Happy (almost) Birthday, Donald
June 8, 2018 9:58 AM Subscribe
Donald Fauntleroy Duck, lifelong second banana to Mickey Mouse, star of the Academy Award-winning Der Fuehrer's Face, and wearer of many hats (not just his signature sailor cap), turns 84 years old on June 9.
Despite many popular rumors, however, he was never banned in Finland, nor have we ever seen his duck boner.
Despite many popular rumors, however, he was never banned in Finland, nor have we ever seen his duck boner.
And he's still active, doing great things on the revival of DuckTales.
I hope he gets to meet Darkwing Duck soon.
posted by Servo5678 at 10:23 AM on June 8, 2018 [4 favorites]
I hope he gets to meet Darkwing Duck soon.
posted by Servo5678 at 10:23 AM on June 8, 2018 [4 favorites]
I’m just glad this wasn’t an obituary.
posted by dr_dank at 10:24 AM on June 8, 2018 [13 favorites]
posted by dr_dank at 10:24 AM on June 8, 2018 [13 favorites]
And he is still not in the public domain?
posted by Meatbomb at 10:25 AM on June 8, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by Meatbomb at 10:25 AM on June 8, 2018 [7 favorites]
lifelong second banana to Mickey Mouse
Not in all markets! Donald/Anders/Kalle was, its, and always shall be number one in Scandinavia, for example. There's no great history of Mickey from Don Rosa for example, whereas his stories about Donald, Scrooge, and the other ducks are the absolute high water mark of comics, in my opinion. I still regularly read the collections of his I have.
posted by Dysk at 10:30 AM on June 8, 2018 [7 favorites]
Not in all markets! Donald/Anders/Kalle was, its, and always shall be number one in Scandinavia, for example. There's no great history of Mickey from Don Rosa for example, whereas his stories about Donald, Scrooge, and the other ducks are the absolute high water mark of comics, in my opinion. I still regularly read the collections of his I have.
posted by Dysk at 10:30 AM on June 8, 2018 [7 favorites]
Disney Comics <--- Disney Cartoons, so Donald <--- Mickey.
In ALL markets.
posted by yhbc at 10:33 AM on June 8, 2018
In ALL markets.
posted by yhbc at 10:33 AM on June 8, 2018
You're so, so wrong. But I suppose you're not from a place with a rich history of said comics.
posted by Dysk at 10:35 AM on June 8, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Dysk at 10:35 AM on June 8, 2018 [2 favorites]
(The comics are certainly a bigger deal than any cartoons featuring Mickey in Scandinavia. Maybe Simba or someone is arguably bigger in purely financial terms, but certainly not when it comes to cultural impact in a lot of places. Mickey barely registers.)
posted by Dysk at 10:37 AM on June 8, 2018
posted by Dysk at 10:37 AM on June 8, 2018
The dueling pianos scene in Who Framed Roger Rabbit
posted by roger ackroyd at 10:38 AM on June 8, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by roger ackroyd at 10:38 AM on June 8, 2018 [3 favorites]
Oh thank god it was only this Donald.
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:49 AM on June 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:49 AM on June 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
5 Amazing Things Invented by Donald Duck
posted by one for the books at 10:59 AM on June 8, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by one for the books at 10:59 AM on June 8, 2018 [3 favorites]
Not in all markets! Donald/Anders/Kalle was, its, and always shall be number one in Scandinavia, for example.
Here in Portugal when I was a kid I'd argue Donald was also more popular than Mickey. Most Disney comics my brother had and I saw around as a kid were Donald Duck comics Brazilian imports. Even Zé Carioca (who started on Donald comics before having his own) was more popular than Mickey. Later stuff that was more late 80s and early 90s albums? Just Donald with the nephews and Scrooge.
posted by lmfsilva at 11:01 AM on June 8, 2018 [2 favorites]
Here in Portugal when I was a kid I'd argue Donald was also more popular than Mickey. Most Disney comics my brother had and I saw around as a kid were Donald Duck comics Brazilian imports. Even Zé Carioca (who started on Donald comics before having his own) was more popular than Mickey. Later stuff that was more late 80s and early 90s albums? Just Donald with the nephews and Scrooge.
posted by lmfsilva at 11:01 AM on June 8, 2018 [2 favorites]
That’ll happen when you write them backwards.
posted by Sys Rq at 11:31 AM on June 8, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by Sys Rq at 11:31 AM on June 8, 2018 [7 favorites]
1 < 2. You'll confuse yourself less if you don't try to turn them into arrows...
posted by Dysk at 11:40 AM on June 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Dysk at 11:40 AM on June 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
The most famous American sailor, carrying out the WWII-era Good Neighbor Policy in South America!
posted by The Underpants Monster at 11:49 AM on June 8, 2018
posted by The Underpants Monster at 11:49 AM on June 8, 2018
And let's not forget the time Donald, as most American sailors on leave do, danced with José the Brazilian parrot and Panchito the Mexican rooster, to the sweet sounds of the Hammond organ inside a giant brandy snifter until it blew up. Just another Thursday afternoon in Rio.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 12:02 PM on June 8, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by The Underpants Monster at 12:02 PM on June 8, 2018 [2 favorites]
Donald Fauntleroy Duck.
