Walt Disney and World War II
Cartoons
How media and communications have
affected our history
Cartoons weren’t only for kids…
• During this time, film studios used animated
characters to spread propaganda and educate
Americans about their enemies
– Two-thirds of Americans went to the movies every week -and they loved the Disney characters.
• During WWII, many studios, including Disney, were
contracted by the US armed forces to produce
training films, documentaries, propaganda and
morale-boosting films
*There was a monetary aspect as well…Disney was close to bankruptcy
The beginnings… (not in your notes)
• Representatives of the US military went to Disney
in December 1941, right around the time that the
Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.
– The Army wanted to transform part of the studios into
defensive fortifications that would be used to help
protect a nearby airplane factory against air raids.
– Plus then the Navy commissioned animated films to be
used to train its sailors.
• In May 1942 - "Donald Gets Drafted."
Donald does his patriotic duty when he receives
his draft notice and enlists in the army.
However if you watch - anti-military sentiment
Why?
Carl Barks, one of the
writers of the film.
- was a pacifist who was
against America's
involvement in the war.
The film is meant to draw a sharp distinction
between the glamorous life presented in the
posters outside the draft board compared to
"When I saw how little we accomplished with
the reality Donald faces inside.
World War I, I thought, why in the devil kill off
Ex: when Donald is at basic training, Barks
another whole generation of young men to
pokes fun at military discipline, and even gives
accomplish the same result?" ~Berks
the sergeant a punishment of sorts by getting
shot.
In Donald Gets Drafted Barks ridicules military
This played well with audiences who were
recruitment, in particular its deceptive
resentful of military strictness as America was
propaganda.
mobilizing itself for war.
More contracts followed
• Then cartoon called "The Spirit of '43"
• This movie was commissioned by US Secretary of the
Treasury (Barks did not write it)
– Donald showed Americans why it was important to save money
-- so that they could pay their taxes fully and on time.
– WHY? During the war, taxes were “high,” so that the
government could produce the things needed to wage the war
• Americans contributions were urgently needed for the war because
"taxes will keep democracy on the march" and "every dollar you
spend for something you don't need is a dollar spent to help the
Axis."
• Was seen by 26 million Americans, and more than a third of
them later admitted they began saving for their taxes partly
thanks to Donald.
In addition to films, starting in 1942…
Mosquito
riding a
torpedo for
the Navy's
new torpedo
boats
• Walt Disney's artists
designed insignia for
American troop units.
A crow from "Dumbo" for bombing squadrons
A turtle with a broom for minesweepers
• Likewise, many soldiers and airmen decorated
their tanks and fighters themselves with
Mickeys, Donalds and Plutos.
• These were symbols of the American way of
life, of freedom and democracy, of everything
that was at stake.
• "Mickey Mouse" is even said to have been a
password used by the Allied forces on D-Day.
Fact:
During World War II,
Disney cartoons were
not allowed to be
imported into
Occupied Europe
(propagandistic
content)
Other propaganda
posters to support
the war effort and to
“keep awake” for the
enemy
Disney….
• Produced nearly 68 hours of film during the
war years, nearly all for the war propaganda
effort for various military departments.
• Devoted 90% of their staff to the following
war films
First One…
• The first is Education for Death, subtitled
as “The Making of a Nazi.”
– based on a book that chronicles a young boy’s
development in Nazi Germany, from young
innocent child to a cold, unfeeling Nazi ready to
give his life for his Fuhrer (Hitler).
– It is an interesting the way emotion–and especially
family emotion – was used to stir up anti-Nazi
sentiment.
Second One…
• The second is a more humorous piece titled
Der Fuhrer’s Face. (January 1, 1943)
– It follows Donald Duck through a nightmare in
which he imagines himself in Nazi Germany
working in a defense plant. His entire routine is
watched and monitored by a ridiculous band of
Nazis singing the title theme song
– This is propaganda as absurdity–the use of
exaggeration and satire to make the enemy seem
as ridiculous as possible.
Answer the Discussion Questions