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Peace on Earth
Dec. 24th, 2005 06:34 am
Wow. I just saw the most amazing cartoon. It was created during the Summer of 1939, before WWII hit Europe & released to theaters that Winter, after the war hit. Not only was this cartoon amazing for its message, the animation - it used the same type of live-action animation that Ralph Bakshi's 'Wizards' & 'Lord of the Rings' were hailed as being revolutionary for in the '70's. I could definitely see a lot of influence that 'Peace on Earth' may have had on 'Wizards'.
Basically, there's this little town of small animals - rabbits, squirrels, raccoons, etc. living in houses made from gas masks & helmets & the left-over detritus of a war-torn city. Some of the little animals are singing "Peace on Earth" & a pair of squirrel children ask their grandfather why they say "Goodwill to men" at the end, since there aren't any men left. Their grandfather tells them about the war & how the men all fought one another & destroyed each other. The entire time, scenes of soldiers running & tanks crushing buildings & gunfire are going on in the background. After the last two men on earth killed each other, (which cut to a scene of two soldiers in trenches shooting each other, & the dying soldier sinking into the mud, one clenched fist still raised high), the animals came out of the forest & found a bible while exploring a bombed out church. Of course, the page was open to 'Thou shall not kill'. An owl was basically reading the bible & came to a page that said something along the lines of "Thou shalt rebuild from the wastes", and that's what the animals did. So they felt nothing but goodwill towards men because they built their homes from the wreckage the men left behind. Needless to say, due to my period, I was all teared up.
It was so incredible, though - the message of this animated short at the time it was created. It was a powerful statement, a protest & warning all rolled up in one deceptively cute package. It actually won an Academy Award, at a time when the Academy Award still had prestige attached to it. (great, hot sauce on my kb).
Well, I got my EO so I could get to sleep & get up early & cook a turkey for the vultures at work. I got touched waaaay too much, everyone was so darned happy I'm back from vacation & wanting to congratulate me for my 'Simply the Best'. I have cooties now, I just know it.
Basically, there's this little town of small animals - rabbits, squirrels, raccoons, etc. living in houses made from gas masks & helmets & the left-over detritus of a war-torn city. Some of the little animals are singing "Peace on Earth" & a pair of squirrel children ask their grandfather why they say "Goodwill to men" at the end, since there aren't any men left. Their grandfather tells them about the war & how the men all fought one another & destroyed each other. The entire time, scenes of soldiers running & tanks crushing buildings & gunfire are going on in the background. After the last two men on earth killed each other, (which cut to a scene of two soldiers in trenches shooting each other, & the dying soldier sinking into the mud, one clenched fist still raised high), the animals came out of the forest & found a bible while exploring a bombed out church. Of course, the page was open to 'Thou shall not kill'. An owl was basically reading the bible & came to a page that said something along the lines of "Thou shalt rebuild from the wastes", and that's what the animals did. So they felt nothing but goodwill towards men because they built their homes from the wreckage the men left behind. Needless to say, due to my period, I was all teared up.
It was so incredible, though - the message of this animated short at the time it was created. It was a powerful statement, a protest & warning all rolled up in one deceptively cute package. It actually won an Academy Award, at a time when the Academy Award still had prestige attached to it. (great, hot sauce on my kb).
Well, I got my EO so I could get to sleep & get up early & cook a turkey for the vultures at work. I got touched waaaay too much, everyone was so darned happy I'm back from vacation & wanting to congratulate me for my 'Simply the Best'. I have cooties now, I just know it.
