Omar Khalid
The Plastics Inventor is a 1944 Walt Disney cartoon starring Donald Duck. In the short, Donald listens to a radio program that tells him how to build an airplane from plastic. He follows the instructions and builds a lightweight plane, which flies beautifully—that is, until it starts to rain and the plane disintegrates. The cartoon was based on an illustrated lecture on plastics featuring Donald that appeared in LOOK magazine in June 1944. The Plastics Inventor was the first Donald Duck cartoon to identify some of the artists onscreen.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | The Plastics Inventor |
| Year | 1944 |
| Type | Cartoon, Short Film |
| Genre | Animation, Comedy, Family |
| Director | Jack King |
| Story | Donald Duck builds and flies a plastic aeroplane following instructions from a radio show |
| Production Credits | On-screen credits were provided for animators |
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What You'll Learn
The Plastics Inventor is a 1944 Donald Duck cartoon
The Plastics Inventor is a 7-minute-long 1944 Donald Duck cartoon directed by Jack King. It features Donald Duck listening to a radio show where Professor Butterfield gives instructions on how to build a plastic aeroplane. Donald then proceeds to build the aeroplane, which falls apart during the test flight. The cartoon is a spoof of radio cooking programs of the era and features good sight gags and a funny plot.
The cartoon was based on an illustrated lecture on plastics featuring Donald Duck that appeared in LOOK magazine in June 1944. The Plastics Inventor was released in theatres in September 1944. It is notable for being the first Disney short to feature onscreen production credits since 1930, with four names listed: three character animators and one effects animator.
The animation, colours, and backgrounds of the cartoon are praised for being beautifully done, very 1940s Disney, and attentive to detail. The music is also well-orchestrated and fits perfectly with the action. The story is simple but charming and fun, with clever gags and humour. It is considered one of Donald Duck's best and funniest cartoons from the early 1940s.
The concept of following instructions from the radio is not new for Disney, but The Plastics Inventor takes this concept in a fresh and imaginative way. The cartoon is also notable for its portrayal of Donald Duck as a chill and happy character, even when his plane starts falling apart. This sets it apart from other Donald Duck cartoons, where he is usually more temperamental and agitated.
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Donald builds a plastic plane
In the 1944 Disney short "The Plastics Inventor", Donald Duck decides to build an aeroplane out of plastic. He listens to a radio show, in which Professor Butterfield gives instructions on how to build a plane from plastic that the listener has manufactured themselves. The process involves "baking" the plastic, and marking the finished product with a 'T'.
Donald follows the instructions and builds his plastic plane. He is happy with how it turns out and takes it for a test flight. However, his creation does not stand the test of time, and soon starts to fall apart. The plane begins to melt, and Donald has to fight to keep it in the air and avoid mortal danger.
The short is a spoof of radio cooking programmes of the era. It is also a commentary on the future of aviation and the potential pitfalls of new technology. The idea that people would be able to make planes at home was a common expectation of the future in the 1940s. However, the cartoon also shows that the future might not be entirely positive, with new inventions like plastic planes presenting their own problems.
The cartoon was based on an illustrated lecture on plastics that appeared in LOOK magazine in June 1944. It was directed by Jack King and starred Clarence Nash as the voice of Donald. It was one of the first Disney shorts to feature onscreen credits for animators.
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The cartoon was based on an illustrated lecture on plastics in LOOK magazine
The Donald Duck cartoon "The Plastics Inventor" was released in 1944. In the short film, Donald listens to a radio show in which Professor Butterfield gives instructions on how to build a plastic aeroplane. The cartoon then follows Donald through the process of building and flying the plane, which ultimately falls apart.
"The Plastics Inventor" is known for its good sight gags, a funny plot, and charming and imaginative story. The animation, colours, music, and backgrounds are also well-done and detailed. The short film also marks the return of onscreen production credits in Disney films, with four names appearing in the credits: three character animators and one effects animator.
