This video is a scene from a Disney movie, Lady and the Tramp, which was released in 1955. This scene featured two mischievous Siamese cats are messing with Lady (the dog) in trouble. Genuine Siamese cats have white body with black legs and tail, but they have yellow body in this film. The characteristics of these cats are similar to the a "Yellow Peril" figure; which contains yellow skin and narrow eyes. The accent in these cats' voice helped the audience to identify them as Asian. Chinese instruments were applied in this clip such as the bo and the gu (drum).
The relationship between this clip and the time Lady and the Tramp was released is the answer to this video's "racist" feel. There is not a specific date the Cold War was declared but it occurred during 1950's. Before this troublesome Cold War began, the United States fought against the Japanese (Pacific War) and the North Koreans (Korean War). The Cold War did not help to fix the relationship between Americans and Asians too. The Vietnam War in 1955 was the product of The Cold War; 1955 was also the year Lady and the Tramp was released too. The expanding of Communism were a peril for the United States.
These Siamese cats sang with broken English. This "Chinglish" often appear in the popular media today. For instance, Pat Morita played a Japanese martial master who spoke English with a heavy accent in Karate Kid. Another example is Fez (Wilmer Valderrama) from That 70's Show. Although both Morita and Valderrama were born in the United States, they portrayed as non-English speaker in the media. This concludes that all Asians or Asians Americans are foreigners in films. The term "yellow" creates a line between Asians and the rest of the American population. The result of this problem is that segregation between different ethic group will be form, but people feel natural about it because this is how the media presents Asian Americans.
This is very true. I remember when I was in high school, my teacher was talking about Disney or any animations even have racism in their movies. I was surprised how the animations secretly made those small changes where the children can not notice it. I also like how you found this animated video and related to actual history.
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