World War II Propaganda Cartoons
Season 1
The idea for the series reportedly came from Frank Capra -- the Oscar-winning director of It's a Wonderful Life and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and, during WWII, the chairman of the U.S. Army Air Force First Motion Picture Unit. He sought to create a cartoon series for new recruits who were largely illiterate. This series includes additional wartime adventures with Donald Duck and Aladdin.
13 Episodes
- Coming!! Snafu, Gripes & Spies
E1Coming!! Snafu, Gripes & SpiesThis animated film features the goofy, simpleton Private Snafu, voiced by Mel Blanc. Pvt. Snafu becomes commander of an Army camp and allows everyone to goldbrick. Private Snafu has a secret: his ship leaves for Africa at 4:30. He's determined to keep it, but bit by bit it slips out, and eventually, the details end up right on Adolf Hitler's desk, and the ship is attacked. - The Goldbrick, The Infantry Blues & Fighting Tools
E2The Goldbrick, The Infantry Blues & Fighting ToolsThe lazy, Snafu doesn't want to get up, so the "Goldbrick fairy" appears and sings to him several things to do to avoid his duties. Pvt. Snafu complains about being assigned to the infantry only to learn that other branches have their own problems. In this installment, Private SNAFU learns the lessons of a weapons maintenance. - The Home Front, Rumors & Booby Traps
E3The Home Front, Rumors & Booby TrapsPvt. Snafu, in an Arctic outpost, learns by magic television that U.S. citizens are working wholeheartedly for the war effort. Private Snafu passes along a latrine-o-gram. Private Snafu learns about the hazards of enemy booby traps the hard way. - Snafuperman, Private Snafu vs Malaria Mike & A Lecture on Camouflage
E4Snafuperman, Private Snafu vs Malaria Mike & A Lecture on CamouflageThe second in the snafu series, this time a spoof on superman. Snafu learns hard way the consequences of not protecting himself from malaria infection. Private Snafu - A Lecture on Camouflage. - Gas, Going Home & The Chow Hound
E5Gas, Going Home & The Chow HoundSNAFU learns about using a gas mask. Although it was completed by May or June, 1944, Going Home was never released. The rationale behind the decision is unknown. The prevailing theory is that the secret weapon able to obliterate entire islands was deemed a bit too close in nature to an actual military secret: the atomic bomb. Private Snafu learns about food. - Censored, Outpost & Payday
E6Censored, Outpost & PaydaySnafu writes to Sally that he is going to the South Pacific. He tries to mail the uncensored letter. On a Pacific island he dreams that he was successful but that the Japanese got the information and set a trap. He awakens and realizes the danger of revealing information. Private Snafu Trains Army personnel to cope with boring assignments. Private Snafu learns why his pay doesn't go quite as far. - Target: Snafu, Three Brothers & In the Aleutians, Isles of Enchantment
E7Target: Snafu, Three Brothers & In the Aleutians, Isles of EnchantmentA armada of malaria-laden mosquitoes seeks human targets and finds Private Snafu who fails to protect himself adequately against their onslaught. We meet the 2 brothers of Private Snafu -- a pigeon keeper named Tarfu & a dog trainer named Fubar. A humorous look at the Aleutian Islands and their strategic value. - It's Murder She Says, Hot Spot & No Buddy Atoll
E8It's Murder She Says, Hot Spot & No Buddy AtollA mosquito past her prime reminisces on the good old days. In Iran, a Harold Peary-sounding Satan warns Private Snafu about the hazards of working in the heat. Private Snafu is stranded on a tiny island with a Japanese officer; he must depend on his wits to defend himself against his sword-wielding foe. - Operation Snafu & Private Snafu Presents Seaman Tarfu in the Navy
E9Operation Snafu & Private Snafu Presents Seaman Tarfu in the NavySnafu steals some top secret Japanese documents, and has to disguise himself as a geisha girl to elude the General chasing him. Private Snafu introduces his Seaman brother, Tarfu. - Donald Duck - Der Fuhrer's Face, Donald Duck - Commando Duck & The Ducktators
E11Donald Duck - Der Fuhrer's Face, Donald Duck - Commando Duck & The DucktatorsDonald Duck finds himself in nightmare that he is living in a country run by Nazis. Donald "Commando" Duck is sent on a parachute mission to locate and enemy airfield. The birth of the "Ducktator" on the farm leads to a Nazi uprising that must be stopped. - Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves & Cholly Polly
E13Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves & Cholly PollyThe first film is an animated Castle Films presentation titled "Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp." The second film is a Castle Films excerpt from the photoplay "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves." The third film is an animated Official Films presentation titled "Cholly Polly," in which the protagonist, a duck, attempted to stir up trouble after being influenced by Nazi literature.
