Donald Duck - The Famous and Cranky Disney Duck Who`s Become Iconic in Disney History

Hi folks! Welcome to my My Own Personal Nerdy Disney and Animation Scrutinizing Analysis blog. A blog where I'm analyzing several Disney films, Disney or Animation in general! These entries are just meant to be my analyses. Not reviews or statements. Just fun analyses! Though I'll make some personal remarks now and then, the content of these entries are meant to be depicted objectively. They're made for entertainment purpose only and the pictures/clips are copyright Disney or other companies. 

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I`ve managed to escape the supernova behind me! :) Yay! :)

 

 

 

 

Yay! I`m 90 years old and I
can stand on one toe! :)

If you`re going to mention Disney characters who are essentially Disney icons, the irony is that most of them doesn`t come from their movies. While it may be somewhat of an irony, due to how Disney are mostly known and labeled for their Full-Length Animated Movies, the truth is that these characters are known for the shorts released during Walt`s time. Sure, it`s not strange that these characters are synonymous with Walt, since he started it all (pardon my intended pun). But these characters have become an unoffical squad. The most cherished of this squad is of course Mickey Mouse. For having a position of being the most important Disney character, for having the credit of starting Walt`s Pantheon of characters (despite how he wasn`t technically the first). However, if we`re going to discuss Mickey`s true successor, who`s essentially having a similar and perhaps equal position, then it`s Donald Duck. 

Yeah, I wanted to fight, despite
my heart below my foot :)
The heart stands for my love of
fighting :)

Created in 1934, Donald has managed to become one of Disney`s most popular and iconic characters. Most people, regardless of being Disney fans or not, has been introduced to Donald in one way or antoher. And frankly, Donald has rivaled Mickey`s position of being a famous Disney icon from a similar short. The anthrophomorphic duck with his signature Sailor Shirt and Cap with a Bow Tie is known for his characteristic, duck-like voice and his short temper. Of course Donald has been frequently featured a lot in merchandise and various forms for entertainment. As shorts, movies and merchandise (despite how he`s mostly labeled for the shorts). But the main reason for even writing an entry about this famous duck, is due to how he has his own anniversary last June. For finally turning 90 years old (yes, it`s truly hard to believe that he`s been with us as long).

The Origins of Donald Duck

 

Donald Fauntleroy Duck (his full name confirmed in Donald Gets Drafted, 1942) first appeared in The Wise Little Hen in 1934 (based on the same fable). Despite how it was cited to be released June 9th, historian J.B. Kaufman rediscovered that the short was first shown May 3rd. Before the short was released, the score was performed on radio by Three Rhythm Kings, Clarence Nash and Florence Gill. But it was Donald`s second appearance in Orphan's Benefit that same year that introduced him with Mickey Mouse and established his personality. But Donald became a hit with audiences. In the 1930s, he appeared in many Mickey shorts with Mickey and Goofy and was given his own shorts series starting with Donald and Pluto. And Donald has lived his long time ever since. 

Walt came up with Donald's iconic attributes, as his short temper and sailor suit (based on ducks and sailors, for both being associated with water). But as for his name and personality, it`s been rumored that it came from the 1886 book Little Lord Fauntleroy by Frances Hodgson Burnett. As the lead had the same costume and personality. But Walt wanted Donald's middle name to be silly and dopey name. While Dick Huemer and Art Babbit were his first animators, Dick Lundy is credited for developing his character. As for Donald`s designs, in 1936, he`s of course developed during the years. But he was redrawn more fuller, rounder, and cuter in Moving Day.

Donald's original performer was Clarence Nash, who auditioned for Disney when Disney looked for voice actors to make animal sounds to the characters. Nash developed the voice as a "nervous baby goat" before Walt made it sounding like a duck. Which impressed Walt. Nash appeared with Donald just once on the Disneyland TV show. Nash voiced him for 50 years, until his death in 1985. Jack Wagner took over Donald`s voice for the parks, Disney on Ice shows and live-action clips for TV, until Disney animator Tony Anselmo took over in 1985. Anselmo revealed that it wasn`t done by squeezing air through the cheek, as most people think. With the exception of Mickey and the Roadster Racers, where he was voiced by Daniel Ross. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Donald`s Personality, Criticism and Relationship To Mickey Mouse

 

