“Der Fuehrer’s Face” (1943)

This infamous WWII propaganda cartoon may very well one of the boldest cartoons Disney’s ever made. It feels like it would’ve been such a huge risk to have Donald Duck portrayed as a Nazi, even if it was just a dream sequence. Surprisingly, it also asks the audience to be sympathetic to the plight of German citizens underneath Hitler’s regime. Also surprisingly, the standard cartoon gags in this one, like Donald Duck’s work on the assembly line, are genuinely funny. And sure, some parts are dated, and the message, like most propaganda cartoons, isn’t subtle. But, interesting from a historical standpoint, and as an entertaining short on its own terms, this cartoon stands out as being one of the very best propaganda cartoons ever made.

Rating: 5/5