Thread by @PhantomGhul, Some quick facts and trivia about this funky propaganda parrot that the [...]

Some quick facts and trivia about this funky propaganda parrot that the Brazilians actually liked and took it for ourselves after Disney decided they didn't care about him anymore

He was created during (and because) WWII since the USA was scared as fuck of the possibility of Nazi influence getting into Latin America so they had a "Good Neighbor Policy" and founded Walt Disney's trip around the countries in order to make cartoons for us Latin people

Disney was having a lot of trouble because animators wanted to, ya know, get paid for their work. And the US was like "we'll cover everything for ya, even if the cartoons don't have any profit, just do it"
And so he did, and studied South America stuff for the propaganda film

Donald was already featured in an anti Nazi cartoon so he was kinda the poster Disney boy for this, and also Disney saw how Brazilians were (are) infatuated with parrots so a parrot was designed

And I mean it, to this they people come up with new parrot jokes

José (Zé) Carioca was made out of a stereotype, and that is the 1940's malandro persona that is actually popular to this day, just getting modernized
Well... Today "malandro" has connotation more linked to someone of criminal behavior, but at the time it was more of-

Someone who is laid back, chill, who knows how to get around and be on top of any situation. Usually a charismatic man, having his way with the ladies but also so much of a sweet talker that can fool anyone

no subs, just like this song

Here this fella is more known as Zé Carioca, but that's just a nickname, his name is still José. That a common name here and "Carioca" being the way to refer to someone born in the state of Rio de Janeiro

Btw: His first VA was named José do Patrocínio Oliveira

Some say Zé was created in homage of J.Carlos, a Brazilian cartoonist, and others that he was inspired by a samba dancer named Paulo da Portela, but his VA is the most known as the "real José Carioca"

Funny enough, José Oliveira was actually from São Paulo

Remember how this was all because of the Good Neighbor Policy? So, Disney main job was to paint South American cultures as hip and cool and be like "we love y'all! Please don't become Nazis!" so Donald's usual hot headed behavior became 100% nicer in this movie

Saludos Amigos (Olá Amigos/Greetings Friends) was released in 1942 in Brazil and in 1943 in the US, but before that José already had appeared in some comic strips in newspapers
The movie has three story segments and José debuted in the last one
The song Aquarela do Brasil is dope

Now- stay with me
This motherfucker here makes no sense because he is literally magic. And I mean that this parrot can PLAY THE UMBRELLA and do literal magic
Logic doesn't exist around Zé

HE ALSO TAKES DONALD TO DRINK CACHAÇA, THAT IS A HIGHLY ALCOHOLIC BRAZILIAN DRINK SO IT BURNS

And pretty much serves as a embassador of Brazilian culture, even if it focus on carioca culture, he became a hit nationally wise

He also used to have this bigass cigar but Disney because a pussy as the years passed so no more smoke to you mister carioca

So the main point was "make us seems good fellas" but for us Carioca was out of his way a good character because his carefree nature was so recognizable you either knew a Zé in your life or in any media

Anyway now we're in 1944 (1945 for Americans tho) and The Three Caballeros exists. Less propaganda tho, but yes actually. I mean- it was again made with a new stereotypical character and Donald was way nice/happier but it wasn't like the first "WE LOVE YOU" one

I can't say much about Panchito cuz that's not my place but I love him wijejwbe

Panchito Romero Miguel Junipero Francisco Quintero Gonzalez debuted on this movie that was again, segments of stories and all served as Donald's Birthday gifts

He also used to have those bigass guns but Disney because a pussy as the years passed so no more guns to you mister Pistoles
Also in the Ducktales reboot his holsters are used to keep his phones

ALSO CARMEN MIRANDA WAS IN THIS MOVIE

AND A REALLY WEIRD SEGMENT OF PANCHITO AND JOSÉ TAKING DONALD TO THE BEACH IN A MAGIC CARPET TO HUNT LATIN BABES

This movie was a drug trip

And in 1950 Zé would appear in the first issue it Pato Donald comics but now he quit cigar and also magic

In 1960 tho he'd appear in another short that was basically Donald showing the US touristic points to José

In 1961 he'd get his own comic series that only got canceled in 2018 due Editora Abril finishing their business with Disney and thus losing their licensing

Comics!José is pretty different to his cartoon counterpart, not only he got blue eyes for some reason, but the 60's he started in comics with his original design to then change to casual clothes without shoes, to 1983 he went back to his OG outfit and in the 90's be... Very 90's

He also got a gang and a personality change. Instead of the smooth sweet talker of the cartoons, comics!Zé is straight up a poor hustler so lazy it almost seems like he's allergic to work and womanizer in the sense of getting a girlfriend but still looking at other girls

In a way, you'd probably still know a few Zés in your life

His main pals are usually Nestor, Pedrão, Rosinha and Afonsinho

Again, in comics he has no magic and is just your average Joe, getting his friends and other people in crazy schemes instead of getting a job

But what he does have? Twin nephews named Zico and Zeca. Usually they would just appear in visits but later they live with him

While Disney simply left him to be forgotten by north American audiences because there was no need for the Good Neighbor Policy, Zé stayed pretty popular around here with comics and in the 90's he'd be present in TV Colosso, a Brazilian TV show, as a puppet

Also he seems to be quite popular in Japan I think? Since he and Panchito have been consistently present at Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea parks and there's always some merch of him or cosplays

But hey The Three Caballeros have their own ride at the Florida resort with animatronics and an animated sequence

José would only start to appear again for Americans in the 90s and on, appearing in an episode of Mickey Mouse Works, also being doing cameos in House of Mouse and Mickey and the Roadster Racers*

* BUTI DON'T TALK ABOUT ANY OF THOSE BECAUSE THEY HAVE HIS NAME PRONOUNCED AS "ho-ZAY" INSTEAD OF "zho-ZEH" (ʒoˈzɛ) AND I HATE IT

HE'S BRAZILIAN! HE SPEAKS PORTUGUESE GODDAMNIT!

Unfortunately this same terrible sin happens in The Legend Of The Three Caballeros (2018) but I'll excuse it only because it's the only series about them. It had 13 episodes and was released first on a Philippine app but apparently is on Disney+ too