Today in 1934 Donald Fauntleroy Duck made his first appearance in the Silly Symphonies cartoon "The Wise Little Hen."
He became Disney’s second most popular character, next to Mickey Mouse (kind of their Daffy Duck to Disney’s Bugs Bunny).
He also went on to star in comic books (notably drawn by the great Carl Barks), TV shows, and other media.
You gotta admire a duck who could be that good natured and succeed despite that big a speech impediment (far worse than Daffy’s).
LEARN MORE ABOUT DONALD’S HISTORY.
ALSO LEARN ABOUT THE MAN BEHIND HIS VOICE–an Oklahoma boy who made it big talking like an incomprehensible duck.
Happy birthday, Donald!
Author: Jimmy Akin
Jimmy was born in Texas, grew up nominally Protestant, but at age 20 experienced a profound conversion to Christ. Planning on becoming a Protestant seminary professor, he started an intensive study of the Bible. But the more he immersed himself in Scripture the more he found to support the Catholic faith, and in 1992 he entered the Catholic Church. His conversion story, "A Triumph and a Tragedy," is published in Surprised by Truth. Besides being an author, Jimmy is the Senior Apologist at Catholic Answers, a contributing editor to Catholic Answers Magazine, and a weekly guest on "Catholic Answers Live."
View all posts by Jimmy Akin
Today in 1934 Donald Fauntleroy Duck made his first appearance in the Silly Symphonies cartoon "The Wise Little Hen."
Daffy rules.
Which Daffy, Ed? The original wacky daffy, or the later, angry, bitter, Donald-like Daffy?
I also prefer the more urbane & sarcastic Daffy. But, Donald is my favorite big Disney character, just based on his sheer, unapologetic grumpiness.
donald in mathmagic land.
Carl Barks rules.
I saw them as a kindof seemless garment kind of duck.
My favorite Bugs/Daffy cartoon is the one that ends with them pulling down signs — duck season, rabbit season, duck season — until they both looked stunned at a new one:
Elmer season.
Nothing like identifying your real enemy.
Jimmy, although as an icon, Mickey has never been equalled in popularity and recognizability, as a film star, Donald definitely eclipsed Mickey once the ball got rolling.
By the mid 1930’s, Disney had to begin toning down the roguish and careless or sadistic trends in the Mickey character, and he became extremely bland by about 1940. Pressures from parents and moralists led Disney’s star to be always upright in his behavior.
By contrast, this was never expected of Donald, who was never given the burden of being a role model. He was free to lose his temper and be scheming and mischevious, which was all to the good for the audience, because that’s why he is so funny.
Just look at the sheer number of Donald shorts produced compared to Mickey shorts (after 1934) and you will see that Donald’s popularity as a film star was greater.
Josh is right… even Walt Disney couldn’t believe that Donald, who he based off in grumpy people he had met, was much more popular than his dear Mickey.
As for me, I have always loved Donald Duck the best among all the Disney characters (followed by Goofy). His grumpyness, his bad luck, and his temper tantrums made him someone I could identify and sympathize with as a child, and I still find him very funny. Yay Donald!
I’ve heard that one reason for the Sorcerer’s Apprentice scene in Fantasia was an attempt by Disney to resuscitate Mickey’s popularity in the face of Donald triumphant.
Personally, I always liked Donald the most. And his slowly expanding cast certainly made him the most interesting.
As for Carl Barks, it’s important to note that none of the Disney comics ever listed the actual story creators. Barks was unknown in name to everyone for a long time, but was quickly dubbed “the good duck artist” by people who could tell certain strips were superior to the rest. Barks did not get his just kudos for a long time.
Note who got to get on the boat with Noah this time round.
I absolutly love Donald Duck. HE IS MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE DISNEY CHARACHTER. I love his hot temper. I visted Donald Duck a few days ago and when I got to him, I showed him my Disney autograph book and he signed the first page. He wrote DONALD DUCK #1 and I also have two Donald Duck stuffed animals. well, TTFN TA TA FOR NOW!!!!!!!! I SALUTE YOU DONALD DUCK. MAY GOD BLESS YOU WITH 69 MORE YEARS OF LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i just love donuld duck.. he’s soooooooooooooo sooooooooooooooooooo sooooooooooooooooooo cute…