1939 MGM cartoon by Hugh Harman

December 25, 2019 4:32 AM

Peace on Earth (archive) - "After mankind is wiped out in the final war, forest animals re-build for a better tomorrow."

• The Cuddliest Post-Apocalyptic Tale Ever - "And that prompts the squirrel children to ask: 'What are men, Grandpa?'"
• Peace On Earth was nominated for an Oscar - "It features an uncredited Mel Blanc as a wise Grandpa squirrel, who helps build what he calls 'a great old world' inspired by the Bible and anchored in nonviolence."

posted by kliuless (10 comments total)

I was sure I saw this as a child, but thought I must be making it up. Glad to be reassured that I wasn't hallucinating. Thanks!
posted by blnkfrnk at 6:14 AM on December 25, 2019 [1 favorite]

That's also the implicit back story of Tumble Leaf.
posted by ocschwar at 7:03 AM on December 25, 2019

Not coincidental that this came out in December, 1939, three months after Germany invaded Poland and WWII began in Europe. So the background of the short is U.S. isolationist propaganda, no matter how universal the anti-war, save-the-planet theme appears to modern eyes.
posted by camyram at 7:39 AM on December 25, 2019 [5 favorites]

Oh my god, I remember this, I never knew what it was.
posted by jameaterblues at 8:08 AM on December 25, 2019

Vegetarians battling meat eaters? I didn't know there was a controversy in 1939.
posted by namret at 8:40 AM on December 25, 2019

I remember watching this as a kid and getting my mind blown
posted by emjaybee at 9:46 AM on December 25, 2019

This looks like it influenced some of the animation from The Wall.
posted by pxe2000 at 9:49 AM on December 25, 2019

Vegetarians battling meat eaters? I didn't know there was a controversy in 1939.


Allusion to Hitler?
posted by knoyers at 10:07 AM on December 25, 2019

I've seen this once but it's always stuck with me.

The image of the vegetable flag army clashing with the meat flag army is basically burned into my brain. A far cry from Daffy Duck recovering from a shotgun blast to the face in "Rabbit Seasoning."
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 1:11 PM on December 25, 2019 [1 favorite]

Once again the searing memory of WWI appears.
posted by doctornemo at 6:47 PM on December 26, 2019