Peace on Earth is a 1939 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer cartoon short subject directed by Hugh Harman, about a post-apocalyptic world populated by animals. Two young squirrels ask their grandfather on Christmas Eve what the “men” are in the lyric “Peace on Earth, good will to men.” Then the grandfather tells about the human race that was always fighting and their last fight.
The animation was nominated for the 1939 Academy Award for Short Subjects and you can watch it here (9 minutes). It’s naïf, as most part of cartoons for children, however it has a very positive message. Pay attention to how grandpa defines men, as There was always a fight. Sadly his definitions are more actual than ever. (via MilkandCookies)
I have this cartoon on DVD somewhere, but I had no idea it was nominated for an Academy Award in 1939. I remember being surprised how directly the cartoon addressed the issue of man’s aggression toward man. Very interesting stuff.