A Mini-Reunion in Albuquerque - Bill Hetzer and Neill McKee Get-together after 25 Years

Bill Hetzer visited Neill McKee in Albuquerque, New Mexico on October 18, 2024 and they reminisced about the good old days in UNICEF. Bill was the Chief of Internet, Broadcasting and Photo Services in UNICEF, New York, for many years and Neill met him when Bill organized a conference on animated film for development in Prague, Czechoslovakia in March 1990, just after Neill had joined UNICEF Bangladesh as Chief of the Information and Communication Section.

Bill introduced Neill to James Grant and Bill Hanna of Hanna Barbera Cartoons in Hollywood (creator of Yogi Bear, The Flintstones, etc.), and Mr. Grant turned to Neill, in his usual style, and challenge him to come up with an idea to work with Hanna Barbera. That was the beginning of the Meena Communication Initiative in South Asia and later Sara in Africa. Neill was invited to Prague because of his IDRC film Prescription for Health, which was used widely by UNICEF in many countries for health education.

What did cartoons have to do with UNICEF’s mission? Well in 1943, Disney produced a film on preventing malaria titled, The Winged Scourge, using graphic animation and Disney characters. In the late 80s, the Disney Corporation held an event at the United Nations Secretariat in New York on the 50th anniversary of Mickey Mouse. The Secretary General suggested to Mr. Grant that UNICEF organize the event with Roy Disney, the nephew of the late Walt Disney. Mr. Grant agreed and a program was put together. It was a “glorified cocktail party“ with Disney characters, UN ambassadors, and children, along with other invited guests. Mr. Grant was very excited, hoping that the communication skills of Disney could be applied to the child survival and development revolution. Mr. Grant‘s conversations with Roy Disney and Michael Eisner, the Disney CEO, centered around what the UN has done to publicize the Mickey Mouse anniversary and now what it could do for UNICEF and the world’s children.

Subsequently, Bill, Mehr Khan and others discussed within the then Department of Information, the value of animation and how to teach such techniques too broadcasters in the developing world. Bill also introduced the work George McBean was doing in UNICEF, Nepal. Mr. Grant was very enthusiastic and suggested that we hold a conference to spread the word throughout the organization. Czechoslovakia was selected because it was famous for animated film and the national UNICEF Committee there agreed to pay local costs of the conference, attended by about 200 UNICEF communication officers, counterparts, and notable guests.

So, the Disney event at the UN was the catalyst that got the film animation movement going. In November 1996, UNICEF and Disney co-sponsored a conference at Disneyworld in Orlando, Florida, which was great for demonstrating progress and inspiring further work. The proceedings were published in this colorful book, the contents of which can be viewed here: https://www.southbound.com.my/SB_DrawingInsight.htm