When he first appeared in 1934’s The Wise Little Hen, Donald Duck wasn’t intended to be “anything more than a bit player,” according to Rebecca Cline, Director of the Disney Archives.
“But he was so funny, and everybody loved him so much that they almost immediately started putting him into cartoons with Mickey and his other friends,” she added.
90 years later, Donald — whose anniversary took place on Sunday and is being celebrated in a global campaign by The Walt Disney Company — is still a vital part of the Disney experience from cartoons to parks to products.
“There’s something about the duck,” Tom Fitzgerald, Senior Creative Executive of Walt Disney Imagineering, said. “There’s something about that wacky character that our guests really love.”
To celebrate 90 years of one of The Walt Disney Company’s most beloved characters, here’s an in depth look into the past, present and future of Donald Duck from those who know the character best: animators Austin Traylor and incoming Disney Legend Mark Henn, voice-actor and Disney Legend Tony Anselmo, and others from across Disney.
Disney is currently engaged in a months-long celebration of Donald Duck and the role he’s played in the company’s unparalleled storytelling legacy.
From a new brand spot to an all-new Donald Duck short, the celebration will include festivities and exciting moments from across the company, including Walt Disney Animation Studios, consumer products, Disney parks, and more.