The troop of Paul Terry's animal characters and some humans offer us a view of the post-war world fit for heroes in this Oscar-nominated Terrytoon.
Paul Terry's cartoons did not win Oscars. In fact, this was his first cartoon nominated for one and only one other would ever be. He rarely seemed ambitious beyond the prosperity of his studio: regular rounds of fairy tales, fables, a few lesser stars like Gandy Goose and Heckle and Jeckle; turn out a good product; make a few bucks on his contract with 20th Century-Fox, and a few more from the home-projector market. The target audience of small children have a good time. Everyone works, everyone takes home a paycheck.
There's nothing wrong with that moderate ambition, but it doesn't make great cartoons and it doesn't win Academy Awards. Then the Second World War came along and his staff of first-rate cartoon makers made some excellent cartoons in support. they stretched themselves and the results showed. The people who nominated the awards noticed.
It wouldn't last. After 1946,audiences declined, the studios didn't pay as much and television paid almost nothing. Paul Terry would sell his studio in 1956 and enjoy a nice retirement. Everyone else would work for a few more years.