Br'er Terrapin (also known as Br'er Turtle) is a character from the 1946 Disney film Song of the South and other media inspired by the film itself.
Background[]
Br'er Terrapin is an anthropomorphic turtle often seen wearing a cap on his head and a vest on his shell respectively. Like all the Br'ers and Sises from the stories, Br'er Terrapin is an animated turtle from the stories told by Uncle Remus (despite not appearing in any of the sequences with cartoon backgrounds).
Origins[]
Br'er Terrapin is based on the character (whose original spelling is "Br'er Tarrypin" , a play on the word "terrapin" which is a term used for several small species of turtles) of the same name from the Uncle Remus stories often portrayed as a recurring character within the original stories who is a friend of Br'er Rabbit who joins him in mischief to which the former becomes successful at him in times.
Development[]
In the Disneyland version of Splash Mountain, Br'er Turtle can be seen during the "How Do You Do?" section of the attraction next to Br'er Rabbit. However, his animatronic is a recycled version of the turtle seen during the "Home on the Range" song from the second act of "America Sings".
As of 2020, the Disneyland version of Splash Mountain was announced for closure to remove all references to Song of the South in order to retheme it into a Princess and the Frog-themed attraction, due to controversy surrounding Song of the South which the attraction itself is based on. Therefore, it is currently unknown who will replace Br'er Turtle's animatronic in the rethemed version of Splash Mountain in California. The California version of Splash Mountain permanently closed on May 31, 2023
Appearances[]
Media[]
Song of the South[]
Br'er Terrapin is first seen during the "How Do You Do?" animated segment were he could be seen fishing at The Fishin' Place. Alongside with Br'er Frog, and Br'er Raccoon.
He is later seen at the end of the film during a reprise of "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" where he runs past Teenchy, Ginny Favers' pet dog and as he follows the live-action children happily strolling along with the animated characters, he encounters Br'er Frog and Br'er Rabbit whom Br'er Terrapin follows. Br'er Terrapin approaches Br'er Rabbit to which the latter runs past him (causing him to drop his cap) just as Br'er Terrapin catches up with Uncle Remus, the children, and the animated characters, following them into the sunset marking the end of the film.
Printed material[]
Br'er Rabbit Gets Tricked[]
Despite his brief appearance in the film, Br'er Terrapin (under his name "Br'er Turtle") appears in the Disney's Wonderful World of Reading book Br'er Rabbit Gets Tricked, where he plays a prominent role in the story[1]. Br'er Turtle first appears watching Br'er Rabbit strolling across the path to which Br'er Rabbit tells him that he would dance as if he were smart as him to which Br'er Turtle warns him that he will teach him a lesson to prove who is faster. Br'er Turtle then plans to trick Br'er Rabbit in competing against him by telling the other turtles who are part of his family to teach him a lesson to which Br'er Turtle's family stroll across the woods to trick Br'er Rabbit.
Later, Br'er Buzzard begins a race between Br'er Turtle and Br'er Rabbit to which during the race, one of the turtle children tricks Br'er Rabbit, confusing him throughout the race. Br'er Rabbit then sees Br'er Turtle approaching the finish line, causing the latter to come in first place and thus winning the race, much to Br'er Rabbit's sadness. He makes no further appearance throughout the story as it loops to the next sequence of Br'er Rabbit's encounter with Br'er Wolf.
Disney Parks[]
Splash Mountain[]
Br'er Terrapin only appeared in the "How Do You Do?" sequence, where he is next to Br'er Rabbit and wanted to travel with him to the Laughin' Place.
Grandma Sara's Kitchen[]
His portrait can be seen inside the restaurant of Grandma Sara's kitchen, where he is holding onto his wooden toy boat next to Br'er Beaver and Br'er Mouse.
Tiana's Bayou Adventure[]
There is an Easter Egg reference of Br'er Terrapin in the line queue of Tiana's Foods for the attraction.
Gallery[]
Song of the South[]
Disney Parks[]
Miscellaneous[]
References[]
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