Donald Duck made his debut on 9 June 1934 and has been loved by fans ever since. He is the most published non-superhero comic book character of all time. He also appears in more films and shorts than any other Disney character. Over the decades this duck has remained consistent, always wearing a blue sailor suit, but never pants and has taken on many roles from teacher to army officer and everything in between. Keep reading to follow the journey Donald has taken since his creation and how he became the duck of today.
The 1930s
Donald Duck made his first appearance in The Wise Little Hen in 1934. That Donald was only slightly different than the one we know and love today. He originally sported a long thin bill and long neck. His purpose in his first cartoon was merely to serve the story; his character had not yet been developed. Just 3 years after his first appearance, Donald Duck scored his own 18-page story intended specifically for comics. In this same year, he also starred in his first solo cartoon, Don Donald. His design became rounder and this new Donald has remained largely the same ever since. He had taken on his own personality by this point as well: mischievous and temperamental.
The 1940s
The 40s was really Donald’s decade. He rose to a level of stardom unknown by any other cartoon character and was arguably the most popular Disney figure. During WWII, while Disney was forced to stop most production, he represented the fighting spirit by selling Canadian war bonds and starring in several American propaganda films. One of these films earned him an Academy-Award for Best Short Film.
In addition to his film success, he also got his very own comic during the 40s which launched an entire series of Donald Duck comics still enjoyed by children and adults today. The comic character developed and veered away from the hot-head personality of the animated duck. In the comics, Donald has much better developed emotions and articulated speech. He was placed in the world of Duckburg and surrounded by friends and family including his rich uncle Scrooge McDuck and his nephews Huey, Dewey and Louie.
The 1950s
After the war, Donald’s fame didn’t die out. He began starring in television series and produced several educational films teaching subjects such as mathematics and geometry. In 1958 he was given the great honour of co-hosting the Academy Awards ceremony.
The 1960s and Beyond
After the death of Walt Disney, Donald took a break from films and didn’t appear on screen again until 1983. In 2004 he was awarded with his own star on the Hollywood walk of fame and he continues to be featured in films, TV series, and comics today.
It's not hard to see why we've loved Donald Duck since his first appearance and why generations will continue to love him long into the future. You can celebrate your own love for this duck by adding a new comic, original artwork or curio to your collection. Pay a visit to our weekly Comics auctions and have a look at what Donal Duck items are available. The selection changes every week so you're sure to continue finding amazing pieces for fans of all ages.