

Saludos Amigos: Wings of Goodwill
Your decisions shape how history remembers this journey—not just as a film, but as a mission of unity during wartime. In 1942, Walt Disney and his team embarked on a secret cultural odyssey across South America, commissioned by the U.S. government to strengthen ties with Latin nations threatened by Axis influence. What began as diplomacy became animation history.It’s 1942, and you’re standing beside Walt Disney on the tarmac of Rio de Janeiro’s airport, the humid air thick with the scent of blooming jacarandas. Around you, artists unpack sketchbooks, cameras, and recording equipment—this isn’t just a film tour, it’s a mission. The U.S. government has entrusted you with a delicate task: win hearts and minds across South America before Axis influence takes root.
You’ve seen the intelligence reports—Nazi sympathizers in Buenos Aires, German-owned newspapers in Santiago. But you also know the power of a well-told story. Mickey Mouse is already beloved here. Now, you must create something new: a film that feels like a handshake, not a lecture.
As the team disperses to sketch the city, you watch Mary Blair mix colors inspired by favela rooftops. A local child asks her, 'Are you drawing us?' She smiles. 'Yes. And I want it to be true.'
The question forms in your mind: How do you represent a continent without reducing it to postcards and punchlines?
