What Cartoon Elephants Teach Us!

So I was thinking the other day about beloved children's character, Babar. Who created that lovable elephant with the green suit and a crown? I found out another story:

Just kiddin'. Babar ain't no nazi.

I did a little bit of research. Essentially, the original story came out of France in the 1930's. It told of an Elephant named Babar in the jungle who ventured to the big French city, and learned that their culture was superior and more civilized than his own. He learns to dress like the people there, and adopts their ways. Good for Babar, and his elephant wife, Celeste. Did mention that Celeste is his 3rd cousin? Well. There you have it.

But it didn't stop there. The kind Babar took it upon himself to go back to his jungle home and teach the savage beasts there the civilized ways of France. As reward, he and his wife became King and Queen of Celesteville, the seat of power of the Elephant kingdom. All of the other elephants follow suit (quite literally) and pick up western custom and culture. No elections are held.

So my google-based research stopped there. Where is Babar today? I located both Babar and his wife, living in exile, in Paris, France. They declined interview, but I was able to locate this still frame from their exit out of Celesteville.



Babar and Celeste are seen leaving their adoring subjects behind as they float away in their trademark yellow balloon. After ravaging their nation of all of its natural resources for the benefit of the civilizing nation, they had no need to stay. Ethnic violence flares up after favor was given to Elephants over other local creatures, and the power vacuum left after the collapse was filled with various corrupt groups.

BABAR: About time we got out of this god-damned city
CELESTE: Did you remember to liquidate the finances into our account?
BABAR: Of course. Let's loan it back to them in a few years.

Sadly, I have (very briefly) just summed up the evils of colonialism with the help of a cartoon elephant.

The picture used is actually in present day Algeria, where post-colonial violence is still a huge problem.

Its weird realizing what we grow up with isn't always as harmless and innocent as we think it is. Perhaps Rescue Rangers is just a reflection of regime change/world policing?