Anyone else find this cartoon racist?

*Wildcat* · 12-04-2008, 12:04 AM

Its called "Handy Manny" and it airs on Playhouse Disney. Its been on for a few years but I just found out about it the other day, as I don't watch Playhouse Disney, while watching TV and a promo came on. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handy_Manny

Its about a Mexican guy named Manny, and his job is fixing stuff around town which is an obvious stereotype that Mexicans always do oddjobs, house repairs and whatnot for money.

Im not the kinda person that gets offended at stuff like this, be it jokes or comedy in TV & movies, its all in good fun...but its the fact that this is a real show and its for young children at that.

Im Mexican, but thats not why it offended me. What offended me is the very fact that a show thats based on a cultural stereotype...whether its about African Americans, Native Americans, Asians ect..would even exist. Im surprised it was even considered to be produced. There is no way the creators or Disney can deny the obvious stereotype here.

*KROW* · 12-04-2008, 12:10 AM

Not much different than Bob the Builder from what I see. I think the fact he's Mexican is just so kids can get a head start on learning another language.

*Wildcat* · 12-04-2008, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KROW

Not much different than Bob the Builder from what I see. I think the fact he's Mexican is just so kids can get a head start on learning another language.

Ya its similar to Bob the Builder...its using a Mexican character for it is what turns it into a stereotype. If they wanted to teach kids another language they should have picked another job for him, cause this way the stereotype is just too obvious to the general public.

**Barkworm** · 12-04-2008, 12:44 AM

I don't see your point. He's not wearing a huge mustache and a poncho, is he?

**GK Punk** · 12-04-2008, 12:52 AM

I think you're reading way too much in to it. The only racist I see is Barkworm.

Ra · 12-04-2008, 01:01 AM

^^ ZING!

...na. Not racist in my eyes. Just a show about a guy doing his job. *shrugs* If it were "Dora the Explorer" however... *shudders* Yeah, that show creeps me out for some reason...

Lycanth · 12-04-2008, 03:11 AM

My kids watch Handy Manny, and I don't see the racism. The town he lives in is, like, 90% mexican anyway. Even the mayor of the town is mexican, so it's not like Manny is singled out in any way.

*Guitar_Raph* · 12-04-2008, 06:33 AM

At least the guy who voices Handy Manny is doing a mild role, after doing two hot adult shows.

He was the host of MTV's Your Momma as well as being Fez on That 70's Show.

*Anarky* · 12-04-2008, 07:00 AM

I suspect this cartoon has been made by Hitler himself.

*Kunoichi_Haruko* · 12-04-2008, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ra

If it were "Dora the Explorer" however... *shudders* Yeah, that show creeps me out for some reason...

It's her big head and big eyes-- they stare into your soul, Ra. They stare into your soul!

*Drtooth* · 12-04-2008, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KROW

Not much different than Bob the Builder from what I see. I think the fact he's Mexican is just so kids can get a head start on learning another language.

Yeah, not so much racist as much as boarderline copyright infringement (come on HIT entertainment... wise up. They're stealin' from you). And he's probably Hispanic/Latino only do be competitive with Dora. But then again, I never understood how shouting a word in 2 different languages slowly is teaching kids another language. It just teaches them to be those loud tourists that speak 2 words of the language of the county they're vacationing at and yell them at the help so they can understand.

That said, anyone ever see that McDonalds commercial where the 2 Chinese kids fight over a chicken nugget and do Kung Fu moves? Especially the ones with the Kung Fu Panda stuff taken off (ruining the context of the commercial)... now I find that racist for some reason. Especially since they eat a clear finger food with chopsticks.

**Jester** · 12-04-2008, 08:40 AM

I delegate my comment to Morgan Freeman. Mr. Freeman: (especially the last part....)

*Anarky* · 12-04-2008, 10:14 AM

Tadaaah, Morgan Freeman gets it. It's really not all that hard. As long as people talk about it, there will be racism.

I'll tell Hitler to stop making a cartoon, then.

*Ninjinister* · 12-04-2008, 11:39 AM

The only way I could have seen this as racist is if he were standing in front of a Home Depot awaiting his next meal ticket. For the love of God, people have jobs of all sorts. There are many Hispanics who have handyman jobs, as much as they do any other. That would be like telling all of the maintenance people in my apartment building that they should get different jobs because they perpetuate a stereotype.

EDIT: Anarky, your sig is pure win. Captain Gordon totally stole that movie.

*Spitfire* · 12-04-2008, 12:19 PM

If he was washing cars and mowing lawns then maybe I could see it being racist. You try to read into anything you could pull racism out of it.

Here's a free one
Shredder treats Baxter more harshly then everyone else because he's black.

Peanut · 12-04-2008, 12:57 PM

I find YOU racist!

/thread

*Mecha Cow* · 12-04-2008, 02:08 PM

If he were caucasian people'd complain that there aren't enough non-white cartoon characters. There's no racism here unless that's what you want to see.

And I do! Damn you Manny for taking my job!

**Jester** · 12-04-2008, 02:51 PM

Manny and his tools are just doing the jobs Americans won't do...

Man...that was freakin' racist.

*That Matt Guy* · 12-04-2008, 03:51 PM

I guess no one else saw the episode where he tied a bunch of inter tubes together and floated across the Rio Grande to avoid the border patrol, then took a 16 hour siesta.

*Drtooth* · 12-04-2008, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecha Cow

If he were caucasian people'd complain that there aren't enough non-white cartoon characters. There's no racism here unless that's what you want to see.

Exactly... you can't go wrong with cartoon animals... they just come off white. Except for Hong Kong Phooey-THE greatest African American superhero.

