional comedic forms that do not 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 aspects of identity. Ultimately, the film adheres to the mainstream animation standards of the mid-1930s, offering little in the way of diverse perspectives or challenges to the status quo.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Graduation Exercises have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or representations of non-cisgender identities. It follows the comedic clichés common in 1930s animation.

How does The Graduation Exercises portray gender?

Limited

Gender roles in the film follow the strict binaries typical of the time. There is no indication of women taking significant roles or subverting traditional hierarchies.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Graduation Exercises?

Limited

The story focuses on two main characters within a likely homogeneous cast. There are no references to non-white majority casts or ethnic metaphors.

How does The Graduation Exercises represent religion and culture?

Limited

The narrative centers on graduation, a traditional Western milestone. It reinforces social structures without offering a critique of them.

Does The Graduation Exercises include disability representation?

Minimal

The film does not represent physical or neurodivergent disabilities. Characters' actions are driven by comedic situations rather than lived disability experiences.

Present on Screen

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

Limited or Absent

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.

Official 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.

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