Back in the summer of 1934, in “The Wise Little Hen” Donald Duck made his cartoon debut. Metting with Mickey Mouse happened while his second appearance in “Orphan’s Benefit” later that year. From there, Daisy Duck and his nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie were introduced. Despite their outstanding diction, they couldn’t steal the spotlight from Donald. It is not possible to replace his moody, nearly incomprehensible charm, and it is the reason why Donald has been in more movies [200+] than any Disney character. Every year, on June 9 National Donald Duck Day is celebrated.
Donald Duck’s accomplishments don’t stop there. In 1958, he co-hosted the Oscars with a little help from Jack Lemmon, Bob Hope, and Jimmy Stewart. In 1995, they named an asteroid after him and he has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Well, this duck definitely deserves to have his own holiday.
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History
On June 9, 1934, the world was introduced to Disney’s beloved character Donald Duck. More or less starting off as a comic-book character, Donald Duck remains the most published non-superhero ever. He is so popular, that he is even a national hero in Finland. Much like Hello Kitty is in Japan, the character of Donald Duck is a pop culture icon in Finland. Donald Duck has appeared in more short films and feature films than any other Disney character donning his signature blue sailor suit with no pants. Thanks to the diverse nature of his character, he was featured in a plethora of roles, from an army officer and a teacher to an uncle to three ducklings.
To introduce an edgier character to balance out the goody-goody jolly Mickey Mouse, Walt Disney conjured up the idea for Donald Duck. Disney read about Australian cricketer Donald Bradman, during the experimental phase of Donald’s character creation, who had made headlines after getting dismissed for a duck.
Donald Duck’s voice is another defining feature of him. The original voice actor for Donald Clarence Nash created a distinct voice by a form of vocalization that uses the inner cheek to create sound instead of the larynx, it is known as “buccal speech”. While trying to mimic his pet goat, Nash first discovered this.
In the 1940s, with over 128 independent short animations, Donald Duck overtook Mickey Mouse. As Donald soared to popularity faster than any other Disney figure, this was truly his decade. During World War II, in spite of having to suspend most of its production, Disney represented its stance by using Donald Duck in several American propaganda films. Disney earned an Academy Award for “Best Short Film” for one of these animations.
In addition to his success in films, in the ’40s, Donald also got his own comic that branched into a complete series of independent Donald Duck comics, which are spread and enjoyed by adults and children until today. In the comics, The Donald who lives in the town of Duckburg and is a loving uncle to nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie unlike the original Donald has better-articulated speech and emotions and is much more mild-mannered.
After Walt Disney passed away, until 1983, Donald Duck did not make another appearance on-screen again. Nowadays he continues to be a legend and is still featured in television shows, comics, and cartoon films. Donald is always getting into situations and difficulties and has to get himself out using only his wits and slim resources, that is what makes Donald so relatable and fun.
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Timeline of National Donald Duck Day
1943 (Donald Won an Oscar) – The animated film “Der Fuehrer’s Face” featuring Donald Duck living in Nazi Germany won an Academy Award.
February 1953 (Donald’s Girlfriend) – Daisy Duck first appeared in “Disney’s Comics & Stories no. 149” as Donald Duck’s girlfriend.
1978 (Censored!) – Donald Duck was banned in Finland for wearing no pants.
August 9, 2004 (Duck Walk of Fame) – Donald Duck got his own star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame in Los Angeles.
Traditions of the Day
The majority of us have grown up watching Donald Duck cartoons. We fondly remember scenes of Donald getting into comical situations by losing his temper over small things. People tune in to their favorite Donald Duck cartoons today and maybe even introduce them to a child to revisit these memories.
“Kingdom Hearts” is a video game among many others where Donald Duck has also featured. Donald had his own comic book as well. These comics need sourcing but are well worth buying. Some are even collectibles. Online you can find many DIY Donald Duck art projects. Another great way to celebrate the day is to indulge in some Donald Duck-themed crafts.
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FAQs About National Donald Duck Day
Does Donald Duck have a girlfriend and who is she?
Yes, Donald Duck has a girlfriend, her name is Daisy Duck and she is a cartoon character created by The Walt Disney Company.
What is the full name of Donald Duck?
In the 1942 short film “Donald Gets Drafted” it was revealed that Donald Duck’s full name is Donald Fauntleroy Duck.
What is Donald Duck’s age?
his first appearance Donald Duck made on 9 June 1934, which means he is 88 years old now, in 2022.
Activities on National Donald Duck Day
1) Indulge in Donald – You’ve got about 225 Donald Duck movies to pick from. That number might sound daunting, but it doesn’t hurt to have so many good choices. if you want to curl up with a book, there’s no shortage of comics. Almost anything drawn by Carl Barks is gold. If you would rather be in the mood for something action-packed and fun, check out “Mickey, Donald, and Goofy: The Three Musketeers.”
2) Throw a Donald Duck theme party – You do not need to go all out (it is better to wear pants), but wearing a red tie and sailor hat will get everyone in the spirit. For good measure, you might want to motivate your guests to strap on a duck nose piece. And if the whole costume thing doesn’t appeal to everybody, there are always T-shirts. To make things a little more fun, organize a contest for the coolest Donald Duck T-shirt. Whether they are store-bought or custom, there are bound to be some fun surprises.
3) Visit Disneyland or Walt Disney World – If you are nearby, drop in and pay Donald a visit in person. Kids get a chance to see a cartoon character come to life, and adults get to relive their childhood for a bit. Take into consideration that Donald’s a very popular duck. In order to pass the time while waiting in line, try practicing your Donald Duck voice.
Facts About Donald Duck
1) Donald Duck has a sister – Donald has a twin sister, whose name is Thelma, Dumbella, or Della in different stories, she went on to become an astronaut.
2) Donald’s breakout role – Donald became popular with the audience after his debut on screen in a short titled “Don Donald”
3) Daisy was not Donald’s first love – In the animated short “Don Donald,” Donald Duck tries to win over his love interest Donna Duck.
4) Donald the fighting duck – Walt Disney approved Donald Duck as the official mascot for the University of Oregon’s Fighting Ducks, in 1947.
5) Step aside, Mickey Mouse – Donald Duck has appeared in seven animated feature films, it was more than all of his other Disney friends.
Why Do We Love National Donald Duck Day?
That voice – in Hollywood, Donald Duck has one of the most iconic voices and it’s ripe for imitation. Have you ever tried to imitate the voice of your favorite cartoon character? It is a lot of fun, and in true Donald Duck style, you do not have to make sense. Honestly, the fewer the number of people who understand you, the better. That is the indicator that you’re nailing your impression on National Donald Duck Day.
He teaches us about real ducks – Donald is an American Peking duck. As the name suggests, this species of duck was mainly bred in China. They become popular in the U.S. in 1873. Strangely enough, the Peking duck made its stateside debut in Long Island, though Donald’s accent doesn’t reflect that. This only further proves his acting genius.
He inspired some of our favorite cartoons – We wouldn’t have some of our favorite cartoons from the ’90s without Donald Duck, “Duck Tales” being one of them. You definitely remember the scene where Scrooge McDuck swims through piles of money. Every kid pictured doing that at least once, and it is sad to think where we would be without it. An even gloomier thought is a world where Darkwing Duck does not exist.
