The Legend of King Arthur - as told by Walt Disney, The Sword in the Stone

Sword in the Stone intro Book
note the three heraldic shields along the bottom

The Sword in the Stone 1963 was Walt Disney's take on the epic semi-legend of King Arthur. The story unfolds on the imaginative humble beginnings of King Arthur, as the unexpected ruler of England.

Flags of all shapes and sizes make an appearance in the movie. The movie makes extravagant use of heraldic designs, but during the supposed time period of King Arthur - heraldry was not yet an institution. Records trace its emergence some 700 years after the life of King Arthur. Nonetheless, Disney's effective and colourful use of heraldry enriches this fanciful tale about the Legend of King Arthur.

Boy King Arthur having just
pulled the sword from the stone

You can see a vexillum in the upper right hand corner. It is a cross shaped pole, the flag is a gonfalon coloured blue, black and two shades of pink. This type of flag was used by the Romans and is the origin of the term Vexillology.

During King Arthur's time the Roman Empire had abandoned the British Isles, but no doubt parts of Roman technology and culture would have remained.

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines Flags

John Connor rallying with troops

behind a tattered American Flag

A tattered US Flag waves defiantly in the beginning of Terminator 3 - Rise of the Machines 2003. Standing in front of the flag is John Connor, the key individual responsible for winning the war against the machines.

As it goes with time travel movies, in this alternate future Judgement Day still happens but by different means.

Notice two Confederate and POW MIA flag

The Confederate Flag and POW MIA flags also make an appearance in this movie when one of the Terminators seeks clothes at the bar. The flags hang along the wall and are folded. They are not flying in traditional flag pole fashion but rather as a decorative background for the walls.

Flag of Texas - hung upside down

The flag of Texas is in the background, along the wall, but it is hung upside down which is a common mistake.

A way to remember how to hang the flag of Texas - is to remember that Texas shed blood towards the south with Mexico to be independent, while North Carolina shed blood to the north with Canada for independence. The red bloody bar of Texas and North Carolina are in sync with the direction of spilling blood with 'normal' map positioning. Thus the red bar of Texas is on the bottom-south side towards Mexico while the red bar of North Carolina is on the top-north side towards Canada.

Space Balls Vexillology - the seal of Captain Lone Starr

The Roundel of Captain Lone Starr

Probably the best parody of the Star Wars franchise was Space Balls 1988, directed by Mel Brooks. Spaced nearly in between the original and the second generation of official Star Wars Movies, it was refreshing respite for Star Wars junkies.

The hero of the movie is Captain Lone Starr who travels the galaxy in an RV modified for space travel. On the passenger side door is the insignia of his ship. It features a North American Bald Eagle facing sinister. In the crest is the number five on a gold disc, up top it is written Eagle in all black capital letters. Below the eagle is a scroll that reads "CAPT LONE STARR." Finally along the bottom is another motto - "Hero for Hire."

Short Video of the Eagle 5 - Cosmic RV

Christmas Holiday Card of 2011 - Minnesota and Idaho

Holiday Spirit Glazed Minnesota Flag

Ho ho ho, ho?

This year Minnesota and Idaho were chosen as the flags of the season. They are states with similar points of view, just south of the border. Canadian Border that is.

The state flag of Minnesota has been altered a wee bit to be in season. It is a cold and calm winters night. The Native American is sitting down with a Norwegian-American for a warm cup of hot chocolate in front of camp fire. Their arms are laid across each other in peace. Instead of the state flower, the lady slipper, poinsisettas are arranged in the blue circle. Also the white ring of Minnesota is black with either tiny snow or stars shimmering in the background...in addition to the 19 larger yellow stars. The red banner no longer holds the state motto, rather the declaration of World Peace. Two peace doves are on the left and right sides, as a symbol of 'World Peace.'