I`m fighting in the dark...
Sorry, Bruce :)

If we`re going to summarize Donald`s characterization, the truth is that Disney characters are usually labeled for being one-dimensional Archetypes. But in that case, Donald`s personality is truly interesting to examinate. As he`s essentially the opposite of what a Disney hero usually embodies. If Mickey Mouse is essentially a hero, then Donald comes across as a anti-hero. For being tenacious, short-tempered and cranky, In fact, Donald also comes across as being callous, mean and frankly vindictive. And also a bit of a bragger. But frankly, it was a deliberate choice, in order to give Mickey a counterpart who was his opposite. And it makes Donald a well-rounded character. However,  despite his bad parts, he still has his good sides, as he does have his moments where he shows genuine kindness and concern. While Donald`s traits may be a headscratcher, we`ll have to remember other characters who`s also been regarded as Disney Icons, despite being well-rounded (cough, Tinker Bell, cough). And frankly, many people like him for those reasons. For making him relatable and finding his antics funny. Despite how there are also some people who hates Donald for his flaws. 

Yes, I thought my son was
from the same species :) Thus
I`m shocked :)

However, regarding actual critcism of Donald`s moral and values, in 1978 in Finland there was a debate over his morality. However As Matti Holopainen jokingly criticized Donald for living with Daisy, despite not being married to her. And for not wearing trousers and for being too bourgeois, Donald comics were banned in Finland for a short time, but only for financial reasons. But he was banned a short time for not wearing pants. But as for Finland`s relationship with Donald, a Finnish author, Hannu Raittila, said that Finnish people recognize an aspect of themselves in Donald. For trying to retrieve himself from all unexpected and unreasonable scrapes, using only his wits and the slim resources he has. Regarding his relationship with Mickey, it`s been rocky, to say it least. In most shorts, Mickey and Donald are friends with no rivalry (exceptions being The Band Concert, Magician Mickey and near the end of Symphony Hour). However, with The Mickey Mouse Club, Donald is jealous of Mickey and wants his job as Disney's biggest Star (similar to the rivalry between Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck). And it`s been rocky ever since.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Donald`s Family, Squad and Enemies

Just hang on more, guys :)
Your salary is waiting after a
few hours more :)

By discussing Donald, it`s impossible to not mention his family. His girlfriend Daisy and his three nephews, Huey, Dewey and Louie. While Don Donald originally introduced Donna Duck, she evolved into Daisy. Who appeared in Mr. Duck Steps Out in 1940. Donald's nephews first appeared in the 1938`s Donald's Nephews, directed by Jack King. Despite how they appeared earlier in the Donald-comic strip by Al Taliaferro. But unlike Mickey`s relatives, it would be fair to say that Donald`s relatives are mostly more famous than Mickey`s, especially his nephews. But at least Donald`s kin are very pretty much like him. Daisy may not be as callous and mean, but still has her own temper. His nephews are miscevious in their own way and has their own tricks, despite how they also have their good sides. But they still love their uncle, regardless. Other relatives are of course Scrooge McDuck, created by Carl Barks. Who`s never interacted with Donald outside the comics, before Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983) and DuckTales (1990).

I`m the ursine version of
Goofy :)

For Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color, Donald's uncle Ludwig von Drake was created in 1961. Taliaferro also created a St. Bernard named Bolivar. And Donald`s family grew to cousin Gus Goose and Elvira Coot. Donna also returned in the comics. But regarding the other characters in Donald`s universe: While he often interacts with Mickey and Goofy, he also interacts with Chip and Dale. Who often teases him and mocks him and vice versa. And they always creates huge havoc for each other. However, regarding Donald`s other enemies, who ranges from comical to annoying, we should mention Pete, Humphrey the Bear, Spike the Bee, Mountain Lion Louie, Bootle Beetle, Witch Hazel (in Trick or Treat), Aracuan Bird and Baby Shelby (in Mickey Mouse Works). During the Second World War, Donald was often set against Adolf Hitler.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Donald`s Popularity and Awards

No, we`re not fighting against
each other. We`re blocking out
the sun :)

Regarding the comparison between Donald and Mickey, it would`ve been tempting to wonder who`s the most popular of the two characters. Despite how Mickey is mostly promoted by Disney as the most important, the truth is that Donald stole his popularity. By 1938, polls showed that Donald was more popular, which contiuned the following decade. His peak was from 1941 to 1945 and while his star power declined after the War, he was still at the top of his game. His popularity continued into the 1950s. As for awards, along with Mickey, Donald was included in TV Guide's list of the 50 greatest cartoon characters of all time in 2002. He also got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He won an Academy Award® for Best Short Subject Cartoon in the 1940`s. Donald has even been in more attractions and shows at the parks than Mickey. Donald is the only significant cartoon character to be a mascot for a major American university.  

