Private Snafu

This week I have something special for you. Quite by mistake, I found a series of cartoons on Youtube called Private Snafu.

These cartoon were produced by the U.S. War Department between 1943 and 1945 as an instructional tool for soldiers who weren't that literate or had other learning difficulties. Each cartoon short illustrates a lesson, like why you have to lug around your gas mask at all times. Or why you absolutely can not tell your mom or girlfriend anything about your unit, troop movements, equipments etc.

Private Snafu became immensely popular with the troops, and it's not hard to see why. The cartoon was produced by Leon Schlesinger of Warner Bros. Cartoons, directed by Chuck Jones and Snafu was voiced by Mel Blanc. If this sounds familiar, it's because I just described the team behind Looney Tunes, and Snafu sounds pretty much like Bugs Bunny.

The scripts were mostly written by Theodore “Dr. Seuss” Geisel (The Cat in the Hat), Philip D. Eastman (Mr. Magoo) and Munro Leaf (Ferdinand the friendly Bull), all of whom became famous children's authors after the war.

The cartoons were not only instructional but also morale boosters. It makes sense of course, you get a break from the stress and tedium of military life and you get to watch a pretty funny cartoon. Win-win.

Apparently, the War Department offered the production to Walt Disney at first, but Warner Bros. underbid Disney by 2/3 and got the contract. The project itself was restricted, and everyone who worked on the project was fingerprinted and given a security clearance by the FBI. Today, the entire run is on Youtube.

A final note before you go off and watch Snafu. His name, as some of you no doubt have figured out, stand for the acronym; Situation Normal, All Fucked Up. Apologies for the crude language there, but it is what it is.

So there we have it. Secret cartoons from World War II, enjoy!

Until next week, stay away from wars.

Show link:  Here

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZs0gQed9tMQF0es_H77fHJ4s88duIfm0