12-04-2008, 12:04 AM	#1
Wildcat Foot Elite Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: AZ Posts: 3,516	Anyone else find this cartoon racist? Its called "Handy Manny" and it airs on Playhouse Disney. Its been on for a few years but I just found out about it the other day, as I don't watch Playhouse Disney, while watching TV and a promo came on. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handy_Manny Its about a Mexican guy named Manny, and his job is fixing stuff around town which is an obvious stereotype that Mexicans always do oddjobs, house repairs and whatnot for money. Im not the kinda person that gets offended at stuff like this, be it jokes or comedy in TV & movies, its all in good fun...but its the fact that this is a real show and its for young children at that. Im Mexican, but thats not why it offended me. What offended me is the very fact that a show thats based on a cultural stereotype...whether its about African Americans, Native Americans, Asians ect..would even exist. Im surprised it was even considered to be produced. There is no way the creators or Disney can deny the obvious stereotype here. __________________ Nothing can survive the will to stay alive, cause if you try, you can do anything.

12-04-2008, 12:10 AM	#2
KROW Meat-n-Potatoes Man Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: State's Anus, NY Posts: 6,472	Not much different than Bob the Builder from what I see. I think the fact he's Mexican is just so kids can get a head start on learning another language. __________________ - Optimus Acid Trip - Cult of a Half-Shell - Raiden's Bitter Tongue - *I don't try to be funny; I fail at it naturally.*

12-04-2008, 12:44 AM	#4
Barkworm Draconian leftist ruler Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Germany Posts: 6,758	I don't see your point. He's not wearing a huge mustache and a poncho, is he? __________________ Make ****, not kill!

12-04-2008, 01:01 AM	#6
Ra It's my desire? Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: In your pants. Posts: 4,441	^^ ZING! ...na. Not racist in my eyes. Just a show about a guy doing his job. shrugs If it were "Dora the Explorer" however... shudders Yeah, that show creeps me out for some reason... __________________ "So. The whole lot of you against little old me? How retarded."

12-04-2008, 03:11 AM	#7
Lycanth Thug Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 78	My kids watch Handy Manny, and I don't see the racism. The town he lives in is, like, 90% mexican anyway. Even the mayor of the town is mexican, so it's not like Manny is singled out in any way. __________________ Forever Raphaels... Newly revamped! Looking for Leo! Also after Charles, Danny, Irma, Tatsu, Baxter, Bishop & Karai! :: My Facebook :: My Tumblr :: Site Tumblr ::

12-04-2008, 12:52 AM	#5
GK Punk I'm your Devil Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 12,439	I think you're reading way too much in to it. The only racist I see is Barkworm.

12-04-2008, 06:33 AM	#8
Guitar_Raph Superhero musician Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 2,191	At least the guy who voices Handy Manny is doing a mild role, after doing two hot adult shows. He was the host of MTV's Your Momma as well as being Fez on That 70's Show. __________________ Mikey drums with nunchucks!

12-04-2008, 07:00 AM	#9
Anarky Outlaw Hero Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Tannhauser Gate Posts: 4,867	I suspect this cartoon has been made by Hitler himself. __________________ Because it's... I dunno... brutal.

12-04-2008, 08:40 AM	#12
Jester Rat-faced Dude-guy Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Arkansas Posts: 26,301	I delegate my comment to Morgan Freeman. Mr. Freeman: (especially the last part....) __________________ "Clearly, you're Ninja Turtling incorrectly." - Leo656

12-04-2008, 10:14 AM	#13
Anarky Outlaw Hero Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Tannhauser Gate Posts: 4,867	Tadaaah, Morgan Freeman gets it. It's really not all that hard. As long as people talk about it, there will be racism. I'll tell Hitler to stop making a cartoon, then. __________________ Because it's... I dunno... brutal.

12-04-2008, 11:39 AM	#14
Ninjinister 無問題 Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Moesko Island, WA Posts: 14,348	The only way I could have seen this as racist is if he were standing in front of a Home Depot awaiting his next meal ticket. For the love of God, people have jobs of all sorts. There are many Hispanics who have handyman jobs, as much as they do any other. That would be like telling all of the maintenance people in my apartment building that they should get different jobs because they perpetuate a stereotype. EDIT: Anarky, your sig is pure win. Captain Gordon totally stole that movie. __________________

12-04-2008, 12:19 PM	#15
Spitfire Writer • Director Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 12,035	If he was washing cars and mowing lawns then maybe I could see it being racist. You try to read into anything you could pull racism out of it. Here's a free one Shredder treats Baxter more harshly then everyone else because he's black. __________________ Check out my online portfolio http://www.christopherpelletier.com/

12-04-2008, 12:57 PM	#16
Peanut Second Gear Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: The New World Posts: 15,422	I find YOU racist! /thread

12-04-2008, 02:08 PM	#17
Mecha Cow Gorgeous and modest too Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 3,699	If he were caucasian people'd complain that there aren't enough non-white cartoon characters. There's no racism here unless that's what you want to see. And I do! Damn you Manny for taking my job! __________________

12-04-2008, 02:51 PM	#18
Jester Rat-faced Dude-guy Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Arkansas Posts: 26,301	Manny and his tools are just doing the jobs Americans won't do... Man...that was freakin' racist. __________________ "Clearly, you're Ninja Turtling incorrectly." - Leo656

12-04-2008, 03:51 PM	#19
That Matt Guy Honey Bunches Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Lone Star State Posts: 5,840	I guess no one else saw the episode where he tied a bunch of inter tubes together and floated across the Rio Grande to avoid the border patrol, then took a 16 hour siesta.