World War II changed the possibilities for animation. Prior to the war, animation was mostly seen as a form of family entertainment. The attack on Pearl Harbor was a turning point in its utility. On December 8, 1941, the United States Army began working with Walt Disney at his studio, stationing military personnel there for the duration of the war.Buena Vista Home Entertainment in association with David A. Bossert and Kurtti Pellerin and Leonard Maltin, In an Interview with John Hench, 2004, DVD The Army and Disney set about making various types of films for several different audiences. Most films meant for the public included some type of propaganda, while films for the troops included training and education about a given topic.
Films intended for the public were often meant to build morale. They allowed Americans to release their anger and frustration through ridicule and crude humor. Many films simply reflected the war culture and were pure entertainment. Others carried strong messages meant to arouse public involvement or set a public mood.
Animation supporting the war effort War bonds perhaps received the most advertising and press. Animated cartoons allowed the government to spread their message in a much more entertaining manner. Bugs Bunny Bond Rally is a classic cartoon depicting Bugs Bunny singing and dancing about war bonds. The film was given to Henry Morgenthau of the U.S. Treasury Department on Monday, December 15, 1941.Warner Bros. and U.S. Treasury Dept., Robert Clampett, "Bugs Bunny Bond Rally", 1943, Film It was during such World War II films that Bugs achieved his popularity and made him a national mascot.Thomas R. Reich, Cartoon Crazys: Goes to War, Fox Lorber Associates, Inc., 1998, DVD Other films that encouraged buying war bonds included Foney Fables, Donald’s Decision,National Film Board of Canada, Walt Disney Productions, Donald's Decision, 1942, Film The Thrifty Pig,Walt Disney Productions, The Thrifty Pig, 1941, Film 7 Wise DwarfsWalt Disney Productions, 7 Wise Dwarfs, 1941, Film and All Together.National Film Board of Canada, Walt Disney Productions, All Together, 1942, Film In these short films, either subtly or directly, the characters are portrayed doing their part by spending less and using their savings to buy war savings certificates and investing in victory.
Donating scrap metal was another means by which Americans could help support the war effort. Scrap Happy Daffy was a short film that encouraged such patriotic acts. Daffy defends his scrap yard against a metal-eating Nazi goat sent by an irate Adolf Hitler. The cartoon asks citizens to donate to the war effort by listing items which can be given to scrap yards around the country. It also educates citizens about Hitler's spies and spoilers who try to hinder such war efforts.Frank Tashlin, Looney Tunes through Warner Bros.,Scrap Happy Daffy, 1943, Film Other films pleading for scrap metal include Ding Dong DaddyI. Freleng, Merrie Melodies through Warner Bros., Ding Dong Daddy, 1943, Film and Foney Fables.Merrie Melodies through Warner Bros., I. Freleng, Foney Fables, 1942, Film Pluto and Minnie Mouse contributed to the war effort by encouraging civilians to recycle their cooking grease so it could be used for making explosives in Out of the Frying Pan Into the Firing Line.Ben Sharpsteen, Walt Disney Productions, War Production Board, Out of the Frying Pan Into the Firing Line, 1942, Film
The government also used animation studios like Walt Disney to encourage people to pay their taxes promptly. In the New Spirit, Donald Duck listens attentively to the radio as it tells him about the importance of paying his income taxes. It details how to fill out a new tax form for households making less than $3,000.00.U.S. Department of the Treasury, Walt Disney Production, New Spirit, 1942, Film In Spirit of ’43 Donald is caught in a conundrum to either spend his money in frivolous pursuits, which aids the Axis, or save his money so he can pay his taxes and support the war effort. In both of these films, paying taxes is described as a right and a privilege and should be done gladly and proudly for the war effort. "Taxes run the factories which make the war supplies" according to the narrator in the cartoon. Spirit of ’43 blames Hitler and Hirohito for the high taxes.Walt Disney Productions, Spirit of '43, 1943, Film
The Disney team was also commissioned by the government’s agricultural division to make a short film about food in America. The film highlighted the importance of the American farmer and alleviated fears about food supplies by giving detailed numbers on America's considerable agricultural production. The films created to support this effort included Food Will Win the WarHamilton Luske, Walt Disney Productions, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Will Win the War, 1942, Film and The Grain that Built a Hemisphere.Walt Disney Productions, The Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs, 1943, Film Characters in Foney Fables ridiculed characters who stockpiled food. A Tale of Two Kitties,Robert Clampett, Warner Bros. Pictures, Leon Schlesinger Studios, A Tale of Two Kitties, 1942, Film encouraged civilians to grow their own food in victory gardens so there would be food for troops.
