The Ducktators

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.

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.

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.

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 is a propaganda cartoon made during World War II. The black and white Looney Tunes cartoon tells the story of Hitler, Mussolini and Hirohito only they are portrayed as ducks. The barnyard they are on must present the world. We see how the three take over that barnyard but how one duck ends that. That duck, I guess, must be the United States of America.

The short is nice propaganda and especially the first minute where the Hitler-duck is born is great. After this it is entertaining but to be honest not that great. When the Japanese duck is introduced it gets a little better. Overall it is a nice cartoon and a perfect example of propaganda with this medium.