Donald Duck’s Birthday – Looking Back at the Fiery Fowl
On Sunday, June 9, we celebrate Donald Duck’s Birthday. The world’s most fiery fowl turns 85 and they’ll be partying in Disneyland, today!
While many of us aspire to be like the saintly Mickey Mouse, I think most people end up looking in the mirror to see mercurial Donald Duck.
Temperamental to the max, the mercurial duck is a perfect foil to the can-do attitude of Mickey. But there’s a sincerity of Donald’s character, which often makes him more relatable.
Celebrating Donald Duck’s Birthday: Where’s Donald?
The Orlando Sentinel reported:
Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy.
Disney’s iconic rage-filled duck marks his birthday on June 9 — the day in 1934 when he first made his onscreen debut in “The Little Wise Hen” — for Donald Duck Day.
Writer Kathleen Christiansen listed where the dashing duck may be found in Walt Disney World.
- Mexico Pavilion in Epcot
- Pete’s Silly Sideshow
- Tusker House
- Chef Mickey’s
- Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire
- Minnies Season Dining
- Move It! Shake It! MousekeDance It! Street Party
- Minnie’s Beach Bach Breakfast
Fauntleroy?
The South Florida Reporter compiled a list of historical details about Mickey’s pal.
Five of the best notes:
- Donald Duck has appeared in more films than any other Disney character. Donald was also declared in 2002 by TV Guide as one of the 50 greatest cartoon characters of all times.
- It was in Donald’s second appearance in Orphan’s Benefit that he was introduced to his comic friend, Mickey Mouse.
- Donald’s girlfriend, Daisy Duck, along with his nephews, Huey, Dewey, and Louie, were introduced shortly after that.
- Donald Duck also starred in a series of shorts from 1942 to 1944 during World War II. The shorts depicted Donald’s life in the U.S. Army and his deep appreciation of the American Troops.
- Donald was awarded his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on August 9th, 2004. There are only 17 animated characters that have received this honor. Other Disney characters who share this claim to fame are Mickey Mouse (he was actually the first animated character to receive a star), Snow White, Winnie the Pooh, Tinker Bell, and Minnie Mouse.
Bonus: There aren’t many Disney characters with middle names, but Donald has one. His full name is Donald Fauntleroy Duck
An Academy Award Winner!
The Disney Family Museum did a series of articles back in 2011 and in “Evolution of a Duck: the 1940s “Donald Duck Decade” the blog reminds readers that Donald Duck garnered an Oscar for his Best Short Subject Cartoon Der Fuerher’s Face (1943) – depicting Donald’s nightmare vision about life under the Nazi regime.
They added:
Happy 85th anniversary, Donald Duck! ? pic.twitter.com/7LlJH5D2FA
— Disney D23 (@DisneyD23) June 9, 2019
Not only did Donald win an Academy Award during the decade, but he also had seven Academy Award-nominated short cartoons. Just to give you an idea, Mickey won one Academy Award and had three nominations during the decade. The total count for their career is Mickey Mouse with seven nominations and one win versus Donald Duck with eleven nominations and one win. In case you feel sorry for Mickey, please don’t, as Donald Duck trounced every actor in Hollywood across all decades. Donald’s eleven nominations place him atop all actors; tied for second are Spencer Tracy and Laurence Olivier, each with nine nominations to their credit. Donald was certainly making a name for himself!
A Gran Fiesta
As we celebrate Donald Ducks birthday, I’m pleased to report I’ll be in Walt Disney World very soon. There, one of the first rides I’ll jump on will be the Gran Fiesta Tour! “Happy Birthday Donald!”
What is your favorite Donald Duck ride, interaction, or cartoon? Let us know in the comments…