The concept of following instructions from a radio show was not new for Disney, as it was previously explored in the 1941 short film "Chef Donald". However, "The Plastics Inventor" takes this concept and executes it in a fresh and imaginative way. The cartoon is also notable for its portrayal of Donald Duck's character, who remains calm and happy throughout most of the film, even when his plane starts to fall apart.
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The film features onscreen credits
The Plastics Inventor is a Donald Duck cartoon released on 1 September 1944. Directed by Jack King, the film features onscreen credits—a significant development as previous Disney shorts did not include them. The format seen in The Plastics Inventor became the standard protocol for animation credits in Disney shorts: four names, three character animators, and one effects animator.
The film features Donald Duck listening to a radio professor who instructs his listeners on how to build a working aeroplane out of plastic. The idea of baking plastic objects for laughs was a spoof of radio cooking programs of the era. The Plastics Inventor was based on an illustrated lecture on plastics featuring Donald, which appeared in the pages of LOOK magazine in June 1944.
The animation in the film is beautifully done, with lush colours and detailed backgrounds that are very 1940s Disney. The music is orchestrated in a way that gels perfectly with the action. The story is simple but charming and fun, with good sight gags and a funny plot. It is perfect for the frenetic Duck, as Donald goes through the process of building and flying his plastic aeroplane.
The Plastics Inventor is a silly cartoon with a few visual puns and fantastic situations. It is one of Donald Duck's best and funniest of the early 1940s. The cartoon is lighthearted and enjoyable, with a unique voice provided by Clarence Nash.
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The cartoon was criticised by the editor of a plastics industry magazine
The Plastics Inventor is a Donald Duck cartoon released by Disney in 1944. In the cartoon, Donald Duck listens to a radio show in which Professor Butterfield instructs his listeners on how to build a plastic aeroplane. The plane, however, dissolves on exposure to water. This cartoon was criticised by the editor of a plastics industry magazine, who denounced it for its inaccuracies.
The editor's criticism is not surprising given the lighthearted and unrealistic portrayal of plastic in the cartoon. Plastic was becoming increasingly common in the 1940s, with plastic fabrics such as nylon gaining popularity. However, the idea of creating a functional aeroplane from plastic that could simply be "baked" at home was far-fetched, even for the 1940s audience.
The cartoon's focus on plastic and its potential applications reflects a broader interest in this material during the 1940s. Plastic was seen as a versatile and innovative material, replacing ivory in some applications and offering new possibilities for manufacturing. However, the cartoon's treatment of plastic also reveals a lack of understanding of its properties, as evidenced by the editor's criticism and the unrealistic depiction of dissolving plastic.
Despite the inaccuracies, The Plastics Inventor is remembered as a charming, funny, and imaginative cartoon. It showcases Donald Duck's inventiveness and agility in navigating comedic situations. The animation, music, and humour are particularly praised, with the simple yet engaging plot offering a perfect fit for Donald Duck's character.
The cartoon also holds a place in Disney history due to its credits. The Plastics Inventor was one of the first Disney shorts to reinstate onscreen credits for animators and artists, marking a shift from the previous practice of crediting only "A Walt Disney Production." This change recognised the contributions of individual artists and animators, setting a precedent for future Disney shorts.
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Frequently asked questions
"The Plastics Inventor" is a Donald Duck cartoon released by Disney in 1944.
In "The Plastics Inventor", Donald Duck listens to a radio show that instructs him on how to build an airplane from plastic. He follows the instructions and builds the plane, and takes it out for a test flight. However, the plane starts to disintegrate when it flies into a rain cloud because the plastic melts when it gets wet.
"The Plastics Inventor" is significant because it was the first Donald Duck cartoon to feature onscreen credits for the artists and animators involved in its production. It also featured production credits, which were a significant development for Disney at the time.
The key people involved in the making of "The Plastics Inventor" include Jack King (director), Ollie Wallace (music), Jack Hannah and Dick Shaw (story), Ernie Nordli (layout), Merle Cox (backgrounds), and Bill Justice, Harvey Toombs, Judge Whitaker, Paul Allen, and Don Towsley (animation). Clarence Nash provided the voice of Donald Duck.
