The Spirit of '43

No wonder I didn't like this cartoon when I was a kid! It centers on Donald Duck trying to decide whether to spend his paycheck on a night out or by saving it up to pay taxes for the war effort. Same old cartoon story, isn't it?! But now as a grownup and as a Donald fan, I can appreciate The Spirit of ‘43's unique storyline and its historical implications. It's just so weird to see childhood characters delve into issues like war and taxes. I just can't see Spongebob Squarepants doing an episode on terrorism.

After Donald's segment the cartoon takes an even more serious turn highlighting some of the warplanes and weaponry that would be used to destroy the `Axis,' as they put it. It's also kind of shocking to see animation of Nazi planes and weaponry. There are some serious issues discussed in this cartoon!

Nevertheless, this is a very interesting cartoon. Donald's still a loveable character, just in a very grown-up and serious circumstance. Another stark image is that of the swastika to symbolize the evils of spending recklessly instead of supporting our troops. I also enjoyed hearing the narrator's take on the situation including this statement that I'll paraphrase, `Every American should, and look forward to, paying their taxes.' Let that be a lesson to you kids!

My IMDb Rating: 8/10