This marks the first of Disney’s six “omnibus” features, so named because rather than telling a single story for the entire feature length, they are instead a collection of shorter tales all packaged together. They were initiated during the second world war as both a cost saving measure and because a large number of the studios’ artists were drafted or tied up creating the propaganda shorts and training films that became Disney’s primary output during this time. Saludos Amigos collects four shorts: “Lake Titicaca”: a Donald Duck travelogue, “Pedro”: the story of a baby mail plane, “El Gaucho Goofy”: Goofy learning the difference between North American cowboys and South American Gauchos, and “Aquarela do Brasil” showing Donald touring through Brazil.
The shorts all mix entertainment and education well, and the constant shifting of topics and animation style help to keep it from becoming boring. The live action interstitials are interesting mostly as historical documents, having a distinctly 1940s feel.
This is a short but nonetheless entertaining film that won’t be of interest to every Disney fan. Fans of Disney shorts will get a lot out of it, and it is worth checking out even for those with a casual interest.
Next: The Three Caballeros
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