U.S. medical cartoons make comeback

BETHESDA, Md., Nov. 21 (UPI) -- Animated public health films made by cartoon legends from the 1920s through 1960s are making a comeback through the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

One of them planned for release on a forthcoming DVD is "Private Snafu vs. Malaria Mike" produced in 1942 by the Armed Forces Motion Picture Unit, which was directed by Frank Capra, with animation by Ted Geisel, also known as Doctor Seuss. Mel Blanc, who did the voices for Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and many other characters, did the voices of Malaria Mike and Private Snafu, The New York Times reported.

"From early on, animated films were viewed as a uniquely convincing way to persuade and educate people," said Michael Sappol, a historian at the library, He said the malaria film "takes a lot of pleasure in destruction, speed and sex, things we typically associate with 1940s Warner Brothers cartoons."

Other films on such topics as personal hygiene, cancer detection, tuberculosis screening and the safe use of X-rays are on the line-up for the DVD, which is slated to be released next fall, the newspaper said.