Never be in jail. It does things
to ya :)

A Gallup poll said that 37% of filmgoers were affected by Donald’s performance to pay taxes after The New Spirit (1942). Walt authorized Donald to be used as a mascot for the U.S. Coast Guard. Which was made for the U.S. Treasury Department. Donald also appears as a mascot in the U.S. Army Air Forces' 309th Fighter Squadron and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. He also was a mascot emblem for the 415th Fighter Squadron, 438th Fighter Squadron; 479th Bombardment Squadron; and 531st Bombardment Squadron. And he also was a mascot for the Fire Department at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, and the Army Air Forces (now U.S. Air Force) 319 Aircraft Maintenance Unit at Luke Air Force Base. Donald's most famous appearance was on the North American Aviation B-25B Mitchell medium bomber (S/N 40-2261) piloted by Lt. Ted W. Lawson of the 95th Bombardment Squadron, USAAF. Asteroid 12410 was named after Donald. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

List of Donald`s Franchise

  

Except Melody from 
Mermaid II is missing.
Don`t ask us why :)

While it would be fair to say that Donald is known for his shorts, the truth is that he`s appeared in many forms of media. But he appeared in more films than any other Disney character. While he`s appeared in many shorts, it`s worth to mention his shorts from World War II. Which was a six film mini-series that follows Donald in the U.S. Army. Which were Donald Gets Drafted (May 1, 1942), The Vanishing Private (September 25, 1942), Sky Trooper (November 8, 1942), Fall Out Fall In (April 23, 1943), The Old Army Game (November 5, 1943) and Commando Duck (June 2, 1944). Donald appeared in some propaganda films, as 1943`s Der Fuehrer's Face. Who was the first of two animated short during the War to win an Oscar. However, Donald also starred in the package films between Bambi and Cinderella. As Saludos Amigos (1942), The Three Caballeros (1944), Fun and Fancy Free (1947) and Melody Time (1948). He also starred in The Reluctant Dragon (1941).

We`re trying to be
Uncle Donald`s
decoration :)

After Chips Ahoy (1956), Donald appeared in educational films, such as Donald in Mathmagic Land and How to Have an Accident at Work (both 1959) and the Disneyland television show (1959). Donald Duck's 50th Birthday was a TV special broadcast on The Magical World of Disney n November 13, 1984. Donald also was in Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983) and a cameo in Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988), where he had a piano duel scene with Daffy Duck. Donald had a small part in DuckTales (1987), starred in Mickey's 60th Birthday (1988) and in The Prince and the Pauper (1990). He made a cameo in Bonkers (1993) and A Goofy Movie (1995). However, if there was a spinoff-franchise where he truly was prominent character, then it`s 1996`s TV show Quack Pack. A modernseries, this show actually featured Donald and his squad as modernized, where his nephews were teenagers and both Donald and Daisy working for a TV show (What In the World). 

I`m Santa`s for the
moment :)

Donald also played an important role in Mickey Mouse Works (1999), Fantasia 2000 to a Noah's Ark segment to Edward Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance Marches 1–4 (similar to Mickey`s role in Fantasia) and Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas (1999). In the new Millenium, he was in House of Mouse as the co-owner of Mickey's nightclub. He also was in Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse (2001), Mickey's House of Villains (2002), Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas (2004) and Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers (2004). He`s also a part of the cast of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (2006) as well. 

