Snafuperman (1944)

Directed by Friz Freleng, Snafuperman spoofs the Superman cartoons of the era to argue that raw power is worthless without training, since even a super-soldier version of Snafu still can’t be bothered to read a manual.

Background

Snafuperman is a 1944 short directed by Friz Freleng, part of the Private Snafu series that Warner Bros. animated for the United States Army. The series used the careless soldier Private Snafu as a cautionary example to teach everyday safety and discipline, and Mel Blanc voiced him. In this short, Snafu skips his field manual to listen to swing music, is granted superpowers by the Technical Fairy, and becomes a parody of Superman. The comedy depends on the gap between Snafu’s new powers and his poor judgment, and the short runs about five minutes.

What to watch for

Pay attention to the parody of the Superman character, with Snafu’s powers used in ways that show he has learned nothing about the Army’s rules. The gags depend on the audience recognising the Superman conventions and the wartime instruction behind them. Mel Blanc’s voice gives Snafu his bluster and nervous energy. The ending is a clear warning that a soldier who ignores the manual endangers himself and others. Notice how the cartoon combines wartime training with broad, fast slapstick, a mix the series used throughout its run.