Before America entered World War II, the US government sought Disney’s assistance in keeping good relations with the nations in South America. This led to Walt Disney taking a number of his animators and musicians on a tour of the continent, all the while picking up ideas and inspirations for a South American-based series of animated shorts that would become Saludos Amigos. While this film has largely gone unremembered, it deserves credit for ingenuity and creativity.
Blending live-action footage of Disney and his crew touring various locales with the animated shorts inspired by each hot spot, Saludos Amigos manages to be part educational film and part travelogue. While it may look like South American culture has been generalized and stereotyped now, you have to consider that the film was made during the early 1940s. Americans knew very little about South America, with these generalizations probably being about it. This made them necessary inclusions in the film because it would be something familiar enough for American viewers to connect with and enjoy. For South American audiences, these generalizations may have simply been neat for them to see on screen.
However you slice it, Saludos Amigos pales in comparison to any of Disney’s previous five animated films. That doesn’t make it a bad film though. Similar to Fantasia, there are animated shorts involved but they are not nearly as complex and inventive. The first involves Donald Duck doing a little sight-seeing at Lake Titicaca and a nearby village. The narrator talks about village life and Donald is merely along for the ride as a beloved Disney character. Using a flute to control a cantankerous llama turns into an amusing two minutes where the animation and music get to play off of one another.
The second short involves the tale of Pedro the airplane. Pedro is a young Chilean mail carrier plane who has to make the dangerous trek over the Andes Mountains in order to pick up mail in Argentina and deliver it back home. This segment features more impressive animation, including detailed backgrounds of the dangerous mountain passes.
The third segment takes us to the pampas of Argentina, where Goofy learns what it takes to become a true gaucho, or Argentinean cowboy. Goofy is used for some slapstick moments involving his clothing and horse. Goofy also gets a taste of traditional Argentinean music and dance.
The final and best segment of the film introduces José Carioca, a lively parrot displaying the colors and rhythms of Rio de Janeiro. This part of Saludos Amigos is a real treat. Like in Fantasia, the blending of animation and music hits the mark. As the music pulses away, an animator's brush creates lavish scenes and South American landscapes. The music adds to the overall effect, making it even more enjoyable than some of the shorts in Fantasia. Donald Duck pops in and José shows him the beauty and fun of the samba. They dance the night away and take in Rio’s nightlife.
Before America entered World War II, the US government sought Disney’s assistance in keeping good relations with the nations in South America. This led to Walt Disney taking a number of his animators and musicians on a tour of the continent, all the while picking up ideas and inspirations for a South American-based series of animated shorts that would become Saludos Amigos. While this film has largely gone unremembered, it deserves credit for ingenuity and creativity.
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