Mr. Hook (Also referred to as Seaman Hook or just Hook) is the title character of a series of American

animated cartoon Animation is a filmmaking technique whereby still images are manipulated to create moving images. In traditional animation, images are drawn or painted by hand on transparent celluloid sheets to be photographed and exhibited on film. Animati ...

shorts produced between 1943 and 1945 during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

for the

US Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

. The series included four shorts, with the first produced by

Walter Lantz Productions Walter Lantz Productions was an American animation studio. It was in operation from 1928 to 1949 and then from 1950 to 1972, and was the principal supplier of animation for Universal Pictures. The studio was originally formed as Universal Carto ...

Technicolor Technicolor is a family of Color motion picture film, color motion picture processes. The first version, Process 1, was introduced in 1916, and improved versions followed over several decades. Definitive Technicolor movies using three black-and ...

and the remaining three produced by Warner Bros. Cartoons in black and white. The character was designed by Hank Ketcham. Unlike the '' Private Snafu'' series, which was created as an instructional film series, ''Mr. Hook'' was created exclusively as

propaganda Propaganda is communication that is primarily used to influence or persuade an audience to further an agenda, which may not be objective and may be selectively presenting facts to encourage a particular synthesis or perception, or using loaded l ...

to encourage Navy personnel to purchase

war bond War bonds (sometimes referred to as victory bonds, particularly in propaganda) are Security (finance)#Debt, debt securities issued by a government to finance military operations and other expenditure in times of war without raising taxes to an un ...

Cartoons

''Take Heed Mr. Tojo''

Directed by James Culhane, the cartoon takes place in the year 1953. Hook tells his son a story when he was a sailor a decade prior, and how war bonds helped him defeat a lone Japanese fighter pilot from attacking his

aircraft carrier An aircraft carrier is a warship that serves as a seagoing airbase, equipped with a full-length flight deck and hangar facilities for supporting, arming, deploying and recovering carrier-based aircraft, shipborne aircraft. Typically it is the ...

. ''Take Heed Mr. Tojo'' is the only Hook short to be produced by

before production was moved to Warner Bros. Cartoons. Hook was voiced by Dick Nelson, and it was the only time he voiced the character.

''The Return of Mr. Hook''

Directed by

Robert McKimson Robert Porter McKimson Sr. (October 13, 1910 – September 29, 1977) was an American animator and illustrator, best known for his work on the ''Looney Tunes'' and ''Merrie Melodies'' series of cartoons from Warner Bros. Cartoons and later DePa ...

, Hook informs a few skeptical seamen of his "post war plans" once the war is over. Due to him saving war bonds, he is able to afford luxury items such as new clothes, a home, and a wedding. Hook ends up convincing his fellow seamen, as they are later seen waiting for the war bond officer. This cartoon is notably the first short directed by McKimson, who had previously worked as an animator up to that point. Mr. Hook's voice was supplied now by Arthur Lake, best known for his role as

Dagwood Bumstead Dagwood Bumstead is a main character in cartoonist Chic Young's long-running comic strip ''Blondie (comic strip), Blondie''. He debuted in the first strip on September 8, 1930. He was originally heir to the Bumstead Locomotive fortune, but was dis ...

in the ''Blondie'' theatrical film series.

''Tokyo Woes''

Directed by

Bob Clampett Robert Emerson Clampett Sr. (May 8, 1913 – May 2, 1984) was an American animator, film director, director, film producer, producer and puppeteer best known for his work on the ''Looney Tunes'' animated series from Warner Bros. as well as the te ...

, the short lampoons the actual ''

Tokyo Rose Tokyo Rose (alternative spelling Tokio Rose) was a name given by Allied troops in the South Pacific during World War II to all female English-speaking radio broadcasters of Japanese propaganda. The programs were broadcast in the South Pacific ...

'' propaganda radio broadcasts. The titular host in question is seen encouraging naval men to not bother saving up war bonds, supported by a fake American POW with a voice resembling

Porky Pig Porky Pig is a cartoon character in the Warner Bros. ''Looney Tunes'' and ''Merrie Melodies'' series of cartoons. He was the first character created by the studio to draw audiences based on his celebrity, star power, and the animators created man ...

. Mr. Hook responds by firing a shell to Japan containing a sentient war bond, and some bombs. The sentient war bond from later returns to Hook after the war to pay him for his due diligence.

''The Good Egg''

Directed by

Chuck Jones Charles Martin Jones (September 21, 1912 – February 22, 2002) was an American animator, painter, voice actor and filmmaker, best known for his work with Warner Bros. Cartoons on the ''Looney Tunes'' and ''Merrie Melodies'' series of shorts. He ...

, Mr. Hook is woken up in the middle of the night by his consciences, who are fighting whether he should cash in his war bonds now or save them until the wars ends. Eventually, Hook's good conscience prevails and tells Hook the benefits of saving his bonds, such as a new home, clothes, spending money, etc. The short is not to be confused with the 1939 cartoon of the same name, which was also directed by Jones.

Films

File:The Return of Mr. Hook.webm, ''The Return of Mr Hook'' File:Tokyo Woes 190611 LTGC.webm, ''Tokyo Woes'' File:The Good Egg.webm, ''The Good Egg''

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Hook, Mr Film characters introduced in 1943 Animated characters introduced in 1943 Fictional sailors Male characters in animation Fictional American people Mister Hook Mister Hook Animated human characters Mister Hook Mister Hook Mister Hook Mister Hook