Reason and Emotion

This is one of Disney's best. But as with a handful of other shorts, this one is heavily edited by a Disney Co. skittish about negative images relating to World War II. It should be seen in it's entirety. The editing doesn't do a marvelous short justice. Well worth the trouble to find. Most highly recommended.

This short features two parts of the human mind: reason and emotion (hence the title of the short). Reason, who is depicted as an egghead nerd, urges us to think and "reason" something before we actually do it. Emotion, who is depicted as a caveman, urges us to act as we feel. One part I enjoy is where Reason and Emotion are shown in both the man and the woman. Emotion urges the man to walk up to the woman and say/do what he feels like to her. Reason tells Emotion to "retain respect for womanhood." The man listens to Emotion and the consequence is a slap in the face. The woman's version of Reason and Emotion are both females. Emotion wants some high-calorie foods whereas Reason settles for something light like tea and toast. The result for listening to Emotion is a large figure. This is one of those wartime cartoons as it shows Reason and Emotion in a Nazi's mind. Emotion states that Hitler did not want war, but he was only forced into it whereas Reason states that Hitler is a liar.

I remember seeing this short when I was young on "Walt Disney Presents." That version has all WWII references censored, which ruins much of the interest of the cartoon.

As the title of my review of this reads and suggests, this is just the point that explains it. This is one of my favorite animated shorts of not only Disney and wartime (even though there's only a slight wartime reference in it all all), but of the golden era of animation and in general. A vivid exemplification and manifestation of what can happen when one jumps to conclusions and lets the worst thing get the best of him/her, in the form of two tiny people inside one's mind who control it. Sentiment must never dominate sensibility and they both must work in conjunction and equally in order to lessen the problems, predicaments, and troubles that may arise later. That's the message of why the rationalism half is so important. Concerning the aforementioned one dominating the other, this can be applied to the male Reason and Emotion in the mind of a listener in the audience at Hitler's speech. Basically, one should never let the worst circumstances get the best of him or her. Then, there's also resisting the temptation of overindulging, as in the case of the female counterparts of Reason and Emotion, who occupied the mind of a lady who gained weight feasting too much in a diner, thanks to the female Emotion's ineluctable appetite. These lessons are not only very useful in preparing for combat, but also in everyday life. Anyway, this is both a fun and interesting cartoon, and I enjoyed it very much, very well done and accomplished in explaining how those parts of mentality can either work with or against you, especially without wisdom. Love the concept.

Despite not being a fan of this type of cartoon/short film, having found many of them to be too preachy and dull regardless of often looking good, 'Reason and Emotion' was still seen anyway for three reasons. One because of being a huge lifelong fan of animation. Two because of loving Disney since the age of 2 (nearly 30 years). Three because of the actual idea, very interesting to see a more psychological propaganda cartoon which was different and refreshing.

'Reason and Emotion' is not an animated classic and Disney did do better cartoons during this time as well as before and since. Subject matter-wise, 'Reason and Emotion' is one of their most interesting cartoons made at this particularly turbulent time and in a couple of instances quite bold. It managed to be very good, doing almost everything right in fact, and as far as Disney's propaganda shorts made at this time, this is one of the better faring ones.

There is not an awful lot wrong with 'Reason and Emotion'. It does have a change of tone partway through, with darker second half, and the change was a bit too abrupt and also odd at first.

Maybe it could have been more subtle in its handling of the subject, for example there is a very daringly vicious caricature of Hitler and the messaging is a little over-simplified.

However, 'Reason and Emotion' boasts terrific animation. The colours are typically rich and warm and the backgrounds are very atmospheric and meticulous in its detail. The two titular characters are beautifully animated too, especially Emotion, and the animation on the Hitler caricature was a masterstroke. The Disney cartoons also delivered wonderfully on the music, which is its usual lush and characterful self with some liveliness but also darker when needed. Voice acting is very good.

Furthermore, 'Reason and Emotion' has a lot of unyielding yet human sincerity in the writing, the emotion ringing true. The story has some charm but it is also very powerful and insightful in its portrayals of reason and emotion. Particularly in the second half. The psychology fascinates, is not confused or juvenile and makes one think. The two titular characters are well defined and contrasted, Emotion is the more interesting and more appealing character of the two but they both carry the cartoon beautifully. The messaging is not handled flawlessly but its good intentions and what it has to say are laudable.

Overall, very good. 8/10.

If there is anyone out there who read the comic book 'Beezer' as a kid then you will be familiar with 'The Knumbskulls'. A strip about a guy with little dudes living in him that control what he does. This short uses the same device to make an important, kind of subtle, point to us.

Some guy, starting out as a baby, sometimes follows his emotions and at other times sense. Just like everyone else. He sees a woman he likes on the street and follows his emotions. It ends up a slap in the face, but her common sense reacted, not her emotions, which said 'yes'.

The point of this is that Hitler used emotions to keep the Nazi's brainwashed. None of them used common sense to figure out that he was a lunatic.

But perhaps today we should still use our common sense to not believe rubbish published in tabloids or biased news stations. The logic applies to many things, not just Hitler's Nazi regime.