The LuLac Edition #5, 129 June 18th, 2024

 

MAYBE I’M AMAZED

Our “Maybe I’m Amazed” logo

Donald Duck Edition

MAYBE I’M AMAZED…….that Donald Duck, the erasable Disney character turned 90 on Sunday. My how time flies. Even in Dick time.

MAYBE I’M AMAZED…….that Donald is what the psychologists call an anthropomorphism That is is the attribution of human traits, emotions, or intentions to non-human entities. It is considered to be an innate tendency of human psychology.

MAYBE I’M AMAZED….that Disney created the character to supplement the main star, Mickey Mouse. The story line of Mickey was always positive and damn near perfect. Disney in his brilliance wanted to create a foil to life’s trials and tribulations for those of us not that cheerful 24/7. (Although I have been accused of the latter).

MAYBE I’M AMAZED…..Donald is known for his semi-intelligible speech and his mischievous, temperamental, and pompous personality. Along with his friend Mickey Mouse,

MAYBE I’M AMAZED…..that  Donald was included in TV Guide's list of the 50 greatest cartoon characters of all time in 2002, and has earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He has appeared in more films than any other Disney character.

MAYBE I’M AMAZED…..that Donald's first appearance was in The Wise Little Hen (1934), but it was his second appearance in Orphan's Benefit that same year that introduced him as a temperamental comic foil to Mickey Mouse.

MAYBE I’M AMAZED…..that In the 1930s, he typically appeared as part of a comic trio with Mickey and Goofy and was given his own film series starting with Don Donald (1937). These films introduced Donald's love interest and permanent girlfriend Daisy Duck and often included his three nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie. After the film Chips Ahoy (1956).

MAYBE I’M AMAZED….that After the film Chips Ahoy (1956), Donald appeared primarily in educational films before eventually returning to theatrical animation in Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983). His last appearance in a theatrical film was in Fantasia 2000 (1999). However, since then Donald has appeared in direct-to-video features such as Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers (2004), television series such as Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (2006–2016), and video games such as QuackShot (1991) and the Kingdom Hearts series.

MAYBE I’M AMAZED…that In addition to animation, Donald is well known worldwide for his appearances in comics. Donald was most famously drawn by Al Taliaferro, Carl Barks, and Don Rosa. Barks, in particular, is credited for greatly expanding the "Donald Duck universe", the world in which Donald lives, and creating many additional characters such as Donald's rich uncle Scrooge McDuck.

MAYBE I’M AMAZED….but not really that the character of Donald Duck is portrayed as a very impatient, immature, and arrogant duck with a pessimistic attitude and an insecure disposition. In addition, his two dominant personality traits are his fiery temper and his upbeat attitude to life. Many Donald shorts start with Donald in a happy mood, without a care in the world until something comes along and spoils his day. His rage is a great cause of suffering in his life. On multiple occasions, it has caused him to get in over his head and lose competitions. There are times when he fights to keep his temper in check, and he sometimes succeeds in doing so temporarily, but he always returns to his normal angry self in the end.

MAYBE I’M AMAZED….that the Donald's aggressive nature has its advantages, however. While at times it is a hindrance, and even a handicap, it has also helped him in times of need. When faced with a threat of some kind, for example, Pete's attempts to intimidate him, he is initially scared, but his fear is replaced by anger. As a result, instead of running away, he fights. In fact, his anger can make him powerful enough to defeat ghosts, much stronger individuals, sharks, mountain goats, giant kites, and even the forces of nature.

MAYBE I’M AMAZED….that despite all of these flaws, Donald is a snapshot into our own human nature and behavior. We always get a comeuppance when we get too nasty or arrogant.

MAYBE I’M AMAZED…..that animator Fred Spencer said this about double D, “ The Duck gets a big kick out of imposing on other people or annoying them, but he immediately loses his temper when the tables are turned. In other words, he can dish it out, but he can't take it.” Mmmmm…..that reminds us of another buffoon character named Donald.