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The Cartoon Faces Of Suicide

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*PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE DESCRIPTION BEFORE COMMENTING, THANK YOU*

Yep, you heard right. Suicide in cartoons are more common than you think. Some you may have seen, others you probably haven't.

I know this is a very delicate subject. and it's something that many people don't like talking about. I completely understand that. But, in a way; i think it's wrong NOT to discuss it at some point. Suicide is a very real problem, one person dies from suicide every four hours! People often call it a selfish act, certain religions call it a sin, others call it the only way out. But suicide has many faces and causes, i think it should be judged based on the circumstances, rather than the act itself. So, one must ask the inevitable, uncomfortable and potentially controversial question...Can suicide ever be justified?

Some of these animated cartoons certainly seem to think so, some show it for the right reasons - others definitely do NOT. But each of these portray it for different reasons, so i thought i'd share all instances and my thoughts on each. So perhaps then, you can decide for yourself.

**Some of these reviews contain spoilers**

1. Gurgi (The Black Cauldron)
I know Gurgi doesn't actually die in this film, i wish i had known that BEFORE adding him to this list. I haven't seen The Black Cauldron, but i have seen this 'suicide' scene. Basically, Taran tries to sacrifice his life for his friends by jumping into the black cauldron. But Gurgi, stops him by standing in his way.
"Gurgi will NOT let his friend die."
With that, Gurgi leaps to his fiery doom and disintegrates, destroying the cauldron in the process. One could argue that this doesn't count because he comes back to life at the end. But it still counts, Gurgi didn't know he would survive at the time. Most people wouldn't call this a suicide either, since it was selfless - people call it a sacrifice, not a suicide. But it still involves voluntarily killing yourself, so it's still suicide - just with a different motif. And a lot of people would say; that this form of suicide is not just acceptable, but even noble. And i would have to agree.
Ok, i'll be the one to say it...I wish Gurgi stayed dead. I have nothing against the character, but i really HATE fake-outs! It's such an overused, predictable and pointless cliche. Far too many animated films have done this!: Ice Age did it, Lady and the Tramp 2, Bambi 2, Brother Bear 2, Lilo and Stitch 2, Tangled, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, The Land Before Time, The Pebble and the Penguin, A Troll in Central Park, Anastasia, The King & I, Oliver & Company, Return of Jafar, Finding Nemo, Frozen etc. Ugh! It frustrates me! Stop it!! Not only is there no real point, what the hell is the logic behind it?? Do these characters just pass out for a few minutes and wake up to find their friends have ditched them? And why doesn't anyone ever check the pulse? Ugh! Pointlessness! :X

I think Disney had a policy back in the 1980's against killing off characters that AREN'T evil, another example would be Chief from 'The Fox & the Hound'. Why didn't he die?? He got hit by a frickin' train, fell off the high trestle and landed on rocks! I'm sorry, but that should have killed him. Again it must have been their restrictions/policy, I maintain that Disney didn't start killing off good characters again until 'The Lion King'.

2. Zira (The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride)
Before you jump down my throat saying that her death was accidental, you are both right AND wrong. You see, in the film she falls by accident. However, in the deleted scenes; she actually commits suicide. You may be surprised to know that, they didn't fully CUT the suicide scene - they just altered it to make it LOOK like an accident. Most of the scene is still there. For example, if you look closely at her falling into the water, she's smiling! In the deleted scene, rather than slipping off the rock, she flings herself off. And there's nothing but the sound of the water and that eery smile on her face as she falls to her demise. Since she is a Villain, her reason for suicide is cowardly...stubborness. Or insanity?...possibly both. After losing Scar, Nuka, her power, her mind, dignity and all her followers, she decides to end it all rather than admit defeat. I do NOT support this as a reason for suicide.
I REALLY wish they had kept this in the movie. It would have been a very original Disney Villain death. Zira was a pretty badass Villain, but her death was so cliche and quite disappointing. Although i do see why they cut it, Disney sequels are made by Toon Disney, the same animation company responsible for all the animated TV shows. And their restrictions are a LOT higher than Disney's. Which explains why the sequels always seem to be targetted at much younger audiences than the original. And suicide is a very dark concept, one that parents don't particularly want to explain to their young children. Still, it would have been awesome if they kept it in. Youtube has the full deleted scene if you're interested in seeing it: www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoctlR…

