Jan 15 – Education for Death – Walt Disney’s 1943 short
In this episode of Animation Today, we take a closer look at Walt Disney’s powerful 1943 animated short Education for Death. Created during World War II, the film explores the rise of Nazi ideology through the eyes of a young boy, serving as both propaganda and cautionary tale. Mark Pudleiner provides context on the short’s historical significance, its striking animation style, and the role it played in Disney’s wartime productions.
Show Notes :
1943 – Walt Disney’s animated wartime short, ‘ Education for Death: The making of the Nazi ‘ is an American animated anti-Nazi propaganda short film produced by Walt Disney is released by RKO.
Total length 10:08
The film is directed by Clyde Geronimi and principally animated by Ward Kimball, Milt Kahl, Frank Thomas, and Bill Tytla
Banned Cartoon
This video is in the interest of historical / Archival and Educational purposes only.
Banned Cartoon because of its content.
This video contains offensive material.
It may contain any of the following:
Adult Content
Nudity
Foul Language
Racism
Anti-Semitism
Nazi Visuals
Religious Intolerance
Bigotry
Sexism
Production Notes
Education for Death: The Making of the Nazi was released when Disney was under government contract to produce 32 animated shorts from 1941 to 1945.
In 1940, Walt Disney spent four times his budget on the feature film Fantasia (1940) which suffered from low box office turnout. Nearing bankruptcy and with half of his employees on strike, Walt Disney was forced to look for a solution to bring money into the studio.
The studio’s close proximity to the military aircraft manufacturer, Lockheed, helped foster a U.S. government contract for 32 short propaganda films at $4,500 each.
This saved the company from bankruptcy and allowed them to keep their employees on payroll.
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The story continues with violence led by the duck, Adolf, but The Dove of Peace, aided by chickens, comes to the rescue.
Production : Leon Schlesinger Productions / Warner Bros. Pictures
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Directors: Dan Gordon , Orestes Calpini (uncredited)
Writers: Joe Shuster , Jerry Siegel.
Aug 21 1943 – Scrap Happy Daffy > LINK
Daffy is a guard at a scrap pile, encouraging Americans to donate tin / brass Iron and Lead to help with the war effort. Hitler who reads about Daffy’s scrap pile helping to beat Benito Mussolini, is furious about this and responds to this by giving his men the following order: “Destroy that scrap pile!”
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Producer : Leon Schlesinger
Story : Don Christensen
Animation : Art Davis
Music : Carl W. Stalling
Production : Leon Schlesinger Productions / Warner Bros. Pictures
Nov 20 1943 – Daffy the Commando > LINK
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Director : Isadore ‘ Fitz ‘ Frelend
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Production : Leon Schlesinger Productions / Warner Bros. Pictures
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“Flash Gordon: The Greatest Adventure of All” is an animated television film that aired in 1982. It’s based on the classic comic strip and character Flash Gordon. The film takes viewers on an action-packed journey as Flash Gordon and his companions battle the evil Ming the Merciless to save the universe from his tyrannical rule. This version of Flash Gordon is particularly nostalgic for fans who grew up watching the animated adventures of the early 1980s.
Director : Gwen Wetzler
Producer : Don Christensen
Story : Bob Kline
Key Animation :
Bill Nunes
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Dardo Velez
Woody Yocum
Lou Kachivas
Milt Grey
Zion Davush
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The Great Dictator is a 1940 American political satire black comedy film written, directed, produced, and starring, British filmmaker Charlie Chaplin as a Jewish barber who resembles his country’s anti-Semitic dictator.
The Great Dictator was popular with audiences, becoming Chaplin’s most commercially successful film. Modern critics have praised it as a historically significant film, one of the greatest comedy films ever made and an important work of satire. In 1997, it was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the United States National Film Registry as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”. The Great Dictator was nominated for five Academy Awards – Outstanding Production, Best Actor, Best Writing (Original Screenplay), Best Supporting Actor for Jack Oakie, and Best Music (Original Score).
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