The Ducktators

More a historical source than an animation itself, it gives the spirit of a period, reminds "Animal Farm" and propose a short lesson about democracy. All more than precise and amusing. The good thing - it remains a warning. In same measure, not ignoring the year of apparition, it reflects the entire effort of Allies in the WWII. So, a nice short propaganda film, in Looney Tunes tradition.

In one of the many WWII-themed Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies cartoons, Hitler, Mussolini and Hirohito are portrayed as ducks taking over a barnyard. One thing that I noticed that the cartoon does is show a sign apologizing to the good ducks and geese about the potentially offensive material. And then they follow it with the Hirohito duck (with giant teeth and slits for eyes). That's wartime for ya.

As can be expected, the Hitler duck is a raving lunatic (his mama done told him), while the Mussolini duck - or goose - is a tub of lard. Given how the cartoon explains that some of the farm animals fell for the Fuhrer's game, we might interpret that as an explanation of how people fall for what these despots propose: they do what they're told.

All in all, a pretty funny cartoon. That looked like Daffy as the Southern German duck.

Often, in movie theaters, the lead in features were related to news events. Newsreels kept people informed as to what was going on in war (though sadly dated because of time constraints and distribution). These cartoons offered a broader brush. Here, a duck is born from a black egg and rises with a swastika arm band and a famous mustache. Soon the barnyard is being recruited by this figure plus one that looks like Mussolini and another being Hirohito. So what transpires is that peace efforts fail and soon the peaceful must rise to the occasion. This is well done and I am sure bolstered some people's hopefulness.

We begin with the apprehensive Mr and Mrs Duck awaiting a birth. Out of the shell pops the world's first Nazi! Time flies and soon our newborn is daubing the place with swastikas and speechifying about taking over Europe and the World! He's soon joined by a dumb Italian goose who speaks in a dialogue of ice cream flavours and even the weather cock learns the salute! The dove of peace despairs, the treaty is soon confetti and the arrival of the third party to make a "silly axis" of himself completes the triumvirate of joke-worthy characters. The humour is sparse here and though we must remember it was made in 1942 as the USA was coming to terms with it's full engagement in WWII, a little more sophistication and less stereotyping might have made for a more entertaining and better standard of stand-up. We're socking it to them, though...

This cartoon from 1942 is a cute way to discuss the evil menace of the Axis Powers. Hitler, Mussolini and a Japanese duck run amok in the farm yard spreading lies and bullying the other animals. Finally, the others who only wanted peace have had enough and proceed to whip the annoying three. This is a wonderful positive propaganda piece that was designed to solidify everyone behind the war effort and poke fun at the Fascists. While occasionally the cartoon lags and there is a joke about Black Southern ducks that might offend some, the cartoon is overall very well made and effective--possessing the usual high production values in Looney Toons cartoons.

FYI--Although the Hitler duck was said to have been a "paper hanger", this is a common mistaken belief about Hitler. There is no evidence that he ever made a living wallpapering.