Donald Duck: Modern Inventions

[2099net]

I got my (UK) Walt Disney Fables vol 3 today, which includes Donald in Mathmagic Land, Ben and Me and Modern Inventions.

Now I have always been led to believe that Modern Inventions was Donald's first solo cartoon, but had a Mickey Mouse title card rather than a Donald Duck one. This explains why most 'fan' lists for The Chronological Donald Treasures set don't include Modern Inventions. (Donald's Ostrich is generally considered to be the first cartoon with a Donald Duck title card).

However the Modern Inventions on the Disney Fables disc has a Donald title card.

Two questions:

1) Is this correct or has it been altered?

2) Regardless of the title card, do you think that as it is the first solo Donald cartoon it will be included on The Chronological Donald? Either as a 'feature' short or perhaps a supplement or Easter egg?

[Anders M Olsson]

1) Is this correct or has it been altered?

2) Regardless of the title card, do you think that as it is the first solo Donald cartoon it will be included on The Chronological Donald? Either as a 'feature' short or perhaps a supplement or Easter egg?

Don't know about your first question, but I'm pretty sure that this cartoon will be officially featured on The Chronological Donald, not just as an Easter egg.

[Billy Moon]

Here's my guess on what's going to be included in the first Donald Treasures set. Feel free to make corrections if you disagree.

Donald and Pluto (1936)
Modern Inventions (1937)
Don Donald (1937)
Donald's Ostrich (1937)
Self Control (1938)
Donald's Better Self (1938)
Donald's Nephews (1938)
Polar Trappers (1938)
Good Scouts (1938)
The Fox Hunt (1938)
Donald's Golf Game (1938)
Donald's Lucky Day (1939)
The Hockey Champ (1939)
Donald's Cousin Gus (1939)
Beach Picnic (1939)
Sea Scouts (1939)
Donald's Penguin (1939)
The Autograph Hound (1939)
Officer Duck (1939)
The Riveter (1940)
Donald's Dog Laundry (1940)
Billposters (1940)
Mr. Duck Steps Out (1940)
Put-Put Troubles (1940)
Donald's Vacation (1940)
The Volunteer Worker (1940)
Window Cleaners (1940)
Fire Chief (1940)
Timber (1941)
The Golden Eggs (1941)
A Good Time For A Dime (1941)
Early To Bed (1941)
Truant Officer Donald (1941)
Old MacDonald Duck (1941)
Donald's Camera (1941)
Chef Donald (1941)

[STASHONE]

I know that Disney announced that the short, "Donald & Pluto" would be featured, but isn't this officially a Mickey Mouse cartoon? I always thought it had a Mickey title card..

Anyways, I think that the order of some of the shorts you listed are probably disarranged if these are being presented chronologically in terms of their thetrical release dates. Here's how I'd suspect the line-up will look...


- Donald & Pluto (1936) *
- Donald's Ostrich (1937)
- Don Donald (1937) *
- Modern Inventions (1937) *
- Self Control (1938)
- Donald's Better Self (1938)
- Donald's Nephews (1938)
- Polar Trappers (1938)
- Good Scouts (1938)
- The Fox Hunt (1938)
- Donald's Golf Game (1938)
- Donald's Lucky Day (1939)
- The Hockey Champ (1939)
- Donald's Cousin Gus (1939)
- Beach Picnic (1939)
- Sea Scouts (1939)
- Donald's Penguin (1939)
- The Autograph Hound (1939)
- Officer Duck (1939)
- The Riveter (1940)
- Donald's Dog Laundry (1940)
- Billposters (1940)
- Mr. Duck Steps Out (1940)
- Put-Put Troubles (1940)
- Donald's Vacation (1940)
- Window Cleaners (1940)
- Fire Chief (1940)
- Timber (1941)
- The Golden Eggs (1941)
- A Good Time For A Dime (1941)
- Early To Bed (1941)
- Truant Officer Donald (1941)
- Old MacDonald Duck (1941)
- Donald's Camera (1941)
- Chef Donald (1941)


* Also, while I'm sure these 2 cartoons would be featured, given that they are including "Donald & Pluto" despite the lack of a Donald title sequence; both "Don Donald" & "Modern Inventions" are also officially listed as Mickey Mouse cartoons and "The Volunteer Worker" would likely be featured as either a supplemental bonus short or an easter egg in the extra features as it's only 2:33 minutes long and is actually a commercial short produced for the Community Chest. Again, not an official Donald Duck title.

