Walt Disney’s South American Research Trip

By MessyNessy 5th Jun, 2014

You know you have a pretty cool job when your boss offers you a ten week tour around South America and sketch inspiration for your next cartoon as you visit beautiful beaches, exotic cultures and remote landscapes. In 1941, before America entered the war, Walt Disney took a group of sixteen of his best animators and composers to Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Peru, as part of a goodwill tour commissioned by the United States Department of State. As well as exercising the Good Neighbour Policy, the trip was intended to lead to a new animated movie that could be shown in Central and South America to celebrate (and secure) their friendly relationship. The film would be called, Saludos Amigos.

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Let’s tag along with LIFE photographer Hart Preston, who was sent to document these ten weeks and the wonderful animations that they inspired…

Here’s hoping MessyNessy will love the folks I send over!

About dkatiepowellart

hollywood baby turned beach gurl turned steel&glass city gurl turned cowgurl turned herb gurl turned green city gurl. . . artist writer photographer. . . cat lover but misses our big dogs, gone to heaven. . . buddhist and interested in the study of spiritual traditions. . . foodie, organic, lover of all things mik, partner in conservation business mpfconservation, consummate blogger, making a dream happen, insomniac who is either reading buddhist teachings or not-so-bloody mysteries or autobio journal thangs early in the morning when i can't sleep

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