Donald Duck and Goofy in "Polar Trappers" (1938)

Polar Trappers gave birth to a series of Disney cartoon shorts. This series would team Donald and Goofy. While Mickey, Donald and Goofy had been teamed with each other in a few cartoons starting with Mickey's Service Station (1935), this series would be sans Mickey. In this series would be such great cartoons as No Sail (1945), Crazy With the Heat (1947) and Frank Duck Brings 'Em Back Alive (1946). Polar Trappers is a delightful start to this series.


By the time of this cartoon Donald had his own solo series, but Goofy wouldn't get his own solo series until the next year (starting with Goofy and Wilbur (1939)), making Polar Trappers the first cartoon Goofy appeared in that did not feature Mickey Mouse. Though the opening titles for this cartoon and future pairing of the two great movie stars said "Donald and Goofy", these cartoons were still considered part of the Donald Duck series.

Polar Trappers was made under the working title Arctic Trappers. It was directed by Ben Sharpsteen. Sharpsteen would later be the supervising director for the feature films, Pinocchio (1940) and Dumbo (1941).
It is interesting to note that although the penguins do not have names in the cartoon, the animation draft refers to two of them as Peggy and Otto.

All the exhibitor reviews I could find about this cartoon were very positive and brief.

AnimationArt Babbitt (Goof, pushing cage, stops by ice hole, takes out "Welcome" mat; Goof with trap - walrus steals fish)
Stan Quackenbush (Wipe over to igloo - Dissolve to: (Duck at stove with beans (animated by Al Eugster)))
Al Eugster (Int. igloo - Duck at stove with beans; Truck and dissolve to: (Peggy looks over camp (animated by Winfield Hopkins)); Don has vision of roast chicken; Duck elated - throws beans in can - exits; Corner of igloo with trunk - Duck tries on dress suit - exits; Duck trips over Otto while doing drum major - penguins march over Duck; C.U. Shot of penguins feet on Duck's head; Duck sits up - Otto pops up - Otto out - Duck after him; Otto joins penguins - Duck in - kicks Otto out of scene; Goof with trap - Duck in - upsets Goof - both out - snowball trough; Goof over Duck - Duck grabs onto Goof's skis;  Long shot - Goof and Duck gain on snow ball; Duck into triumphant razz; Goof and Duck crash pinnacle - snowball picks them up - out of scene; Long shot -snowball carrying Goof and Duck; Close up - Goof and Duck in cage; Beans fall into Duck's beak - Duck squawks)
Winfield Hopkins (C.U. Peggy looks over camp; C.U. Peggy - "take"; Duck coming out of igloo; Peggy impressed by Don; Don advances - Peggy retreats; Don advances - Peggy retreats; C.U - Don produces jewel case; Don sniffs fish - presents it; Don and Peggy walk up to chopping block; Don and Peggy at chopping block)
Ed Love (Walrus into tunnel)
Woolie Reitherman (Goof sees - exits; Goof talks to reflection in ice; C.U. - Goof puts on disguises; Goof enters cave; Long shot - Goof enters; Goof barks like walrus; Goof gulps; Semi-long shot - icicles fall around the Goof; Close up - Goof looks up; Close up - Goof pulls out pin; Close up - Goof drops pin; C.U. Pin hits ice; Goof driven into ice by icicles; Goof paddles along on skis; Goof sneezes; Icicles fall on Goof)
Cornett Wood (Roof of caves - icicle snaps; Second shot of icicles; Celling - big icicle breaks; Tear falls - forms snowball; Snowball - a la bobsled)
Shamus Culhane (Don sneaks up on Peggy - sees colony of penguins; long shot - penguins; Duck slides down bank; Duck slides into scene - looks o.s.; group of penguins; Duck takes out flute - begins to play; Duck passes penguins - plays on flute: Penguins join in march; Otto passes Don; Otto dissolves into a squab; Otto runs back; Don gives Otto the slip; Otto marches on alone; Otto banks and makes turn)
Bob Wickersham (Penguins dissolve into roast chicken; Otto lands in snow bank; Penguins march in distance; Closeup - Otto starts to cry; Penguins marching - take o.s.; Penguins diving in snow; Duck marching - sees snowball - out of scene - penguins pop out of trough)

Story: Donald and Goofy Trapping Company ("We Bring 'Em Back Alive) is in the South Pole. Goofy walks up singing while pushing a walrus trap. Meanwhile Donald is inside an igloo cooking beans. However he is sick of beans. Outside he sees a penguin and decides that will make a good meal. He disguises himself as a penguin. However his first attempt fails. Meanwhile Goofy disguises himself as a walrus to capture a walrus. This doesn't work well as soon Goofy is surrounded by icicles. Donald spies a whole bunch of penguins and tries to lead them to a nice dinner (main course them) with his flute. However Donald trips on a small one and many to march over him. The little one cries and this causes an avalanche. A giant snowball blows over both Donald and Goofy and they end up trapped in their own cages.




-Michael J. Ruhland