Disney's Bolivian Filming Adventure: Exploring Unique Locations

In 1941, before the US entered World War II, the US Department of State commissioned a Disney goodwill tour of South America, including Bolivia. This trip inspired the 1942 film Saludos Amigos, which was produced by Walt Disney and released by RKO Radio Pictures. The film features four segments, two starring Donald Duck and one with Goofy. It also marks the first appearance of José Carioca, the Brazilian parrot.

Disney's 1942 film *Saludos Amigos* was set in Latin America

Saludos Amigos was produced by Walt Disney and premiered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 24 August 1942. It was commissioned by the United States Department of State as part of the Good Neighbour policy. The film is an example of American propaganda, promoting goodwill towards Latin America, as several Latin American governments had close ties with Nazi Germany at the time.

The film is based on a trip taken by Disney animators through South America. The animators visited Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru, and their experiences inspired the four animated shorts. In one segment, Donald Duck visits Lake Titicaca, on the border of Bolivia and Peru, and meets some of the locals, including an obstinate llama.

Saludos Amigos was a success, and it helped launch the international popularity of Donald Duck. It also inspired Chilean cartoonist René Ríos Boettiger to create Condorito, one of Latin America's most iconic comic characters.

*Saludos Amigos* was commissioned by the US Department of State as part of the Good Neighbor policy

The Good Neighbor policy was implemented by the US government to counteract the close ties that several Latin American governments had with Nazi Germany. The Disney film was a part of a larger effort to promote goodwill towards Latin America, with Mickey Mouse and other Disney characters serving as ambassadors due to their popularity in the region.

The film includes live-action documentary sequences that feature modern Latin American cities and their fashionable residents. This portrayal of Latin America challenged the preconceptions of contemporary US viewers, contributing to a shift in their impression of the region.

Saludos Amigos was a success, increasing the international popularity of Donald Duck and leading to the production of a government-funded sequel, The Three Caballeros (1944), which further aimed to foster goodwill with Latin America.

The film also had a significant cultural impact, inspiring the creation of Condorito, one of Latin America's most iconic comic magazine characters, in response to the depiction of Pedro, a small anthropomorphic airplane from Chile.

The film features Donald Duck, Goofy, and the first appearance of José Carioca

The 1942 film Saludos Amigos (Spanish for "Greetings, Friends") is an American live-action/animated propaganda anthology film produced by Walt Disney and released by RKO Radio Pictures. It features the first appearance of José Carioca, a Brazilian parrot from Rio de Janeiro, alongside Donald Duck and Goofy.

José Carioca is a green tropical parrot based on one spotted by Walt Disney during his trip to Brazil. He was created during World War II via the "Good Neighbor Policy" to encourage Brazilian cooperation. He represents the typical Brazilian stereotype: he is smart, friendly, and always in a good mood. His clothes represent the Brazilian "malandros" (someone who is a "rascal" or has a "bad boy" lifestyle in Brazil).

In the film Saludos Amigos, José appears in the final segment, Aquarela do Brasil (translated as Watercolors of Brazil). He is created by a living paintbrush and introduces himself to Donald Duck, who is a big fan of his cartoons. José gives Donald a tour of Brazil, teaches him how to dance the Samba, and offers him a drink of cachaça, which is so spicy that Donald starts hiccuping.

José Carioca reappeared in the sequel film The Three Caballeros, in which he, Donald Duck, and Panchito Pistoles, a rooster from Mexico, become The Three Caballeros.

José has also appeared in several other Disney productions, including Melody Time, Mickey Mouse Works, House of Mouse, Legend of the Three Caballeros, and various comic books.

Walt Disney acted as an ambassador on a goodwill tour of South America, including Bolivia

In 1941, during World War II, Walt Disney and a group of his artists, later nicknamed "El Grupo", embarked on a goodwill tour of South America, including Bolivia. This tour served a dual purpose: to promote friendly relations between the United States and Latin America and to gather inspiration and material for future Disney films.

The US government, specifically Nelson Rockefeller's agency, the Coordinator for Inter-American Affairs (CIAA), initiated this tour as part of the Good Neighbor Policy or Program. With the growing influence of Nazi Germany in South America, the CIAA sought to counter these ties and generate goodwill. Previous attempts by US ambassadors had been unsuccessful, and in some cases, counterproductive.

Walt Disney was a natural choice for this mission due to the popularity of Mickey Mouse and other Disney characters in Latin America. He was personally asked to act as a cultural ambassador to South America, and he agreed, seeing it as an opportunity to explore new themes for his films. The US government promised to underwrite the trip, providing additional incentive for Disney.

The Disney group consisted of approximately 18-20 members, including studio employees and their wives. They travelled to various countries in South America, including Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, and Peru. In each location, they immersed themselves in the local culture, interacting with the people, studying the wildlife, and gathering ideas for future films.

One of the notable outcomes of the tour was the creation of José Carioca, the Brazilian parrot who would become Donald Duck's co-star in the films "Saludos Amigos" (1942) and "The Three Caballeros" (1944). These films were well-received and contributed to the success of the goodwill tour, as they promoted positive perceptions of Latin America and helped to launch the international popularity of Donald Duck.

The trip was challenging for Walt Disney, as he had to navigate labour issues and the death of his father while abroad. However, his charm and childlike demeanour won over the people he met, and the tour ultimately achieved its goal of fostering goodwill between the Americas.

*Saludos Amigos* helped launch the international popularity of Donald Duck

In 1942, Disney released its sixth animated feature film, *Saludos Amigos*, which helped launch the international popularity of Donald Duck. The film was a mix of live-action footage and animated vignettes, with the final short featuring Donald Duck travelling through Latin America and befriending a Brazilian parrot named José Carioca.

At the time, Walt Disney Studios was going through a turbulent period, with recent films such as *Pinocchio* flopping at the box office due to the impact of World War II. Disney himself was also locked in labour disputes with animators over their rights to unionise. However, Disney was approached by the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs (CIAA) with funding for a trip to South America to create films inspired by the local culture and people.

Disney and his team visited Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Peru, and their trip resulted in *Saludos Amigos*, which was well-received by Latin American audiences. The film was particularly popular in South America, where Donald Duck was already a beloved character. The success of *Saludos Amigos* led to another film, *The Three Caballeros*, which reunited Donald with José, and introduced a Mexican rooster named Panchito Pistoles.

Both films were considered successful in their mission to improve relations between the United States and Latin America during World War II, and they contributed to the international popularity of Donald Duck as a Disney character.

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