3. Tom And Jerry (Blue Cat Blues)
This one confuses me a bit, it also creeps me out. You may think i'm joking, but i assure you, i'm not. What's even more disturbing, is that this episode/scene is the very last of the original 'Tom & Jerry' series!
The short begins with a very depressed Tom, sitting on the train tracks; awaiting the train that draws near to run him over. All the while Jerry narrates the short through an inner monolgue, describing the events that leads to Tom's depression. Long story short, Tom falls in love with a female cat, but is inevitably dumped and rejected. After which, Jerry breaks from the sad story to think about his own girlfriend, "Toots," happy that, unlike how Tom's ex-girlfriend was to him, she has been faithful to Jerry. Suddenly, Jerry's world is shattered when Toots rides by with another mouse, a "Just Married" sign on the back of their car. The now rejected Jerry then joins Tom on the railroad tracks. They wait for an incoming train which draws near. The sound of the whistle of the incoming train turns louder as the cartoon short, and the series comes to a close.
The character's motivation for suicide here is obviously depression/hopelessness, which i maintain is pretty short-sighted for the most part. Depression is a mental illness, i'm aware of this. But it was never specified that either character suffered the illness, just the emotion.
What confuses me about this one is the purpose of showing this. Is it for comedic effect? Awareness? An end to the series? I don't really know...Does anyone?

4. Snitter & Rowf (The Plague Dogs)
Ok, i know a LOT of people fight tooth and nail to deny that this death ever actually happened. Since the film's ending is reasonably open to interpretation, people argue that they survived at the end. But, i really don't think so. That 'island' they were talking about; i believe is a metaphor for death, while others believe that it physically exists and served as an oasis away from the humans. But, perhaps you guys should watch the ending again. Both Snitter and Rowf had been running endlessly for days, heavily pursuited by the government whom were out to destroy them. After which, they swam out in the open sea for miles. They see this 'island' and swim out further, only to disappear into the fog.
"Just stay with me....I'll get you there." (Rowf)
The end song plays and the film is over. Their deaths aren't shown, but i think they're implied. The image of the island at the end credits was just a bit too far out of their physical reach don't you think? Plus, the lyrics to the end song also give some clues:
♫ I don't feel no pain no more.
I've left this cruel world behind, and i've found my peace of mind.
I don't feel...no pain...no more.
Yes i know, i'm going home.
When i've reached the end, you know i'll find it friend...
Yes i know...i'm goin' home. ♫
(Time & Tide - Alan Price)
Based on the dark tone of this movie, this ending shouldn't really surprise people as much as it does. I think people who believe that they survived, only do so because they WANT to believe it. Not because they really think it's true. And I know, we all want to see that happy ending, especially in an animated film. But i think this movie teaches that life doesn't always work that way, we shouldn't expect a happy ending just because we want one. I've said this before about The Plague Dogs - it's a pimp smack back to reality! The sooner you guys accept the ending to this movie, the easier it'll be!
This reason for suicide i WILL give a pass on. It's the 'Thelma & Louise' motif, virtually identical. Think about it, you've been relentlessly chased to no end, trapped and are about to be destroyed. You only really have two options: Either give your enemy the satisfaction of ending your life, OR you could take your life into your own hands, and destroy it on your own terms. Personally, i would pick the latter option too. And with a loved one by your side, you don't have to do it alone. Not only would i say this is a fair reason, i would even call this incredibly noble.

5. Sylvester (Looney Tunes Show)
This represents something that i am highly against...Showing suicide for comedic effect. And it's not just Looney Tunes that do it: Woody Woodpecker, The Simpsons, South Park, Family Guy, even some modern Spongebob Squarepants episodes; are guilty of this too! I hate to be 'this person' but i fail to see how the concept of suicide is funny. Nearly ALL of the Looney Tunes characters have 'comedically' shot themselves at some point. Including Bugs, Yosemite Sam, Daffy and Sylvester. Even Pepe Le Pew intentionally jumped out a window in one of his episodes. Most of the suicide scenes in these cartoons have recently been censored, and for once - i support them for it. I'm usually against TV censorship, if you don't want your kids to see something offensive, perhaps you as a parent should take some responsibility to prevent them from seeing it. But these are Looney Tunes, a kids TV show! You show them this, and they may start to think that suicide is laughable. I know that sounds almost absurd, but kids do look up to these cartoons, and some children are even stupid enough to imitate some things that they've seen on television.
I'll admit that i used to laugh at these things, like Moe's countless suicide attempts. But that was then, i'm older now, i know better. And it's NOT funny anymore, it's even downright insensitive to those out there who have been affected by suicide. Thankfully, animation companies are finally beginning to realise that now.

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In conclusion to all this, I don't usually support suicide. And the motifs that i've given a pass on are very rare and are virtually unheard of in the real world. But, all i'm saying is; we shouldn't judge suicide based on the act itself, but rather the cause. It would be like judging a book based on the ending rather than the story itself.

If you have something to say about this, don't be shy. Speak up. Rant away about your
thoughts, all i ask is that you respect my opinion and the opinion of others (as long as it's not offensive)

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spike12345443's avatar

Ziras was dark oof