[EarthX]

However the Modern Inventions on the Disney Fables disc has a Donald title card.

Two questions:

1) Is this correct or has it been altered?

2) Regardless of the title card, do you think that as it is the first solo Donald cartoon it will be included on The Chronological Donald? Either as a 'feature' short or perhaps a supplement or Easter egg?

1. Correct. the first 3 cartoons that had Donald sans Mickey were "Mickey Mouse" cartoons. So were the first few "Pluto-only" cartoons. This is how it was done back then: There were "Mickey Mouse" and "Silly Symphonies" and that was it. The expansion to "official" Donald, Goofy & Pluto cartoons happened a little while later.

2. The "Donald and Pluto" MM cartoon is specifically mentioned in the DD press release so it's safe to assume Don Donald and Modern Adventures will be there too.

[EarthX]

Anyways, I think that the order of some of the shorts you listed are probably disarranged if these are being presented chronologically in terms of their thetrical release dates. Here's how I'd suspect the line-up will look...

Although the cover art says 35 cartoons, the original press release said 36, so it has been theorized that there will also be an easter egg of DD's 1940 Public Service short on the value of volunteering and giving to charity, similar to the Nabisco World's Fair short on the MM in Living Color Vol 1.

[Chernobog]

Do you mean that The Wise Little Hen or The Band Concert won't be included in The Chronogical Donald because they're yet included in the Silly Symohnoies and MMILC DVD?

[Chernabog]

Eventually it can be the Wise Little Hen that turn up as an Easter Egg, but I´m rather sure that the Band Concert WILL NOT be in that collection.

[IggieKuzco]

Eventually it can be the Wise Little Hen that turn up as an Easter Egg, but I´m rather sure that the Band Concert WILL NOT be in that collection.

I doubt it will be an easter egg. its too important a cartoon to be one... i mean... what about all the thousands of people who dont find it...?! i think it'll b in a different collection. Sadly.

And why do you think Band Concert Won't be on?

[EarthX]

Do you mean that The Wise Little Hen or The Band Concert won't be included in The Chronogical Donald because they're yet included in the Silly Symphonies and MMILC DVD?

Right.

I don't think we're going to see any "overlap" of shorts among the Treasures sets.

The many MM-DD-Goofy team-ups are always going to be considered MM shorts and so will stick the mouse.

[Chernabog]

I doubt it will be an easter egg. its too important a cartoon to be one... i mean... what about all the thousands of people who dont find it...?! i think it'll b in a different collection. Sadly.

And why do you think Band Concert Won't be on?

I still think that The Wise Little Hen WILL BE there, since the tin says 1934 to 1941. The Wise little hen is from 1934.

The Band Consert will not be there I think, because of that it´s not important in Donald´s carreer, but it was important for Mickey Mouse´s.
First Mickey in color and so on...

[IggieKuzco]

The Band Consert will not be there I think, because of that it´s not important in Donald´s carreer, but it was important for Mickey Mouse´s.
First Mickey in color and so on...

But don't forget... it was also the first Donald in Color!

[2099net]

No - the Wise Little Hen was - the first Donald and the first in colour.

[IggieKuzco]

The first color donald came before the first color mickey?!

Weird.

[EarthX]

The first color donald came before the first color mickey?!

Weird.

For 3 years, it was Silly Symphonies in color and Mickey Mouse in B&W.

Walt's official opinion was that MM didn't need that hook to sustain it's audience and popularity, but SS did.

There may have been a compromise over expenses here since Roy initial didn't want to add the great expense of color, thinking the draw of new fans would not be that great.