Donald and the nephews are spending a cozy night together listening to the radio when news that a gorilla has escaped breaks the familial bliss in Donald Duck and the Gorilla, released on this day in 1944. Donald and the nephews, of course, seize the opportunity to scare the wits out of each other with …

This classic seven-minute Donald Duck cartoon, released on this day in 1946, opens with a drowsy Donald drifting into dreamland as he sits at his wartime post of aircraft spotter. The gun crew, which happens to be comprised of Donald’s nephews—Huey, Dewey, and Louie—notice their uncle’s sleepy state and seize the opportunity to spook him. …

During World War II, Walt Disney Productions published “Dispatch From Disney’s” for Disney employees in the military. In the first issue, Walt wrote, “Here is news of our effort to back you up, along with glimpses of familiar faces and happenings.” He explained how Disney’s animated war film work, on behalf of U.S. forces, was …

Disney trivia question: Besides all being Disney productions, what do Mary Poppins, The Mickey Mouse Club, Davy Crockett, The Shaggy Dog, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, and The Love Bug all have in common? Answer: They were all produced by Disney Legend Bill Walsh who started with Disney on this day in 1943. Although he started as …

In this landmark Disney short, Pluto plays a private who’s been assigned to guard an Army pillbox. But as his guard dog duties begin, two chipmunks using the pillbox’s cannon to store their acorns harry poor Pluto. The short marks the first time Chip and Dale — yet unnamed at the time of this cartoon …

“Down where the mighty Amazon winds its way through the heart of Brazil, we meet the playful armadillo… ” as the narrator explains in the Mickey Mouse cartoon short Pluto and the Armadillo, which rolled into theaters on this day in 1943. “Another strange creature often found in this region is the turista Americana, or …

“Saludos amigos, a fond greeting to you!” Those lyrics were sung in the 42-minute feature film Saludos Amigos, which was released in theaters on February 6, 1943. Four mucho entertaining animated segments were introduced, “Lake Titicaca,” “Pedro,” “El Gaucho Goofy”, and “Aquarela do Brasil,” which featured Donald Duck and a newcomer to Disney animation, Brazilian …

In the Donald Duck cartoon short Donald’s Tire Trouble, which drove into theaters on this day in 1943, Donald is recklessly driving along until he finds himself with a flat tire. Throughout most of the cartoon, Donald attempts to fix his tire with little success. Suddenly he becomes a lucky duck when the tire pops …

There was neither Mickey Mouse nor Donald Duck to be seen in this special cartoon featurette which tells the story of one of “Hitler’s Children,” as adapted from the anti-Nazi book, Education for Death: The Making of the Nazi by Gregor Ziemer. Ziemer was an American author and educator who lived in Germany from 1928-1939, …