Talk:Bolt (Disney character)

Extending plot/background

The background section doesn't cover the movie's entire plot. However, the article is pretty long as it is so extending it might not be a good idea, either. Does anyone know whether there is some kind of limit to how long an article about a fictional dog should be?

--Carlminez (talk) 23:09, 9 April 2011 (UTC)

I don't know either if there's a limit, but I also think the article is really long, especially considering the character appears only in one film and its related video game. Take as example other Disney animated film characters who have made numerous appearances such as Beast (Disney character), Ariel (The Little Mermaid), Maleficent, Simba, Jiminy Cricket, etc. All of them have sections about development, characterization, and even appearances in other media, and have shorter articles. Besides, Bolt is by no means as notable as all of them. --LoЯd ۞pεth 19:14, 11 April 2011 (UTC)

That really depends on who you ask. Bolt has had a pretty remarkable impact in some internet communities. It's just something that is hard to measure and prove with sources, and therefore, is not mentioned in the article. --Carlminez (talk) 20:57, 11 April 2011 (UTC)

Section about messages and themes?

Perhaps we should add a section about the many themes and messages relevant to Bolt's character. His adventure sorta embodies a lot of society criticism when it comes to media and the entertainment industry. Bolt himself offers some universal messages about the importance of identity and his  archetype can be compared to several literary figures. I've also read a lot about supposed messages regarding homosexuality on several different forums, that Bolt and his journey towards self-realisation apparently represents. 

Perhaps we could add a brief section about these different messages and themes in the movie. I think it could be interesting.

--Sacramento89 (talk) 12:45, 26 April 2011 (UTC)

Unless the themes and messages in question aren't directly exclusive to Bolt or his personality, this section would probably fit better in the main article about the movie. Also, if the different themes are controversial you'd better have proper sources to show that it's actually relevant to the movie. But I'm not sure what kind of sources you use to prove that something is being discussed on different forums. Sources to forum threads are probably not suitable for Wikipedia articles.--Carlminez (talk) 22:10, 28 April 2011 (UTC)

Complete removal of background section

I'm thinking about removing the background section and will go ahead and do that unless anyone has any objections, seeing as it doesn't provide that much necessary information and the article is already too long. --Carlminez (talk) 23:25, 2 June 2011 (UTC)

Reverting merge proposal

The merge proposal was added more than three months ago with no motivation given, and if nobody objects, I propose we revert it. I see no reasons for merging; there is no duplicate or overlap of information, and the Bolt(character) already works as an extensive stand-alone article.

I think trying to merge the two articles wouldn’t really benefit the coverage of this Disney movie. It would be a mostly needless, problematic process and would only result in the movie article becoming more long and chunky. I think both articles work fine the way they are.

--C. Manes (talk) 17:14, 8 January 2014 (UTC)

Breed Info

Bolt is referred to as a white shepherd although the major kennel club AKC disagrees. The white color is caused by a recessive gene and has been around since the start of the breed in the 1890s. There are many possible color patterns for German Shepherd Dogs such as liver, black, sable, white etc and a coat color does not designate a new breed. The correct term should be white german shepherd dog. In the 1990s, a Swiss dog club obtained breeding rights for whit GSDs and this eventually became incorporated and obtained a new breed status with the FCI and is now known as Berger Blanc Suisse or White Swiss Shepherds.

The cause of all the confusion is for AKC show standards, the white coloring is a fault only for showmanship. Two things happened, breeders were discouraged from breeding white with white (recessive x recessive) and people with white colored GSDs started forming their own clubs in order to compete at showmanship. Eventually these breeders and clubs started applying for separate breed status which was granted by the UKC in the 1990s and the FCI for the Swiss program.

The same way a black lab is not a separate breed as a yellow lab the same logic applies. In practice if you crossed a "white american shepherd" with a black/tan german shepherd, the puppies would be mixed and include the traditional black and tan coloring.

I changed the instances dog breed to white German Shepherd Dog in accordance with AKC's views on the subject and also similar cases where a different coat color does not demand a new breed. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 50.89.247.214 (talk) 15:49, 6 July 2014 (UTC)

I approve of this change although I think your comment highlights another issue, namely that the article is written with the presumption that Bolt is a white GSD while there is absolutely nothing in the movie, other than his appearance, to suggest he is in fact a GSD. I have no idea where this assumption comes but it is not fact-based and seems to be a community artifact and therefore not appropriate for a Wikipedia article. --Manes (talk) 14:14, 28 October 2014 (UTC)

Removing notability tag

The notability tag has been hanging there for a year now and I still don't know what warrants it nor seen any motivation as to why it was added. The article as plenty of secondary sources. Unless anyone objects, I'll investigate the general notability guidelines and remove the tag if I don't find any reason why it should be there given said guidelines.