The Grain That Built a Hemisphere

This animated short was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject. Quite right as I found it very informative. It details the history of corn. Yes, a strange subject indeed, but apparently without the Native American 'invention' of corn on the cob, we'd have precious little of the products and medicines we'd have today.

Produced in co-operation with the Canadian film board I believe this was made to educate the masses on corn (for some reason). Why the Canadian government felt the need to do this back in 1942 is anyone's guess but it's still a neat little documentary. You'll find it in the Disney Treasures: On the Front Lines DVD set.

This short, nominated for an Academy Award for Documentary, was done in conjunction with the National Film Board of Canada to be shown throughout the Americas, particularly South and Central America. The animation holds up well, but the narration leaves something to be desired. I can hear the starting point of the, "Let's be real cute!" narration style that irritates far too often in the True Life Adventures series that began a handful of years later. Fascinating at times, but tends to drag toward the end.

This is on the Disney Treasures On he Front Lines set, which is phenomenal and well worth getting, if you're an animation fan. The two-disc set is most highly recommended.