Training and instructional animation Animation was co-opted in the 1940s for training purposes. Disney produced Four Methods of Flush Riveting for Lockheed Martin's engineers.James Algar, Walt Disney Industrial Training Film, Four Methods of Flush Riveting, 1942, Film The Army Air Force, Navy, and Bureau of Aeronautics also commissioned and supervised films. Animations were written to train pilots and ground crewmen about The Occluded Fronts,The Occluded Fronts, Bureau of Aeronautics, Walt Disney Productions, United States Navy Training Film, 1943 Thunderstorms,Bureau of Aeronautics, Walt Disney Productions, United States Navy Training Film, 1943 and The Warm Front. Because of the sensitive content displayed in Aircraft Wood Repair, the word “RESTRICTED” was the first word displayed in the film which discussed the type of glue used for wooden aircraft.Bureau of Aeronautics, Walt Disney Productions, United States Navy Training Film,Aircraft Wood Repair, 1943, Film Other films made to help train pilots included Theory of the C-1 AUTOPILOT: Part One Basic Principles which introduced pilots to the autopilot function which was new to aircraft at the time.Minneapolis-Honeywell Regulator Co., U.S. Army Air Forces, Walt Disney Pictures, Theory of the C-1 AUTOPILOT: Part One Basic Principles, 1943, Film Wings Engines Fuselage Tail was a short film that taught servicemen how to best identify aircraft quickly.The Bureau of Aeronautics, Walt Disney Productions,Wings Engines Fuselage Tail, 1942, Film The Navy did a similar film called The 3-Point System which trained servicemen how to identify U.S. cruisers.The Bureau of Aeronautics, Walt Disney Productions,The 3-Point System, 1942, Film Rules of the Nautical Road was a naval training film geared towards officers that recreated a historical catastrophe, which was meant to encourage officers to study nautical rules and principles.The Bureau of Aeronautics, Walt Disney Productions,Rules of the Nautical Road, 1942, Film
The most elaborate training film, Disney's Stop That Tank!, was commissioned by the Canadian Directorate of Military Training.Walt Disney Productions, Canadian Department of National Defence, National Film Board of Canada, Stop That Tank!, 1942, Film This 21-minute full-color cartoon was intended for Canadian infantrymen assigned the Boys anti-tank rifle. The first few minutes of the cartoon depict Hitler and his tanks being defeated by the Allies using the new rifle. The film continues in a largely more serious vein, showing how the weapon is to be used and cleaned.
The regular G.I. was also a target of animation and many films directed toward him explicitly instructed him on how to behave. Those in the Army and Marine Corps were familiar with the names Private Snafu and Lance Corporal Schmuckatelli. These fictional characters gave soldiers safety briefs. One film titled SnafupermanI. Freleng, U.S. Army Signal Corps, Animation by Warner Staff, Snafuperman, 1944, Film depicts a G.I., Private Snafu, who disdains studying and reading. He is given special powers but uses them to the almost detriment of the United States because he did not study and know the difference between his own side and the enemy. At the conclusion of the film, he recognizes the need for an education. The appropriately titled film Booby TrapsRobert Clampett, U.S. Army Signal Corps, Warner Staff, Booby Traps, 1944, Film uses Private Snafu to show the dangers and the caution needed to be taken in the case of such malicious devices. Spies once again portrays Private Snafu acting counter to what he has been told.I. Freleng, U.S. Army Signal Corps, Animation by Warner Staff, Spies, 1944, Film The intoxicated G.I. gives secrets to a woman who is really a Nazi spy. Through the information he gives her, the Germans are able to bomb the ship Private Snafu is traveling on, sending him to hell.
Political animation Animation was used for political campaigning. The United States Auto Workers commissioned Warner Brothers to produce Hell-Bent for Election, which supported Franklin Delano Roosevelt's presidential bid.Chuck Jones, United Auto Workers, United Productions of America (UPA), Hell Bent for Elections, 1944, Film The film was “so pertinent and even Socialist in nature, that theaters never showed this piece” though it was shown to its own members at meetings and rallies.