When American Cartoons Went Off to War

“Helping Win the War: Animation Art During World War II,” a free exhibit of material from the Glad Family Trust at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, highlights a forgotten chapter of film history: The contribution American screen cartoonists--and their characters--made to the war effort.

While live movie stars toured with the USO, sold bonds and worked in canteens, Hollywood’s animated characters served the cause with equal fervor. Donald Duck learned how to file his return under the newly enacted income tax laws (“Taxes to Beat the Axis!”) in “The New Spirit” (1942), gave new meaning to the Good Neighbor Policy in “Saludos Amigos” (1943) and “The Three Caballeros” (1945), and razzed Adolf Hitler in “Der Fuehrer’s Face” (1943).

Superman battled a cadre of Japanese industrial spies in 1942; Bugs Bunny marched off to “Tokyo, Berlin and Points East” at the end of “Super Rabbit” (1943). The Seven Dwarfs demonstrated how to avoid contracting malaria, while Private Snafu entertained the troops in “The Army-Navy Screen Magazine.”

The 200 drawings, cels, preliminary sketches, background paintings, posters, models and related print materials in the exhibit (the Glad Family Trust ranks as the world’s largest private collection of animation artwork) cover all these activities and more.

The powerful drawings reflect the artists’ commitment to their beliefs. Marc Davis’ preliminary pastel study of the American Eagle attacking an octopus representing the Japanese Empire has all the savage strength of the battle between those figures at the end of “Victory Through Air Power” (1943), Disney’s oddest animated feature. A series of stark sketches for the Disney shorts “Reason and Emotion” (1943) and “Education for Death” (1943) embody the loathing the Nazi regime inspired.

On a lighter note, Goofy and Donald Duck appear on a series of industrial posters exhorting war workers to strive for maximum productivity: “A Goofy Lunch Pulls Your Punch!” A cel of the title character from Tex Avery’s “Swingshift Cinderella” reintroduces Red, the sexy nightclub chorine who delighted G. I. audiences in some of the most popular cartoons MGM ever released.

Viewers too young to remember the war will enjoy the rare artwork of the genial but dim Private Snafu (including magazine covers featuring a three-dimensional model of Snafu by special-effects wizard Ray Harryhausen), who amused their parents and grandparents.

Presented in conjunction with the “Motion Picture Centennial” celebrations, “Helping Win the War” remains on display at the Motion Picture Academy, 8949 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills.

Information: (310) 247-3000.