Plog Bost#6: WWII Animation and Propaganda

I am interested in how far back animation was integrated into American culture and to what extent it has influenced our (meaning American in this instance) world view. The animation used in the documentary Why We Fight helps to validate the pro-war propaganda to American viewers. Specifically animation  that I am speaking of are the animated maps that display potential Nazi world domination.

Before getting ahead of myself with the animation, a little background is in order. This clip is only one segement of a series of seven films that were comissioned by the U.S. government to show to soldiers before heading off to war. Directed by Frank Capra, the films intention was to change the American mindset of previous isloationism that it was imperative that U.S. enter the world to stop evil world wide domination by the Axis Powers. Later the films were shown to the public to generate even more American support and involvement in the war efforts.

Going back to the film (which if you wanted to skip the awesome stock footage) the animation really starts at the 5:36 mark. The animation divides the world into “The Western Hemisphere” and “The World Island” which is “7/8″ of the worlds population. An “us versus them” mentality is already starting to surface, and the animation does an amazing job at visualizing that.

The animation of the map continues simeoutaneously with the detailed plan according to Hitler, “Conquer Eastern Europe and you dominate the Heartland. Conquer the Heartland and you dominate the World Island. Conquer the World Island-and you dominate the world.” The nazi forces are shown as a sweeping black mass taking over the Wold with teh eventual emblem of the Swastica (using strech animation techinques? I could be wrong) being stamped on the entirety of the world.With use of the animated map, the Nazi’s are clearly shown as a formidable, antagonisic force that have a detailed and feasable plan for taking over the world. To me, the animation is crucial in this intentions to leave isolationism behind by giving its viewers a viusal of the impending danger their nation faces if they do not go to war. It truely shows how imbedded animation is in American culture and history.

I commented on Mike’s
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