How World War two Influenced the Products that Were Created by Disney (Term Paper Sample)

How world war two influenced the products that were created by Disney
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In the business, different changes impact on the kind of goods and services that businesses offer. The changes may impact on the brand of the products, the manner in which marketing is done or even the nature of the products. By analyzing how the second world war influenced the kind of films that Disney produced, the paper looks at how political changes impact on the nature of products.
When USA joined the Second World War, they used a number of tricks to gain public confidence that they would emerge successfully and to spread propaganda messages to their opponents. One such move was the use of The Walt Disney Company that produces a number of items on multinational mass media corporation. The company has its headquarters in California. Through their films and print items, the company played a signified role in the war.
Over the course of the war, the artists designed more than one thousand two hundred combat insignia that were used for all the branches of the US military and for its allies (Bruce 45). Among these included the famed Flying Tigers insignia that was made for England’s Royal Air Force. Consequently, Bruce (17) explains that, many American pilots joined England’s Royal Air Force as Eagle Squadrons because the Company showed the importance of a joint effort in the combat.
In 1943, the company joined the war effort in response to Rosie the Riveter and Uncle Sam call for the local to do their part and help their country win the war (Lesjak 19). They did create not only military insignias but also created animated shorts to sensitize and rally the citizens to support the war effort. According to Suzy (19), after their efforts had been commissioned by the Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau and various departments of the military, the company proceeded to create more than eighty three films for both the American soldiers and the civilians.
When the war began in 1939, Disney was commissioned by the US government create a film by the name Navy crest. The boxing wasp according to Stillich (16) was used to motivate the warriors and to boost their morale during the war. More than 1200 navy crests were created. They portrayed the enemy in extremely derogatory way. Through this, the American soldiers had their morale boosted. Consequently, they attacked and destroyed the enemy savages without fear.
The company also created several cartoons that were used as advertisement tools to rally support from the public (Michael and David 60). According to Parkes (101), the cartoons were also used to spread war propaganda for victory bonds and to attract both material and physical contribution from the public. The fact that Disney had been a driver of an ambulance during the war; he knew how important soldier morale was. He, therefore, boosted it through these cartoons (Lesjak 17). The fact that the cartoons evoked the public perception about the war also contributed to the members of the public acting as morale boosters to their colleagues in the war front.
In September 1942, the company made a significant contribution to the Coronet magazine (Suzy 19). Most characters from the company participated in the home front and front line activities. For instance Donald Duck, who represented a marine, was symbolic of the pen as a sword. Other characters also symbolized distinct roles during the war. For instance, according to Bruce (40), Thrifty Pig symbolized the might of industry; Minnie Mouse played the role of a Red Cross volunteer, while Dopey the dwarf did the purchase of war bonds. Additionally, Flower the skunk acted as a member of the chemical warfare service while Thumper the rabbit is in the army signal corps (Parkes 101). The different roles that these members played were a wake-up call to the members of the public to take part in the war by playing different roles. Just as the characters, Lesjak (18) explains that, some could purchase the armaments while some participate in the actual war.
During the war, Disney Company also produced animated training films that were used by the government for both training and entertainment (Stillich 19). The cartoons were used to entertain and to divert their attention towards the war. The company wanted to cushion the children from stress and psychological torture as a result of the war. To the adults, the cartoons were used as propaganda tools. For instance, The Bambi made realistic representation of animal symbols that mocked the enemies
Disney also produced a film on the recommendation of the treasury department. Two income tax films and a series of bond- and savings-related advertising were made to raise revenue and to save the American dollar during the war. It also published a book by the title, ‘The Victory March’ in 1942 (Parkes 110). The book was given to the younger generation to convince them to buy the saving stamps. The books depicted the Big Bad Wolf and two little wolves as Fascists from Germany, Japan, and Italy. In the film, the wolves had stolen Donald Duck’s treasure chest that had a savings stamp (Bruce 21). Consequently, Disney characters chase the wolves around various places in Washington, DC. As Michael and David (60) explain, the book had been written on behalf of the company and originally included a savings booklet and one free war savings stamp.
Apart from the treasury, Disney also created numerous war-related materials federal and state government. It also made films and publications for local government departments and agencies (Lesjak 17). The publications were meant to convince the employees not to vacate their work stations (Parkes 110). They would eventually be trained to ease the problem of manpower shortage during the war. Most of these publications were posted in several magazines. They were also issued as posters.
During the war period Disney also published promotional materials various home front activities, that including blood donation drives and salvage and crap activities. For instance, in 1943, it produced a produced a promotional a promotional booklet for the Los Angeles War Chest in 1943. The booklets were distributed to school going children (Stillich 18). It talked about the story of Chesty, his two helpers Polly and Paul, and Coptie their helicopter friend. The stories taught the children about charity. They were encouraged by the events of the story to help on the war front to be charitable enough and to help in the war-front.
They also produced the second Los Angeles War Chest booklet in 1944. Though it had the same characters that were used in the first edition, Suzy (19) explains that, it was updated to include events such as the German buzz-bomb attacks on England and the second front in Europe. The publication was meant to evoke public anger against Germans
The company also made publications that were meant to address the problem of food inadequacy. There were inconveniences that were created by rationing of off foods such as sugar, processed foods and meat and dairy products (Lesjak 19). This circa booklet of 1943 booklet was held ration coupons. Lead characters in Disney such as Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Pluto appeared on the cover of the booklet with seemingly satisfied expressions, after shopping at the Super Duper Market. The booklet was meant to convince the public to accept food rationing.
Disney also published the victory garden, softcover Green Thumb Contest Record Book. The book was published in response to food shortage by encouraging the citizens to grow and preserve own vegetable and fruits (Parkes 101). The book also served as a record keeping book for the types of crops that were grown, their quantity and weight.
In response to the problem of food shortage that affected most countries, Disney designed family carrots for the minister in charge of food in England. In 1942, New York Times Magazine captured the food design and reported that the England had a lot of carrots in the Food store. Because the carrot is not the basic food in USA, the publication acted as a sensitization tool to the local to change their eating habit (Stillich 19). Disney created a design that featured illustration of Carroty George, and the reverse, six different carrot recipes.
The company also published a newsletter for the US Navy Reserve Aviation that was based in Hutchinson, Kansas. The publication the "Hab”it’"–"Hab" was produced biweekly. In one of its edition, it featured the insignia on its front cover. This was meant to pass a message to the rivals that Hutchinson was a navy base. It was also meant to eliminate fear and tension in the public that the place could be attacked (Parkes 110).
During Christmas, the company made publications that would boost the morale of the countrymen who were serving on the war front. Because during this period, they and their families were often depressed and longed to stay with their relatives’ Disney-designed insignia th...