The New Spirit

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The New Spirit is a World War II propaganda animated short film created by Walt Disney Studios in 1942 and sponsored by the United States Department of the Treasury. In 1943 the film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.

[edit] Plot summary

The film begins with Donald Duck, flush with the contemporary patriotic spirit present with the United States' full entry into the war, dancing to a patriotic song. Afterward, a radio announcer tells about the new patriotic spirit and asks Donald if he was willing to do his part. Donald feverently asserts his loyalty and begs to know how best to do it.

However, Donald's enthusiasm instantly fades when the radio announcer advises he pay his income tax promptly. However, the announcer changes the duck's mind by stressing the need for the funds for the war effort with the slogan, "Taxes to beat the Axis". Sufficiently motivated, the announcer guides Donald, with the help of a talking pen, inkwell and blotter, on how to properly fill out his simplified tax form. With the bureaucratic task completed, the announcer urges Donald to mail his payment to the Federal government at once and Donald enthuastically and literally races across the nation to Washington DC to deliver it in person.

The film concludes with a montage of images to illustrate to the audience the wartime necessities the money is needed for such as munitions and combat vehicles to defeat the Axis powers. With a final images framed in a sky lined with red, white and blue, the announcer repeats The Four Freedoms and reminds the audience that taxes are essential for victory.

[edit] Trivia

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When Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau, Jr. learned that Walt Disney proposed using Donald Duck as the feature character of the film, he insisted that a generic "Mr. Taxpayer" be used instead. However, Disney persuaded Morgenthau and President Franklin D. Roosevelt that the film would be more effective with a popular and familiar character.
Reportedly, the popular reaction of the film led to a dramatic increase of prompt taxation payments by the public. This prompted a sequel, The Spirit of '43 which reuses the original film's conclude montage in addition to original footage.