Tokyo Woes

This is one of several "Mr. Hook" cartoons made to encourage soldiers to buy war bonds. In this installment, the film begins in Tokyo, with Tokyo Rose and her evil friends broadcasting propaganda to the Allied servicemen. When the message reaches Hook's ship, he's incensed when Rose suggests that war bonds are a waste of money, so he sends a little "surprise package" her way. Then, following this, you see all the great ways that these bonds will pay off when the war has completed--nice clothes, a nice car and some spending money--everything a guy on the prowl for a "hot tomato" needs!

By today's standards, this is a very shocking film. After all, the stereotypes of the Japanese are rather racist. However, as long as the viewer actually understands why the enemy was portrayed this way and the context for the film, it's still an enjoyable film--plus it really helps to make the message clear to soldiers and sailors.

By the way, this was not intended to be seen by the general public but only by servicemen. In order to save money, unlike other Warner Brothers cartoons, this one is in black & white--a money-saving maneuver.

About as offensive as a cartoon can be, "Tokyo Woes" starts off with a radio broadcast from Japan's capital. Naturally, the characters have giant teeth and slits for eyes (one even has the same voice as Porky Pig). But over in the United States, Seaman Hook is listening to the broadcast and decides to take charge: he launches a bomb at them.

Obviously, it's a little hard to laugh at this cartoon in the 21st century, especially after Hiroshima. But as long as we understand what it portrays, we can still watch it; in fact, I recommend this cartoon just to show the WWII-era zeitgeist. The end was the seminal prediction of optimism; it has applied off and on since the war ended.

Yes, this is very anti-Japanese and it shows the stereotypical "Jap" with the exaggerated teeth and slanted eyes, but I find it not offensive at all because it was done in 1945 and that's the way a lot of North Americans (yes, Canadians, too) thought of the Japanese back then. They weren't thought too highly of after bombing Pearl Harbor and getting the U.S. into a horrible war. So, you'll have to excuse them if they are a bit out of line in the politically-correct arena. If this was made today, I would have a problem with it.

Basically, it makes fun of "Tokyo Rose," a propagandist who gained fame with her many broadcasts to the U.S. soldiers....and they weren't encouraging. Making fun of her is quite acceptable, the same as they made fun of Hitler in cartoons in this era, too.

Actually, the drawings here of "Rose," along with her jive talk, are very funny and Mel Blanc's Porky Pig imitation on someone is also good.

The thrust of the cartoon isn't to make fun of the Japanese, anyway; it's to plug the sale of war bonds to help with the Allied War effort. It's a "Mr. Hook" cartoon produced by the U.S. Navy and that was the intention of the handful of Hook animated shorts that were produced. This is the third one I've seen and frankly, the only one that had a good share of humor to it. It was also made for the sailors because there a couple of "boob" scenes in here you wouldn't see made for the kiddies!