Christmas Enchanted Flag of Idaho

The flag of Idaho has been 'North Polarized' with a traditional American Christmas theme. Coincidentally both flags feature the state seals and both originate from the hand of womankind. Emma Edwards Green designed the seal for Idaho and Amelia Hyde Center created the first flag for Minnesota.

The interesting coincidence is that both states are middle climates - globally speaking. Idaho and Minnesota are between the north pole and equator, cut at 45 degrees north. Thus they get a global full blast of winter and summer. Likewise many of the wild four legged critters change their coats from brown to white in the winter and vice-versa in the summer - examples being the snowshoe hare and various weasels.

Original Seal of Minnesota with Holiday Peace Greeting

Two classic all American Imaginary Characters can trace their roots to these states. One of America's most favorite childhood dogs - Snoopy! And that every so magical mouse - Mickey.

Charles Shultz was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota who later gave life to the Peanuts Gang. Shultz's animated holiday specials eventually became a rite of passage and ritual for many American children.

Original Seal of Idaho with Christmas Theme

Although Walt Disney is from Illinois the spirit of Mickey Mouse came from Idaho. After Walt drew up this magical little mouse of charm, he called it Mortimer Mouse. But his wife Lillian - originally from Idaho - chose the name Mickey. Chances are if Lillian didn't speak her mind, Mortimer Mouse would not have become famous. Thus Lillian Disney was in a sense a creator of Mickey Mouse.


So, ho ho ho and a Merry Christmas to all!

Flags from the movie UP - 2009, by Disney

The movie Up 2009 is the story about an elderly gentleman - Carl Fredricksen - who decided to live his dream to visit Angel Falls in South America. The extraordinary point about his voyage is that he flies to Venezuela with helium air balloons attached to his house. Things seems to be working well, but a young boy - Russel - has accidentally come along while standing on his porch. The boy belongs to a boy scout like organization called the Wilderness Explorers. While standing at the man's doorway the boy can be seen with a flag of the organization. The colours of the organization are primarily orange. The logo consists of a yellow letter 'W' on top of pine tree. The bark of the pine tree is shaped like the letter 'E,' this is reference to Wilderness Explorers. Finally the Tree with the letters W and E are on an orange disc. Several items on Russels backpack carry the logo of stylized tree logo of the Wilderness Explorers.

Carl goes to court in Ohio
The Ohio State flag is on the right

After trying to protect his beloved mailbox painted by his deceased wife, Carl assaults a construction worker with his tennis ball cane, and has to go to court. To the left of the judge is the American flag and on the right is the Ohio State flag.

A journey across the continents from Ohio to Venezuela by a bunch of helium balloons is possible, yet would require a lot of balloons, many more than suggested in the movie.




In the ending scrap book credits, Carl can be seen holding a Wilderness Explorer flag.

Flags of Our Darkest Night - Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan

Flag of Nazi Germany
sublime white moon like symbol

The flags of the Third Holy Roman Empire and Imperial Japan are united with a similar element of nation and ego. They are inflammatory symbols that carry the tone of a vulgar hand gesture or curse word.

These flags carry a heavy karmic weight like rape, war, suicide, and death. Regardless of the negative associations, they are flags beyond America and of a wicked kind of freedom. They bite like a dagger straight through the heart. Only faith and hope can contain these egos.

In the forgotten tragedy of the supposed war to end all wars, the seeds of hate and national-racial egoism provided the devastating climate for their bloom. Their roots and stems were covered in thorns of suffering and pain, for their people and more so for the enemy of state. Woe to their enemies, yet even more woe to those who fell under their spell.

A Flag of Imperial Japan
obvious Sun like design

They are a union of the yellow shark and flying white cobra, magnificent predators who make no friends. We live in the afterglow of their rise and fall. They are a reflection of our ignorant self and illustrate the folly of vengeance. Forgiveness and faith are their only antidote.


To blame and judge is easy to do, rather it better to air out our dirty laundry so we can clean it?

always remember that music and film are powerful propaganda