Escalation (1968) Poster

(II) (1968)

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Escalation was Ward Kimball's view of then-President Johnson's increasing involvement in the Vietnam War
tavm15 July 2011
This short cartoon by Disney animator Ward Kimball begins with a dove with a branch in his beak flying upside down and backwards. Then a giant head statue of then-President Lyndon Johnson is wheeled into view while a recording of someone impersonating him saying the lyrics to the song "Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory" (well, that's the title I'm using since I can't remember the actual one) is playing as his nose becomes longer before rising up (you can probably guess what it's supposed to look like when that happens) and exploding. Then flashing images of giant smoke of nuclear bombs are accompanied by various images flashing like that of the Playboy bunny, John Wayne, Doris Day, Superman, Little Orphan Annie...and lots of bare breasts. I think I'll stop there and just say how funny and then seriously somber this animated short was and how brave Mr. Kimball was making this during the election year of 1968. It probably helped that Uncle Walt had been deceased the previous two years considering how family friendly his studio was though it also helped that Ward made this on his own. P.S. I'm sure the dollar sign on Lyndon's ear was intentional...
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