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Episode details

Radio 4 Extra,02 Sep 2015,30 mins

Donald Duck Gets Drafted

Available for over a year

Made to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, illustrator and animator Gerald Scarfe tells the story of Disney鈥檚 fascinating on and off-screen contribution to the war effort. Discover how the iconic Studio in California became a war plant in the 1940s, churning out groundbreaking military training films and propaganda shorts, educational posters and leaflets, along with insignias for troops to help boost morale on the frontline. Gerald, who worked as production designer on Disney鈥檚 1997鈥檚 big screen animation Hercules, examines what motivated Walt to offer his artists鈥� inkwells as weapons of war. He uncovers why Donald Duck rather than Mickey Mouse became the Studio鈥檚 wartime mascot and reveals which film reportedly put Walt on Hitler鈥檚 own personal hit list. He also examines Walt Disney鈥檚 personal role as a Goodwill Ambassador in South America, intended to help stem potential Nazi influence. Producer: Kellie Redmond A Somethin鈥� Else production for 麻豆社 Radio 4, first broadcast in September 2015.

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