Coming!! Snafu

Plot

Coming!! Snafu introduces Private Snafu, an incompetent and clueless American soldier who serves as a cautionary example of what NOT to do in the military. The cartoon follows Snafu through various blunders and mistakes, demonstrating improper military behavior and security violations. Through ironic humor and exaggerated situations, the film shows Snafu carelessly discussing military secrets, ignoring sanitation protocols, and generally embodying every possible military mistake. The character's incompetence is used to educate real soldiers about the importance of following procedures, maintaining security, and avoiding common errors that could compromise military operations. The short concludes with Snafu facing the consequences of his actions, reinforcing the educational message through comedy rather than preachy instruction.

Historical Background

Coming!! Snafu was produced during the height of World War II in 1943, a critical period when the United States was fully mobilized for the war effort. The U.S. military faced the challenge of quickly training millions of new recruits who had little to no military experience. Traditional training methods were often dry and ineffective, leading to poor retention of important information. The War Department recognized the power of animation as an educational tool, particularly Warner Bros.' popular Looney Tunes cartoons which were known for their humor and memorable characters. The Private Snafu series was created as part of a broader government effort to use entertainment for educational and propaganda purposes. These cartoons addressed real military concerns such as operational security (OPSEC), disease prevention, equipment maintenance, and military discipline. The series reflected the military's understanding that humor and entertainment could be more effective than traditional instruction methods for teaching important lessons to young, often bored or distracted soldiers.

Making Of

The Private Snafu series was created through a unique collaboration between the U.S. War Department and Warner Bros. Animation. The project began when the War Department approached Warner Bros. about creating training films that would be more engaging than standard military instruction. Chuck Jones, along with other Warner directors like Friz Freleng and Bob Clampett, worked with military advisors and writers including Dr. Seuss to create cartoons that would hold soldiers' attention while delivering important educational messages. The animation team was given unusual creative freedom, allowing for more mature content, mild profanity, and sexual innuendo that would never have been permitted in commercial cartoons. The production schedule was intense, with the team producing approximately one cartoon per month. Mel Blanc's voice work was particularly crucial, as he had to create a character that was simultaneously funny, pathetic, and relatable to military audiences. The cartoons were produced in secrecy, with restricted access to the Warner Bros. studio lot during production.

Visual Style

The animation in Coming!! Snafu represents the classic Warner Bros. style of the early 1940s, characterized by fluid movement, exaggerated expressions, and dynamic action sequences. Chuck Jones' direction brings his signature timing and visual gags to the educational format. The cartoon uses bold, saturated colors and sharp, clean lines typical of the era's Warner productions. The visual storytelling relies heavily on contrast between the 'correct' way to do things and Snafu's comically incorrect approach. The animation team employed sophisticated techniques including squash and stretch, smear frames for fast motion, and detailed character expressions that conveyed both humor and educational points. The visual style was deliberately more adult-oriented than typical cartoons, with some subtle visual gags and references that would appeal to the military audience.

Innovations

The Private Snafu series represented several technical and creative achievements for its time. The cartoons were produced using the traditional cel animation process, but with higher quality and more sophisticated techniques than typical commercial shorts due to the government funding. Warner Bros. employed their top animators and directors on the series, resulting in some of the studio's finest technical work. The series pushed boundaries in terms of content and humor, demonstrating what could be achieved when freed from the constraints of the Hays Code and commercial censorship. The integration of educational content with entertainment was innovative, using comedy and negative examples to teach military personnel. The production process itself was technically impressive, with the studio maintaining a rapid production schedule while maintaining high quality standards. The series also represented an early example of using animation for adult education and training, paving the way for later educational and corporate animation.

Music

The musical score for Coming!! Snafu was composed by Carl Stalling, Warner Bros.' legendary music director who was responsible for the iconic sound of Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies. Stalling's approach combined original compositions with adapted popular songs and classical music pieces, creating a dynamic soundtrack that enhanced both the humor and educational content. The music used orchestral arrangements typical of the era, with prominent use of brass and percussion to accentuate the military theme. Sound effects were created by Treg Brown, Warner Bros.' innovative sound effects pioneer, who developed many of the cartoon's distinctive audio elements. Mel Blanc's voice performance as Private Snafu utilized his full range of vocal talents, creating a character that was simultaneously whiny, clueless, and comically inept. The audio mix was designed to be clear and impactful when shown in military theaters and training facilities.

Memorable Scenes

• The opening sequence introducing Private Snafu as 'the nation's worst soldier' with exaggerated examples of his incompetence
• The scene where Snafu carelessly reveals military secrets to imagined enemies, demonstrating security violations
• The montage showing the various versions of Snafu in different military branches, each failing in their own unique way
• The climactic scene where Snafu faces the consequences of his mistakes, reinforcing the educational message
• The ironic moments where Snafu's attempts to be helpful result in disaster, highlighting the importance of following procedures

What Critics Said

During the war, the Private Snafu cartoons were extremely popular with military personnel, who found them entertaining and more engaging than traditional training materials. Military officials reported that soldiers retained information better when presented through the Snafu cartoons. The series was praised within military circles for its effectiveness in communicating important messages about security, hygiene, and proper military conduct. After the war, film critics and animation historians recognized the series as an important example of wartime animation and propaganda. The cartoons are now considered among the finest work produced by Warner Bros. during the golden age of animation, praised for their sophisticated humor, excellent animation quality, and clever writing. Modern critics appreciate the series as a fascinating example of how popular culture was mobilized for war efforts, and as an important historical document of both animation and military history.

What Audiences Thought

Among military audiences during WWII, the Private Snafu cartoons were tremendously popular. Soldiers looked forward to seeing the latest Snafu adventure, and the cartoons became a highlight of military training and entertainment programs. The character's incompetence and the cartoons' risqué humor resonated with young soldiers who were often bored with standard military instruction. The relatable nature of Snafu's mistakes made the educational messages more memorable and effective. After the war, when the cartoons were finally made available to the public, they developed a cult following among animation enthusiasts and historians. Modern audiences appreciate the cartoons for their historical value, their place in animation history, and their surprisingly sophisticated humor. The Private Snafu series continues to be discovered by new generations through film festivals, animation retrospectives, and online archives.

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