The Angry Duck

Donald Duck made his first appearance on June 9, 1934, in a Silly Symphony cartoon called "The Wise Little Hen." He had a supporting role. A hen asks Donald and Peter Pig to help plant corn. Both refuse, feigning stomachaches. Donald's contribution was minimal, but his voice and personality were distinct. He was petulant, self-interested, prone to outbursts. Unlike Mickey Mouse, cheerful and cooperative, Donald was irritable and flawed. Audiences loved him.

Donald was voiced by Clarence Nash, producing a squawking, half-intelligible speech that gave him a physicality transcending language. By the 1940s, Donald was more popular in Europe than Mickey. In some countries, he still is.

carl barks, the cartoonist who defined donald duck's character and created uncle scrooge mcduck, known as "the good duck artist." source: wikimedia commons

What made Donald resonate was his fallibility. He tried and failed. He lost his temper. He was vain, lazy, vindictive. Mickey represented aspiration. Donald represented reality. His design was simple -- white feathers, blue sailor suit, no pants. The sailor suit gave him working-class identity. The lack of pants made him slightly ridiculous.

During World War II, Donald became propaganda. "Der Fuehrer's Face" won an Academy Award. His appeal was ordinariness -- not a hero, just a working duck. Uncle Scrooge, created by Carl Barks in 1947, became one of Disney's most complex characters. Donald appeared in over 150 theatrical shorts. He is not profound. Not revolutionary. But for ninety years, he has been getting angry, getting cheated, and getting back up. Sometimes the best you can do is squawk about it.