August 24: Hello Friends

On this day in 1942, Disney's 6th animated feature Saludos Amigos had its world premiere in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. The first of what would be six package films made by the studio during the 1940s, the animated film is made up of 4 different segments each beginning with live-action clips of Walt and his staff roaming Latin America.
"Lake Titicaca" (which is a real body of water on the border of Peru and Bolivia) features American tourist Donald Duck. In this segment Donald meets some of the local inhabitants - including a llama.
"Pedro," is the story of a baby airplane from Chile who takes his first flight in order to deliver mail.
"Aquarela do Brasil" features a parrot named José Carioca who teaches Donald Duck how to dance the samba.
The final segment "El Gaucho Goofy" shows American cowboy Goofy learning to become a true South American.
Running at only 42 minutes, Saludos Amigos was the first Disney feature to world premiere outside of the U.S. as American audiences didn't get to see the film until February 1943.

Click HERE for more August 24 Disney history.