Fauntleroy.
F A U N T L E R O Y
posted by mister-o at 12:35 PM on June 8, 2018 [3 favorites]
Fauntleroy.
F A U N T L E R O Y
posted by mister-o at 12:35 PM on June 8, 2018 [3 favorites]
I have gone forty odd years not knowing I shared a birthday with Donald Duck. Thank you for fixing this!
posted by kellyblah at 1:18 PM on June 8, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by kellyblah at 1:18 PM on June 8, 2018 [8 favorites]
I counter that Mickey Mouse, while the erstwhile logo of the Happiest Place on Earth, never got drawn the way Carl Barks drew Donald & Scrooge, which ultimately was a way bigger deal. Because CARL BARKS PEOPLE
posted by GuyZero at 2:11 PM on June 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by GuyZero at 2:11 PM on June 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
Mickey Mouse is more famous, but really as a mascot, while Donald Duck is more famous as a character.
posted by RobotHero at 2:12 PM on June 8, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by RobotHero at 2:12 PM on June 8, 2018 [2 favorites]
At the age of fifty, in honor of his wartime service, Mr. Duck was promoted to the rank of Sargent and given an honorable discharge.
posted by dephlogisticated at 3:24 PM on June 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by dephlogisticated at 3:24 PM on June 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
I recently found this wonderful Donald Duck comic in an old reprint.
posted by interrobang at 3:39 PM on June 8, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by interrobang at 3:39 PM on June 8, 2018 [3 favorites]
Per the above link from dephlogisticated, Donald Duck got his only Oscar for his performance in "Der Furher's Face", a comically anti-Nazi cartoon, but Disney's best WWII message was in the duck-free "Education for Death".
But the Carl Barks era comic books were definitely my favorites, as my protective parents kept me away from superheroes until they were safely on Saturday Morning cartoons. I was reading Donald's adventures in the early '60s, the last few years before Barks retired, and they were clearly better than any other Western Publishing comics' dozens of other 'licensed characters', which also included Mickey Mouse and Goofy and my animated faves, Rocky and Bullwinkle, who clearly lost something in transfer to the printed page. I picked up the Donald Comics habit at a shoe store my parents took me to, who put out comic books to occupy kids waiting to get their feet fitted (one of my clearest media memories). Then, at Disneyland, a Main Street 'book' store had lots of back issues which were even more fun than the current adventures. When DisneyTV brought out the original "Duck Tales" I was very wary, but, in spite of the show's pushing Donald aside in favor of Scrooge and the Nephews, it was serious fun for a toon-head approaching his 30s.
posted by oneswellfoop at 4:16 PM on June 8, 2018 [3 favorites]
But the Carl Barks era comic books were definitely my favorites, as my protective parents kept me away from superheroes until they were safely on Saturday Morning cartoons. I was reading Donald's adventures in the early '60s, the last few years before Barks retired, and they were clearly better than any other Western Publishing comics' dozens of other 'licensed characters', which also included Mickey Mouse and Goofy and my animated faves, Rocky and Bullwinkle, who clearly lost something in transfer to the printed page. I picked up the Donald Comics habit at a shoe store my parents took me to, who put out comic books to occupy kids waiting to get their feet fitted (one of my clearest media memories). Then, at Disneyland, a Main Street 'book' store had lots of back issues which were even more fun than the current adventures. When DisneyTV brought out the original "Duck Tales" I was very wary, but, in spite of the show's pushing Donald aside in favor of Scrooge and the Nephews, it was serious fun for a toon-head approaching his 30s.
posted by oneswellfoop at 4:16 PM on June 8, 2018 [3 favorites]
I tried but failed to find a video of the Carol Burnett Show sketch where Donald gets forced into early retirement by the studio and is invited for a farewell dinner by studio exec Harvey Korman, who calls his wife to tell her to have the orange sauce ready.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 5:38 PM on June 8, 2018
posted by The Underpants Monster at 5:38 PM on June 8, 2018
The title of this post did concern me, since Donald Duck's birthday (the 9th) is just five days before that OTHER Donald (the 14th).
posted by oneswellfoop at 7:16 PM on June 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by oneswellfoop at 7:16 PM on June 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
And he is still not in the public domain?
posted by Meatbomb at 10:25 AM on June 8 [5 favorites +] [!]
