“Animation provides a means of storytelling and visual entertainment that can bring pleasure and information to people of all ages everywhere,” Walt Disney said of from his beloved cartoons. While it is true that cartoons provide an interesting means of visual entertainment, their unique ability to convey information to people, both adults and children, makes the animated film one of the most ambitious means of propaganda. It is impossible today to imagine American animated cinema without Disney and its cartoons. American captivation with Disney hasn't changed much in the seventy years since World War II. In the early 1940s, two-thirds of Americans went to the movies every week, and these moviegoers were in love with Disney characters (Stillich). This love affair with characters like Donald Duck and Goofy made Disney Toons effective and educational propagandists. Propaganda: a definition The concept of cinematic propaganda is neither new nor innovative. It is a means that has been explored and used by nations around the world to indoctrinate, educate and influence the minds of millions. During World War II, propaganda was used and exploited by all nations at war, including the United States. “During World War II, the United States waged a propaganda campaign against Nazi Germany on a scale never before seen in American history” and Disney Studios played a key role in this historic crusade against the Führer . (Laurie 1). Before discussing the importance and effectiveness of Disney's war propaganda, it is imperative to have a thorough understanding of the term "propaganda" and what it entails. Propaganda is defined as “any attempt organized by an individual, a group or a paper production environment. 1943. Movie. Fussell, Paul. Wartime: understanding and behavior during the Second World War. New York: Oxford University Press, 1989. Print. Fyne, Robert. Hollywood Propaganda of World War II. London: The ScarecrowPress, Inc., 1994. Print.Raiti, Gerard. “The Disappearance of Disney’s Animated Propaganda: A Globalization Perspective.” » Animation 2.2 (2007): 153-169. Wise. Internet. April 1, 2010. Shale, Richard. Donald Duck Joins: The Walt Disney Studio during World War II. Ann Arbor: UMI Research Press, 1982. Print. Stillich, Sven. “Donald versus Hitler: Walt Disney and the Art of World War II Propaganda.” » Second World War. Spiegel Online, 2009. Web. April 1, 2010. Triumph of the will. Real. Leni Riefenstahl. Synapse Video, 1934. Film “Walt Disney Goes to War”. LIFE Magazine August 31, 1942: 61-69. ASIFA: Hollywood Animation Archive. Internet. April 3. 2010.