The Ducktators

This is one of the best propaganda cartoons made during WWII. This cartoon tells the story of how World War II began, but the world is a barnyard and the Axis powers are all ducks while the Allies are represented by "the Bird of Peace." Some of the gags are dated (mostly the Japanese jokes) and without at least some knowledge of pre-WWII events, some of them might slip by you. If you ever get to see this great cartoon consider yourself very lucky!

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...

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.

World War II cartoon spoofing Adolf Hitler and his companions. One day, a duck is born in an animal town, and when it comes out of the egg it immediately resembles Hitler, mustache and all. His first words: Sieg Heil!

Also introduced is Mussolini as a gullible goose before the film turns a bit more serious with a peace dove wondering what has happened to his town ('have they forgot it's love that's bright, and not is gained by show of might'). I love it when 'Hitler' uses the shredder on 'sacred pledges'; the 'treaty tearer upper'. It reminds me of Seinfeld language :)

The peace dove can't take it no more in the end and decides to kick some German, Italian and Japanese butt. The ending is somewhat abrupt and the film sometimes a bit lame ('we wish to apologize to the nice ducks and geese in the audience') but overall a pretty good cartoon. Interesting to watch as a time piece: 7/10.

If you can find this one, see it. It a classic example of WWII propaganda. Most of what Norm McCabe did (Tokio Jokio, Nutzy Spy) fell into that category. But it was clear they were having a good time making this one. Did anyone notice "Figaro" playing in the background when they showed the Mussolini goose? Or the Japanese duck calling himself crazy? Or when the big fight begins at the end, the voice yelling "Give 'em one for Pearl Harbor?" The "Gestinko Gestapo?" The treaty tearer-upper? Vintage stuff. All we need to do is remind people that this was propaganda at the time and they shouldn't take it seriously anymore. My wife is Japanese and she even laughed. Bring this one back.