The Adventures of Milo and Otis

The moral implications of utilizing animal actors in cinema. By: Helen Day

The Adventures of Milo and Otis

Ethical considerations of employing animal actors in the film industry.

Ethical Considerations Regarding Animal Actors

The Film

The Adventures of Milo and Otis was released in 1986 and portrays the tale of a pug and a cat who were separated from each other, and each had to conquer a journey filled with dangerous obstacles until they finally reunited. This Japanese film is directed and written by Masanori Hata in addition to writer Mark Saltzman. The film consists of only animal actors of many species.

• Animal Welfare
• Stress and Risk
• Consent and Choice
• Regulations and Standards

Animal Cruelty Allegations

Scenes of Animal Abuse in the Film

• Milo and waterfall

• Otis fights bear

• Milo attacked by seagulls

• Milo falling off cliff

• Animals were put into dangerous situations.
• Over 20 kittens were killed during production.
• A kitten was intentionally harmed so it would have a limp.

The Adventures of Milo and Otis

Ethical considerations of employing animal actors in the film industry.

The American Humane Association

Animal Protection Laws

There are no laws protecting animal actors in the film industry. The federal Animal Welfare Act and the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) in addition to state cruelty laws indirectly apply to animal actors The American Humane Association has only established guidelines to protect animal actors.

The American Humane Association is a nonprofit organization in the United States dedicated to the protection of animals and the promotion of their well-being. It was founded in 1877 and is one of the oldest and largest animal welfare organizations in the country.

Looking Forward

No Animals Were Harmed

• Strict rules for using animal actors
• Stronger regulation and enforcement of rules
• Transparency
• Computer generated animals

The phrase “No Animals Were Harmed” made audiences feel at ease but this disclaimer speaks for animals that cannot speak for themselves or defend their rights" (Artiquez 24).

Ethical Considerations Defined

• Animal Welfare: Ensuring the physical and emotional well-being of animals used in entertainment.
• Inherent Stress and Risk: Understanding that animals may experience stress and risk in a performance environment. Minimizing the risk of harm.
• Consent and Choice: Recognizing that animals cannot provide informed consent to participate in performances. Ensuring that their participation is not coerced or forced.

• Regulations and Standards: Complying with local and national regulations governing the use of animals in entertainment.

Milo in floating box

Milo jumps into a wooden box and floats down a windy river with currents, debris and a waterfall. The cat is obviously afraid and distressed because his ears are tilted back, you can hear him meowing and he is tense. Watch the video clip starting at 3:57 and stopping at 5:20.

Otis Fights Bear

In an attempt to save Milo, Otis jumps into the river to distract the bear.In this heroic act, Otis is struggling to swim and is being swiped at and pushed underwater by the bear. Watch the video clip starting at 2:48 and stopping at 3:41.

Milo attacked by seagulls

Milo is brutally swarmed and pecked at by seagulls. His body language is crouched. He his hissing and his ears are tilted backwards. He has no way to defend himself because he is in the open. Watch the video clip starting at 0:00 and stopping at 0:30.

“... animals are so powerless that they should be treated ethically” (Creed 2)

Creed, Barbara. "Animal Deaths on Screen: Film & Ethics." Relations. Beyond Anthropocentrism 2.1 (2014).

Milo falling off cliff

When left with no other option other than being attacked by seagulls, Milo is thrown off of a tall cliff into the rough and rocky ocean below. This is a very high fall for a cat into a stressful situation as cats do not like to be wet. You can visibly see the cat struggling when it hits the water to swim. Watch the video clip starting at 0:30 and stopping at 1:30.

Animal Holocaust in Film

Artiquez describes allegations of animal cruelty seen in The Adventures of Milo and Otis, including claims of breaking a kitten's foot to make it appear unsteady, the death of twenty kittens used in a scene of Milo jumping off a cliff, and severe injury to a pug during a fight with a bear. Despite investigations, no evidence was found to support these allegations, and the production team denied endangering the animals. Some scenes were omitted from the final cut due to their violent or aggressive nature, but the scenes that remained showcased the exploitation and abuse of the animal actors.

The Valididty of the Disclaimer

• The AHA, responsible for the "No Animals Were Harmed" disclaimer, faces criticism for downplaying animal injuries and deaths during production.
• Notable Incident: a near-drowning Bengal tiger in Life of Pi
• The AHA is criticized for being financially tied to the industry it monitors, causing a potential conflict of interest.

Looking Forward

How can we ensure animal actors are treated ethically?

• Strict rules for using animal actors: The industry should adopt and adhere to comprehensive guidelines for the treatment of animals on film sets. The American Humane Association guidelines can serve as an example but they must be improved.
• Stronger regulation and enforcement of rules: Governments should have and enforce strict regulations and oversight for the use of animals in film and television productions. This includes regular inspections of animal handlers and the conditions in which animals are kept and used on set.
• Transparency: Filmmakers should disclose how animals were treated and any instances of animal use in their work. Audiences should be informed about the treatment of animals in the films they watch.
• Computer generated animals: Whenever possible, filmmakers should consider using computer-generated imagery (CGI) and animatronics to create realistic animal scenes, reducing the need for live animals on set. The Lion King (2019) is an excellent example.

Can you tell that these are CGI animals?

No Animals Were Harmed

• "No animals were harmed" disclaimer in media assures no physical harm to animals during production.
• Certified by organizations like American Humane Association (AHA) to monitor animal welfare on set.
• Signifies adherence to specific guidelines, proper care, and safe conditions for animals.
• Indicates a commitment to ethical animal treatment, but doesn't guarantee stress-free or controversy-free conditions.

Animal Holocaust in Film Written by: Belen Artiquez

Artiquez in her 71-page research paper describes the establishment of animal rights organizations and whether or not it has improved the lives of animal actors. Artiquez writes, “The finding of this thesis suggests that the first years of cinema portray the often unsympathetic behavior towards animal actors as without animal abuse laws in place filmmakers were free to do whatever they deemed necessary, and this resulted in the deaths of many animals for the purpose of action scenes and experimentation” (7). Specifically, she pulls examples from The Adventures of Milo and Otis.

My Favorite Movie

As a child, my favorite movie was The Adventures of Milo and Otis. I have loved animals my whole life and the story of friendship between the dog and the cat was remarkable in this film. Considering my passion for animals today, I was intrigued to learn about the treatment of animal actors in the film industry and was heartbroken to learn about the animal abuse allegations this film received. Upon rewatch, the animal abuse seemed very obvious as I noted 17 scenes in which the animals were not treated ethically. Join me as I talk about the moral implications of utilizing animal actors in cinema.