American Animated WWII Propaganda Films

master's thesis

• Author: Marsel Štrukelj
• Mentor: Jelena Šesnić (mentor)
• Committee member: Sven Cvek (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Borislav Knežević (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; (Department of English language and literature); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2022-09-27, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: HUMANISTIC SCIENCES; Philology; Anglistics

Abstract

Animated shorts have always been part of our childhood, whether their goal was to entertain children or educate them. A brief historical summary of how animation started and how it came to the United States is presented. Propaganda and some of its features are also briefly explained and further analyzed in the selected animated cartoons. This paper further examines the intended propagandistic messages and features of American animated films produced in the 1940s, the years of World War II. At that time, when the whole world was at war, it was crucial to reach the masses and to raise their spirit. American animators therefore got together and produced animated shorts to raise the national spirit and to present the bad side of the Axis powers. In order to help the soldiers who fought in the front lines, the most talented American animators did their part in producing animated propaganda films for the public. By using certain ideas and caricatures, they shaped the public opinion regarding the Axis powers. Two of the most famous animation studios, Walt Disney and Warner Brothers, produced several animated propaganda shorts at that time, a few of which are analyzed in this paper. Disney’s Der Fuehrer’s Face (1943) and Education for Death: The Making of the Nazi (1943) and Warner Bros.’ Bugs Bunny Nips the Nips (1944) and Private Snafu in Spies (1943) are presented and analyzed. Both of Disney’s animated shorts represent purely propagandistic anti-German cartoons. Warner Bros. on the other side mocked the Japanese in Bugs Bunny Nips the Nips (1944), while in Private Snafu in Spies (1943) all of the Axis powers (Germany, Italy and Japan) were caricatured. Private Snafu provided an interesting teaching method for young soldiers who were drafted into the army. For these animated propaganda films to be understood, it is of great importance to take into account the historical background and the relations between the countries. Additionally, the idea of propaganda and its use of the powerful medium of film were highlighted.

• Keywords: the American animated film; World War II; Propaganda; Walt Disney; Warner Bros.
• Language: english
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:131:687108
• Study programme: Title: English Language and Literature (double major); specializations in: Linguistics, Literature and Culture, Translation, TEFL; Course: Literature and Culture; Study programme type: university; Study level: graduate; Academic / professional title: magistar/magistra engleskog jezika i književnosti (magistar/magistra engleskog jezika i književnosti)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2022-10-10 14:16:48