our short films on Latin America, in a story about Donald Duck receiving birthday gifts from his Latin American amigos, José Carioca, the parrot, and Panchito, the Mexican charro rooster. Donald unwraps a 16mm projector and views "The Cold-Blooded Penguin," about Pablo Penguin who flees the cold for a tropical isle and then misses the winter. Then he views "The Flying Gauchito," about a racing donkey with wings; "Baia," in which Donald and José go to Baia, meet a cookie girl, and dance; and "La Piñata", in which Donald learns of Las Posadas, the children's procession before Christmas, and finds friendly shelter and the breaking of the piñata. Interspersed throughout the film is live-action footage of native dancing and Latin American songs. Aurora Miranda, sister of Carmen, dances with Donald in the Baia sequence, showing how far the Studio had advanced the art of combining animation with live actors. This is the first time Walt had attempted the technique since the "Alice Comedies" in the 1920s. Songs from the film include "You Belong to My Heart," "Baia," and "The Three Caballeros." The world premiere was in Mexico City on December 21, 1944; released in the U.S. on February 3, 1945. Directed by Norm Ferguson. 71 min. It was rereleased in theaters in an abridged version in 1977 at a time when the film had gained increased awareness because of its almost psychedelic sequences. Released on video in 1982. The motion picture was nominated for two Academy Awards® -- Best Sound (C. O. Slyfield) and Best Scoring of a Musical Picture (Edward H. Plumb, Paul J. Smith, and Charles Wolcott).