German Animation During Nazi Era
Oct 28, '08 8:20 AMfor everyone
The Animated Cartoon Film in the Third Reich
Bearing the shining example of Walt Disney in mind, the Third Reich launched the animated film industry in Germany. It should have become better and bigger than Disney, but this turned out to be illusory. Too little were the experiences of the past. It is true there were already successful animation movies, at the head the silhouette films by Lotte Reiniger, but an animation industry as in the USA didn't exist.
" I have given twelve Mickey -Mouse-movies as a present for the Fuhrer at Christmas!..."
Still the German animation film in those time was able to set a fresh impetus. Not least because of the enthusiasm of Hitler for the animation film, the new developing trickfilm industry could profit from generous aid at the beginning of the Nazi time.
A diary mark of Goebbels makes Hitler's enthusiasm clear: “I have given twelve Mickey-Mouse-movies as a present for the Führer at Christmas! He is being pleased about it. He is absolute happy about this treasure". (20.12.1937).
The impetus of the trickfilm began when Hitler asked himself one day why the German Reich shouldn't be able to produces movies like Disney too. Till then there wasn't a real trickfilm industry in Germany, rather there were produced decent movies in small companies. Movies with a real story, that was out of the question.
Together with the realization of the industry it was inevitable that this market was also used for propaganda but the main part made up the pure entertainment film which had to divert from the hard times.
A lot of animation artists were ordered in whole Germany from the Goebbelsschen propaganda machinery in the 30's and made them create a German Walt Disney pendant in order to face up to the overpowerful "US factory" squarely. They studied the techniques of Disney and looked for new ways at the same time.
Oct 28, '08 8:20 AMfor everyone
The Animated Cartoon Film in the Third Reich
Bearing the shining example of Walt Disney in mind, the Third Reich launched the animated film industry in Germany. It should have become better and bigger than Disney, but this turned out to be illusory. Too little were the experiences of the past. It is true there were already successful animation movies, at the head the silhouette films by Lotte Reiniger, but an animation industry as in the USA didn't exist.
" I have given twelve Mickey -Mouse-movies as a present for the Fuhrer at Christmas!..."
Still the German animation film in those time was able to set a fresh impetus. Not least because of the enthusiasm of Hitler for the animation film, the new developing trickfilm industry could profit from generous aid at the beginning of the Nazi time.
A diary mark of Goebbels makes Hitler's enthusiasm clear: “I have given twelve Mickey-Mouse-movies as a present for the Führer at Christmas! He is being pleased about it. He is absolute happy about this treasure". (20.12.1937).
The impetus of the trickfilm began when Hitler asked himself one day why the German Reich shouldn't be able to produces movies like Disney too. Till then there wasn't a real trickfilm industry in Germany, rather there were produced decent movies in small companies. Movies with a real story, that was out of the question.
Together with the realization of the industry it was inevitable that this market was also used for propaganda but the main part made up the pure entertainment film which had to divert from the hard times.
A lot of animation artists were ordered in whole Germany from the Goebbelsschen propaganda machinery in the 30's and made them create a German Walt Disney pendant in order to face up to the overpowerful "US factory" squarely. They studied the techniques of Disney and looked for new ways at the same time.
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