Has Hollywood animation truly left racism behind?

When picking the most pioneering films of the 1990s, Space Jam might not seem the most obvious contender. Zany and high-concept, the 1996 Warner Bros movie was an extension of a 1992 Super Bowl Nike commercial, in which Jordan had starred alongside Bugs Bunny. With the help of the full gang of Looney Tunes cartoon characters, it creates an alternative reality, imagining what Jordan might have done between his retirement from the NBA in 1993 and his incredible comeback two years later – that is, help Bugs and Co win a basketball game against some evil aliens in order to secure their freedom. Featuring a mixture of animation and live action from actors, including Jordan, Bill Murray and Seinfeld's Wayne Knight, it was joyfully absurd and designed to make the mind boggle.