The History of Donald Duck

Donald Duck was created in the early 1930s. He made his debut in The Wise Little Hen, in which he was voiced by Clarence Nash. However, he was depicted as a generic cartoon duck. It wasn't until 1936 that Disney artists began making changes to Donald Duck’s design, making his bill more expressive and his eyes larger. By the time shorts like Orphans’ Picnic and Moving Day debuted, Donald Duck had become a favorite with audiences. By the time he starred in January 1937’s Don Donald, his appearance had settled into the familiar design we would recognize today. Interestingly, the Disney artists who worked on his character became known as “Duck men.” In his first appearance, Donald Duck didn’t have much of a personality, but by his second film, 1934’s Orphans’ Benefit, his characterization was already well-developed. When Donald was heckled by an audience of unruly youngsters in the film, he lost his temper and threw a tantrum; animator Dick Lundy showed his rage by having Donald hop on one foot and brandish his fists. Audiences were entertained by Donald Duck’s humorous displays of anger and he quickly became a fan favorite, as well as a convenient narrative foil to Mickey Mouse. Films like The Dognapper, On Ice, Mickey’s Polo Team, Orphans’ Picnic, Moving Day, and Donald and Pluto placed him in increasingly slapstick situations that drew his ire and entertained audiences. Many fans consider Donald Duck’s peak years to be between 1937 and 1941, a period of time that saw the creation of a slew of shorts that had the character hopping mad — literally. Today, Donald Duck remains a fan favorite among the classic Disney characters and he is known for his humorous tantrums in various cartoons and video games as well as for his appearances at Disney Parks around the world.