Saludos Amigos (August 24, 1942)

This film was made during a tumultuous period for Disney. The United States was embroiled in World War II and Disney Animation was being pressured by the US government to create propaganda shorts to aid in the war efforts. Additionally, the animators at the studio were undergoing a strike which slowed production to a standstill. Walt Disney himself, along with a few senior animators, went on a trip to South America as a part of a goodwill effort by the United States Government to med relationships between the two continents in hopes of keeping South America from entering the war on the side of the Axis Powers. Having set out that background, this film was another package with four scenes each representing a South American country, Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Brazil, respectively. It involves both live action segments with film from countries as well as animated scenes. The first two shorts I did not really care for but the last two I really enjoyed (especially the Brazil sequence with the first introduction of Jose Carioca, a smoking parrot from Rio de Janeiro). The film was short, which I apricated, and I did learn a little about South American culture along the way. The film was overall average with enjoyable music and animation but no real substance or heart. It would lead the way to more package films to come as the studio struggled financial throughout the decade.

Final Rating: 4.5/10