Hahah whoa. Has to be seen to be believed. Up there with Wizards as the best of Bakshi, cracka!

Ralph Bakshi flick about a black rabbit from the South who comes to Harlem and takes over the criminal rackets. Weird mix of live action and animation that lifts its main plot points from Uncle Remus' Br'er Rabbit stories and pads out the running time with comically dated stereotypes of blacks, Italians and homosexuals.

This film is extremely surreal, but never in an overbearing or pretentious manner. It attempts to create a unique experience by offending the viewer as greatly as possible, both intellectually through inane stereotypes and aesthetically through ugly & nonsensical animation. It's a very interesting artistic/social deconstruction, although it's not the poignant social commentary that many claim it to be. I was hooked by the powerful opening credits performance, and fascinated throughout.

They sure as shit couldn't make a film like this anymore. Which is a shame because any racist intentions this film feel too hyperbolic to be taken seriously anyway. The mix between animation and live-action is pretty neat (especially for its time) and although the storyline feels kinda contrived, it's still a cool trip, man.

Not half as clever as it thinks it is.

this is all the annoying aspects of bakshi collected into one film

An incredible and rough mixture of live action and animation in the form of a racy satire. Song of the South on acid and with a smart political edge.

Even Bakshi now admits that the title is indefensible; and it was a decision that virtually guaranteed the movie would sink without getting a fair viewing. Caricature is not inherently racist, and while COONSKIN is broadly drawn it's actually anti-racist rather than the reverse. But it is extreme stuff, not for every taste, and not Bakshi's best movie either. It's tough to endorse COONSKIN, but we wish the political climate of today allowed for more animated movies like this one.

Ridiculous.

Song of the South...but more racist...and set in the 70's...and with animated nudity...and lots of violence...and..so..much...more