Jun 9, 2010

Donald Duck Day~June 9

Happy birthday Donald Duck. Today is Donald Duck's real birthday (His Happy Birthday short portrayed his birthday as March 13). Donald Duck first appeared in "The Wise Little Hen" on June 9, 1934.

Donald Duck is the feisty, cantankerous pal to Mickey Mouse. Donald is a Duck with good intentions but very bad luck. Nothing seems to go right for Donald but he's not one to back down from a challenge, in fact he's persistent to a fault. "He's a loser, not a quitter, and he'll go down fighting." (1) But his temper has been known to get him in a lot of trouble!

Donald's full name is Donald Fauntleroy Duck. Donald lives in Duckburg with his three nephews, Huey, Dewy and Louie. He is the son of Uncle Scrooge's sister Hortense and her husband Quackamore, but he and his twin sister, Della, were raised by Grandma Duck (bless her heart!). He has a cousin, Gladstone, a pet St. Bernard named Bolivar, and an ever patient, long-term girlfriend, Daisy. (2)

The original voice of Donald Duck was performed for 50 years by Clarence "Ducky" Nash and in fact, Donald was created by Walt Disney when he heard Clarence Nash doing his "duck" voice while reciting "Mary Had a Little Lamb". After Clarence Nash's death in 1985, Disney animator, Tony Anselmo took over as Donald's voice and is still his voice today.

The D.U.C.K.man, a website created by Sigvald Grosfjeld Jr. and dedicated to Donald Duck illustrator Don Rosa, has a neat scan of the Donald Duck Family Tree. Check it out here at duckman.pettho.com. And go to coloring-book.info to find 128 Donald Duck coloring pages to print and color. 

(1) Disney Archives
(2) hicards.com

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