Disney Dons Dogtags

One of the most personal efforts ever produced by the Walt Disney Studios was not an animated movie for the masses, a big box office live action adventure, or even a theme park. It was the work they provided for the soldiers, sailors, and airmen of World War II. The studio animators under Walt's direction provided free of charge the design of over 1,000 original artistic logos for the armed forces. These were used on individual planes, tanks, and ships for their crews. They also helped design unit insignias for organized armoured units, air wings and squadrons, infantry units and others. These requests were sometimes funneled through the official military channels, but more often came in a letter sent from overseas signed by a bunch of American young men. Most often the boys would send in a rough sketch of what they had in mind, or asked to use a certain animated character they favored. Other times they let the studio come up with whatever they wanted, and the artists often created new characters on the spot. No request was too big or too small, the animators completed every job. These designs were incredible and inspiring works of art, not something dashed off in a hurry. This effort began when early one morning a fews days after the bombing of Pearl Harbour, the phone rang at Walt Disney's house. The Studio called to tell him that 700 army troops had set up camp at the Walt Disney studio campus, in order to protect the nearby airfield. The long war hurt the Disney company many way, including the loss of key staff to the armed forces, reduction in commercial output and attendance, and cuts in overseas theatrical releases of their films. Despite these issues that could have caused resentment of the wars interference in Disney growth and success, the company dove in to do their part to support the war effort. Whether it was in producing great war time comedy animated shorts such as "Der Fuhreres Face" to keep up the public morale; or educational films to teach soldiers how to operate a certain weapon or avoid disease; or deeply researched theory films like "Victory Through Airpower"; or animated shorts that promoted war bonds... the studio worked overtime to do their part. The logos and unit insignia are a big part of that effort. The beautiful color photos reproduce the actual designs in page after page of color photos. A wonderful book for the Disneyphile, OR for those that are just interested in high quality unit design artwork from planes, etc. from WWII. Also see the book "Donald Duck Joins Up: The Walt Disney Studio During World War II (Studies in Cinema)" to get a more complete picture of all the other combined efforts of the studio during the war, including the logos in this book. In order to see the logos themselves, the book on this page features more of them than any other book.

A great book filled with dozens of pictures. Disney designed over 1,100 insignia during the war. This book pictures some of the best. Check out toonsatwar.com for more info on the Disney Studio's involvement in World War Two.

I am a military insignias artist. I have been recreating military insignias on leather for over 18 years. The Disney artist have created some of the very best military art work in the world. This book has some of the many terrific designes creaded by the Disney artists. I have been fascinated with the Disney art work ever since I had lunch with Walt Disney as a young boy.