Br'er Fox is a character from African American folktales and the infamously controversial 1946 Disney movie, Song of the South. He was main-antagonist of the attraction Splash Mountain.
History[]
Background[]
Origins[]
Br'er Fox was a crafty anthropomorphic fox who lived in Chick-a-Pin Hill in the Southern United States during the 19th century. Br'er Fox frequently attempted to kill and eat Br'er Rabbit. Br'er Fox was frequently assisted by the dim-witted bear, Br'er Bear.
At some point, a raccoon named Rackety used the woods near Chickapin Hill for his moonshining, only for this to cause an explosion; with it being speculated that he used too many blueberries. The explosion destroyed the recently constructed dam of the Beaver Brothers, resulting in a flood which drenched Chickapin Hill and transformed it into what locals renamed as, "Splash Mountain". Splash Mountain became a home for various critters, with Br'er Fox living in the peaks along the falls.
Br'er Fox became a wanted-criminal due to his, "General nastiness" and being a threat to the critters of Splash Mountain.
Splash Mountain[]
When Br'er Rabbit was moving away from his home, Br'er Fox attempted to set a trap for him only for the rabbit to deceive Br'er Bear into going in the trap instead. Br'er Rabbit went on to trick Br'er Bear into going to his, "Laughin' Place", a series of caverns filled with bees that stung the bear while the bear became stuck. Meanwhile, Br'er Fox used one of the beehives to trap Br'er Rabbit and bring him back to his lair.
Br'er Fox tied the rabbit up in his lair where Br'er Rabbit pleaded not to be thrown over the waterfall into the briar patch. Br'er Fox decided to give-in and threw Br'er Rabbit into the briar patch, not realizing this was the rabbit's plan to escape as he was born and raised in the briar patch. When Br'er Rabbit escaped, Br'er Fox attempted to free Br'er Bear from the Laughin' Place only to have his tail bitten by Br'er Gator who attempted to drag the fox into the water, presumably to eat. It is unknown whether Br'er Fox survived this alligator attack or not.
Appearances[]
Br'er Fox used to make frequent live appearances.
Mark Twain Riverboat[]
Br'er Fox and Br'er Bear used to be mentioned by Br'er Frog.
Mickey Mouse Revue[]
Br'er Rabbit, Fox and Bear appeared during the, "Zippidee Doo Dah" finale.
Splash Mountain[]
Br'er Fox was main-antagonist of this attraction. He made multiple appearances throughout the ride as an animatronic. Leading up to the big drop, he appeared as a shadow terrorizing Br'er Rabbit. In his final appearance, Br'er Gator was biting his tail and trying to drag him into the water to be eaten.
In the queue of the Magic Kingdom, there was a framed painting of him which read, "Lookin' for Trouble". There was also a wanted-poster for him and a wooden sculpture of him and Br'er Bear searching for Br'er Rabbit in said version of the queue.[1] Disneyland's Splash Mountain had an additional scene where Mother Possum and Mother Rabbit sang, "Burrow's Lament" with lyrics like, "Don't you go to the Laughin' Place Or the fox will get you too" and, " Stay away from the Laughin' Place. You must beware the fox is there don't go in".
Trivia[]
- Br'er Fox using a beehive to trap Br'er Rabbit in the ride replaced the infamously racist, "Tar Baby" scene from Song of the South.
- Br'er Fox's book was written by one Br'er Wolf. Some Disney comics sometimes merged Br'er Wolf from the Br'er Rabbit stories with the Big Bad Wolf.
- It is unclear if Br'er Fox had any relation to the Boothill Boys who appear on the lift-hill up to his lair.
- Br'er Fox and Captain Hook are both animated villains from Disney feature films whose last scenes in their respective rides included them being attacked by crocodilians.
Gallery[]
