Tokio Jokio
Date
Credits
- Norman McCabe Film Director
- I. Ellis Animator
- Don Christensen Copywriter
- Carl W. Stalling Musician
- Warner Bros. 9 Production Company
Format
- Video 44
Locations Made
- United States 727
Tokio Jokio is an animated Looney Tunes short film directed by Norman McCabe and produced by Warner Bros in 1943 during World War II. It is American propaganda against Japan and Admiral Yamamoto, also referencing Hitler, Mussolini, and Hess.
In the cartoon, Japanese people were characterized with giant teeth, big lips, slanted eyes, and large ears. It also employs bold typography that communicates the information Americans should have about the war before adding representative imagery. Because the animation aired on television, this racist portrayal of could be seen by a large American audience and would likely result in Americans thinking Japanese people were silly, dangerous, and needed to be eliminated by way of bomb, electric chair, or otherwise.