| Commando Duck | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release title card | |
| Directed by | Jack King |
| Produced by | Walt Disney |
| Starring | Clarence Nash |
| Music by | Oliver Wallace |
| Animation by | Ward Kimball Milt Kahl Norman Tate Hal King |
| Layouts by | Tom Codrick |
| Color process | Technicolor |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | RKO Radio Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 7 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Commando Duck is a Walt Disney anti-Japanese propaganda cartoon starring Donald Duck. It was released on June 2, 1944. [1]
Donald Duck parachutes into the jungle of a remote Pacific island to wipe out a Japanese airfield undetected. [2] [3] He loses most of his equipment in the process of landing and is nearly eaten by a pair of crocodiles. He uses a rubber raft to travel down the river. He is located by Japanese snipers, including one disguised as a rock and one disguised as a slant-eyed and buck-toothed tree. [2] He initially mistakes their bullets for mosquitoes and presses onwards. [2]
His raft is caught beneath a waterfall and starts inflating. He makes sure the raft hits nothing that would pop it. When he gets to the edge of a cliff, he sees the airfield. The raft has already exploded, causing water to turn into a waterfall. The water ends up flooding the entire airfield, destroying everything in its path including all of the aircraft. A montage of all the broken aircraft after the flood. Upon seeing the ruins of the airfield, a proud Donald declares his mission accomplished by sign a message quote: "Contacted enemy, washed out same". [2]
Due to the short being made in World War II, when the United States was at war with the Empire of Japan, the cartoon expresses blatant anti-Japanese sentiment which are now seen as racist.
However, the focus of the short is mostly on Donald and his efforts in combat and less on the racial aspects of the enemy. This has allowed the short to be broadcast to modern audiences with most of the Japanese references removed. [2]
There are Japanese caricatures and depictions of the Imperial Japanese Military. There is also a reference to Japanese emperor Hirohito. [2] The Japanese soldiers speak in stereotypical dialect and advocate firing the first shot at a man's back. [3]
The gag with the enemy soldier disguised as a tree can be traced back to Shoulder Arms (1918). It was also used in A Lecture on Camouflage (1944). [4] It was later utilized by the Indians during their battle with the Lost Boys in the 1953 Disney animated feature Peter Pan as well.
Though earlier war-era shorts (e.g. Donald Gets Drafted , The Vanishing Private , etc.) depict Donald's experiences and training as a regular U.S. Army draftee and infantry private, the commando mission and Pacific Theater of Operations setting in this short are seemingly 6th Ranger Battalion or Paramarine/Marine Raider-inspired. [5]
This is the only film which depicts a regular Disney character engaging with the enemy at war. [6]
The short was released on May 18, 2004 on Walt Disney Treasures: Walt Disney on the Front Lines [7] and on December 6, 2005 on Walt Disney Treasures: The Chronological Donald, Volume Two: 1942-1946 . [8]
Donald's Cousin Gus is a Walt Disney cartoon released on May 19, 1939. Gus Goose debuted as a recurring character in Al Taliaferro's Donald Duck newspaper comic since 9 May 1938.
Mr. Duck Steps Out is a Donald Duck cartoon produced by Walt Disney Productions, which is released on June 7, 1940, and featured the debut of Daisy Duck. The short was directed by Jack King and written by Carl Barks, Chuck Couch, Jack Hannah, Harry Reeves, Milt Schaffer, and Frank Tashlin.
Yankee Doodle Daffy is a Warner Bros. Looney Tunes theatrical cartoon short released on June 5, 1943, directed by Friz Freleng and written by Tedd Pierce. The short was the second Technicolor Looney Tunes entry to feature Porky Pig and Daffy Duck. It is also one of the handfuls of Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies to have entered into the public domain.
On Ice is a 1935 theatrical cartoon short in the Mickey Mouse film series, produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. It was the 79th Mickey Mouse short film to be released, and the eighth of that year.
7 Wise Dwarfs is a 1941 four-minute educational short animated film made by the Walt Disney Studios for Walt Disney Productions, for the National Film Board of Canada. The film was released theatrically on December 12, 1941, as part of a series of four films directed at the Canadian public to learn about war bonds during the Second World War. 7 Wise Dwarfs was directed by Richard Lyford and featured the voice talent of Pinto Colvig as "Doc".
Blitz Wolf is a 1942 American animated propaganda short film produced and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. A parody of the Three Little Pigs told via a World War II perspective, the short was directed by Tex Avery and produced by Fred Quimby. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Short Subject: Cartoons but lost to Der Fuehrer's Face, another anti-Nazi World War II parody featuring Donald Duck.
Going Home is part of the Private Snafu series of animated shorts produced by Warner Bros. during World War II. Made in 1944, the 4 minute cartoon features the vocal talents of Mel Blanc and was directed by Chuck Jones. The screenwriters for the Snafu cartoons were typically uncredited, though some animation historians believe that the writer of this short was Dr. Seuss.
Donald's Tire Trouble is a cartoon by Walt Disney Productions, featuring their character Donald Duck. It was directed by Dick Lundy and released in 1943. The cartoon pokes fun at the difficulties involved in America's rubber rationing, a consequence of World War II.
Sky Trooper is a 1942 animated cartoon by Walt Disney Studios starring Donald Duck during the World War II years. It was directed by Jack King based on a script by Carl Barks.
A Lecture on Camouflage is a 1944 American animated film directed by Chuck Jones. A Private Snafu cartoon short made for the troops during World War II.
Toy Tinkers is an American animated short film produced in Technicolor by Walt Disney Productions and released to theaters on December 16, 1949 by RKO Radio Pictures. Set during Christmas time, the film shows Chip 'n' Dale trying to steal nuts from Donald Duck's home using toy weapons. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 1950, but ultimately lost to Warner Bros'. For Scent-imental Reasons, a Pepé Le Pew Looney Tunes film directed by Chuck Jones.
Scrap the Japs is a 1942 American anti-Japanese cartoon with the popular character Popeye as protagonist. It follows his adventures after being sent for punishment on a ship and running into Japanese sailors.
The Thrifty Pig is a 1941 four-minute educational short animated film made by Walt Disney Studios for the National Film Board of Canada. A World War II propaganda film, it was released theatrically on November 19, 1941, as part of a series of four films directed at the Canadian public to learn about war bonds. The Thrifty Pig was directed by Ford Beebe. It is also a remake of the 1933 film of the same name.
All Together is a three-minute educational short animated film made by the Walt Disney Studios, for the National Film Board of Canada. The film was released theatrically on January 13, 1942 as part of a series of four films directed at the Canadian public to buy war bonds during the Second World War.
Donald's Decision is a four-minute educational short animated film made by the Walt Disney Studios, for the National Film Board of Canada. The film was released theatrically on January 11, 1942 as part of a series of four films directed at the Canadian public to buy war bonds during the Second World War.
How to Have an Accident at Work is a 1959 animated short educational film featuring Donald Duck. It was released by Walt Disney Productions.
Golden Eggs is a 1941 American animated short film directed by Wilfred Jackson and produced by Walt Disney, featuring Donald Duck.
Bee at the Beach is a 1950 animated short film featuring Donald Duck. It was released by Walt Disney Productions.
Sea Salts is a 1949 animated short film featuring Donald Duck. It was released by Walt Disney Productions.
Bee on Guard is a 1951 animated short film featuring Donald Duck. It was released by Walt Disney Productions.