Maybe not, but I believe Disney has quit billing the University of Oregon for their use of Donald Duck as their athletic teams' mascot.
posted by Cranberry at 12:43 AM on June 9, 2018
posted by Meatbomb at 10:25 AM on June 8 [5 favorites +] [!]
Maybe not, but I believe Disney has quit billing the University of Oregon for their use of Donald Duck as their athletic teams' mascot.
posted by Cranberry at 12:43 AM on June 9, 2018
Anybody who thinks Donald Duck plays second banana to Mickey has been taken in by Disney propaganda. Nobody likes Mickey Mouse, the perfect little sycophant, everbody likes Donald.
The last time Mickey had any personality was in his 1920s newspaper strips.
posted by MartinWisse at 2:26 AM on June 9, 2018 [2 favorites]
The last time Mickey had any personality was in his 1920s newspaper strips.
posted by MartinWisse at 2:26 AM on June 9, 2018 [2 favorites]
I've always loved Donald Duck and it's one of the most annoying things in my life now that I can't just say 'I love Donald' without having to be exactly clear about who I'm talking about. Fucking Tr*mp, ruining good things all over the shop.
posted by h00py at 3:14 AM on June 9, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by h00py at 3:14 AM on June 9, 2018 [1 favorite]
Fantagraphics is doing a great job of restoring and collecting Carl Barks' Donald Duck stories in gorgeous new editions. Details here.
posted by Paul Slade at 3:47 AM on June 9, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Paul Slade at 3:47 AM on June 9, 2018 [1 favorite]
For a cartoon do you count from first sketch, first pencil test or first public screening?
posted by sammyo at 8:20 AM on June 9, 2018
posted by sammyo at 8:20 AM on June 9, 2018
Date of hatching.
posted by Chrysostom at 6:33 PM on June 9, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Chrysostom at 6:33 PM on June 9, 2018 [1 favorite]
other Donalds to love...
Glover (just call him Lando)
Sutherland (EEEEEEEEEEEE)
Fagen (get Steely)
O'Connor (dance!!)
Pleasence (known for may UNpleasant roles)
Bellisario (leaping NOW)
Rumsfeld
stretching it slightly to just Dons...
Quixote
Corleone (a more honest gangster)
Osmond
Henley (an Eagle)
McLean (Mr. American Pie)
Ho
Herbert (aka Mr. Wizard)
Adams (would you believe...)
Rickles (you hockey puck)
Wahlberg
Knotts
Cheatle
Ameche
Draper
Darko
Meredith (he's Dandy)
and Pardo (live from New York...)
posted by oneswellfoop at 8:22 PM on June 9, 2018 [1 favorite]
Glover (just call him Lando)
Sutherland (EEEEEEEEEEEE)
Fagen (get Steely)
O'Connor (dance!!)
Pleasence (known for may UNpleasant roles)
Bellisario (leaping NOW)
stretching it slightly to just Dons...
Quixote
Corleone (a more honest gangster)
Osmond
Henley (an Eagle)
McLean (Mr. American Pie)
Ho
Herbert (aka Mr. Wizard)
Adams (would you believe...)
Rickles (you hockey puck)
Wahlberg
Knotts
Cheatle
Ameche
Draper
Darko
Meredith (he's Dandy)
and Pardo (live from New York...)
posted by oneswellfoop at 8:22 PM on June 9, 2018 [1 favorite]
Donald Duck Clubhouse Theme Song
posted by kirkaracha at 1:30 PM on June 10, 2018 [1 favorite]
Roll call!Another version
Donald? Present!
Donald? I'm here!
Donald? Donald here!
Donald? I'm here, too!
posted by kirkaracha at 1:30 PM on June 10, 2018 [1 favorite]
And he is still not in the public domain?
Never doubt Walt Disney's ability to hold a grudge from beyond the grave.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 2:34 PM on June 10, 2018
Never doubt Walt Disney's ability to hold a grudge from beyond the grave.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 2:34 PM on June 10, 2018
That's old enough to be public domain, in a halfway decent planet, at least!
posted by GoblinHoney at 8:22 AM on June 12, 2018
posted by GoblinHoney at 8:22 AM on June 12, 2018
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posted by lmfsilva at 10:10 AM on June 8, 2018 [4 favorites]