Happy National Donald Duck Day! On June 9 each year, today commemorates the birthday of a funny animated cartoon character and the original angry bird.
Donald Duck made his first screen debut on this day eighty-six years ago. This was in the eight-minute 1934 American Technicolor comedy animated short film The Wise Little Hen. The Walt Disney's Silly Symphony cartoon was based on the fairy tale The Little Red Hen.
Usually wearing a sailor suit with a cap and a black or red bow tie, Donald Duck is most famous for his semi-intelligible speech along with his mischievous and irritable personality. He has appeared in more films than any other Disney character.
Donald's middle name is Fauntleroy. The name means “child king” and is derived from Old French.
This was first revealed in the nine-minute 1942 American Technicolor family comedy animation film Donald Gets Drafted. Apparently, he is reportedly the only major Disney character with an official middle name.
During Donald’s second appearance was in the nine-minute 1934 American black and white family animation short film Orphan’s Benefit.
In the short, he introduced his comic friend, Mickey Mouse.
Donald’s girlfriend, Daisy Duck, along with his nephews, Huey, Dewey, and Louie, were introduced shortly after that.
In addition to animation, Donald Duck is also known for his appearance in comic books and newspaper comic strips. One of Donald's famous sayings is “Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy.”
American voice actor Clarence Charles "Ducky" Nash was best known for giving the original voice to the eponymous irascible Disney cartoon character.
Nash was born in the rural community of Watonga, Oklahoma. Years later, a street in that town is named in his honor. Nash had voiced Donald since 1934, quacking up millions of viewers the world over until his passing on February 20, 1985.
In 2002, Donald Duck was also declared by TV Guide as one of the fifty greatest cartoon characters of all time.
American comic book writer and illustrator Keno Don Hugo Rosa (known simply as Don Rosa), is exceptionally popular in Finland. He has acknowledged this by creating "The Quest for Kalevala", an Uncle Scrooge comic book originally published in 2009.
This Donald Duck story is specifically set in Finland. There is also a popular urban legend, stating that Donald Duck was once banned in Finland for not wearing any pants!
HOW TO OBSERVE
Wish Donald Duck a happy birthday! While you’re celebrating, check out these other fun ideas as well:
• Host a Donald Duck impersonation contest.
• Bake Donald Duck shaped cookies.
• Watch episodes of Donald Duck cartoons.
• Play Donald Duck trivia games.
Use #DonaldDuckDay to post on social media.
HISTORY
In 1984, National Donald Duck Day was first proclaimed by Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley on Donald’s 50th birthday.
The world’s most famous duck gave the city a silver statue of himself as a gift in memory of the big day. He also toured the country leading up to the big Disney birthday party bash.
What's your favorite Donald Duck cartoon?
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