Yes, even a Disney
character can be a
badass racer :)

He`s also starred in Mickey Mouse (2013–2019), Mickey and the Roadster Racers/Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures (2017), DuckTales (2017–2021) where he`s a main character, Legend of the Three Caballeros (2018), The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse (2020–2023) and Mickey Mouse Funhouse (2021–present), Chip 'n' Dale: Park Life (2021), Mickey's Tale of Two Witches (2021), Mickey and Minnie Wish Upon a Christmas (2021), Mickey Saves Christmas (2022), Mickey and Friends Trick or Treats (2023) and Mickey's Christmas Tales (2023). However, as for his 90th Annniversary, Donald`s recently starred in an all-new short called D.I.Y. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Donald`s Life as a Comic Book Character

 

This is what it looks like when
you`ve been sleepwalking :)

While Donald has lived on the screen, he`s also lived a huge life on Comics. He first appeared in graphic novel strip in 1934, based on The Wise Little Hen. For the next years, Donald made more appearances in Disney strips. And in 1936, he was a regular in the Silly Symphony strip. In 1937, an Italian publisher Mondadori made the first Donald story for comic books. In 1942, Western Publishing fulfilled the task of making graphic novels about Donald. Barks soon took over and made Donald more adventurous, eloquent and less temperamental. Pete was the only character from the Mickey Mouse comics to be in Barks' Donald universe. Barks made the city of Duckburg and many supporting players. As Neighbor Jones (1944), Scrooge McDuck (1947), Gladstone Gander (1948), the Beagle Boys (1951), Gyro Gearloose (1952), April, May and June (1953), Flintheart Glomgold (1956), Magica de Spell (1961), and John D. Rockerduck (1961). Scrooge became a favorite of Barks` to pair up with Donald. Dick Kinney and Al Hubbard created Donald's cousin Fethry Duck. Al Taliaferro gave Donald his own car, a 1934 Belchfire Runabout.

We`ll have to figure out which
perfume we`re giving Uncle
Scrooge tomorrow :) So he`ll
smell better :)

Donald was famously drawn by Barks, Taliaferro and Don Rosa. But perhaps Rosa is best known of them. Donald`s comics has been popular in Europe, particularly in Nordic countries where his weekly magazine had the highest circulation from 1950s to 2009 in Sweden. But they are also popular in Germany, the Netherlands, Greece and Italy. Where Donald stars in a juvenile version named Paperino Paperotto, and a superhero alter ego called Paperinik (Duck Avenger in the US and Superduck in the UK). And European publishers have been making their own Donald adventures for decades.

 

Epilogue

 

I`m the duck version of Dr.
Jekyll and Mr. Hyde :)

At the end, Donald Duck has always been and will for always be one of Disney`s most everlasting icons. And yes, it`s hard to be believe that he`s been with us so long. Which technically means that he`s been a part of pop culture before many of us were even born. Of course Donald has changed and evolved through the years, both in character and design-wise, but his spirit has usually stayed the same. And despite how he`s both beloved and hated, he`s still going to be one of Disney`s most exposed and well-known icons for many years to come. And he`s always going to be associated with both Walt and beyond Walt`s timeline, no matter what. 

Look at this, Nelly, Diddy and
Murphy Lee :)

As for my own personal expierience with Donald, while he`s perhaps never been my ultimate favorite Disney character, I still used to watch his shorts as a child. And yes, I did enjoy them and found them funny, despite how they weren`t my favorite shorts from Walt (for some reason, I liked Mickey`s shorts better). I remember watching Donald`s shorts on my local Disney Afternoon and even getting some compilation videos on VHS (who were about his anniversaries). But while that being said, since this entry was meant to synergize his 90th Anniversary, there`s nothing else to wish Donald Duck Happy 90th Anniversary and may you continue to have many more.

 

 

 

Yes, even a duck can paint :)

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References:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Duck

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Duck_filmography

https://www.waltdisney.org/blog/fauntelroy-follies-continuing-history-donald-duck#:~:text=A%20round%20of%20applause%20to,middle%20name%20is%20indeed%20Fauntleroy! 

https://www.latestly.com/entertainment/hollywood/uncovering-donald-ducks-official-voice-tony-anselmo-3304518.html 

https://celebrationspress.com/2018/01/22/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-donald-duck/

https://larko.wordpress.com/2006/05/25/the-truth-about-donald-ducks-pants/ 

https://www.waltdisney.org/blog/evolution-duck-1940s-donald-duck-decade 

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/fowled-out/ 

https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Daisy_Duck 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrooge_McDuck 

https://screenrant.com/disney-character-most-movies-donald-duck-mickey-mouse/

https://www.reddit.com/r/DreamlightValley/comments/108v08v/does_anyone_love_donald/