Happy Birthday, Donald Duck!

[ValenciaJoe]

Donald's birthday is on March 13 because it is referenced in a cartoon. I will go with that date because that is my birthday too.

[Jules]

Albert, I'd like to answer the questions you cooked up for yourself, too!

What is/are your favourite Donald Duck cartoon(s)?

This is a toughie for me, since a lot of Donald cartoons I've likely only seen once and forgotten. Perhaps I should go through my WD Treasures again! Nevertheless, here are some which I definitely like!

1. The Riveter. I don't find Disney shorts particularly funny - competing shorts of the time likely had sharper writing (i.e. Warner, MGM, Tex Avery and Chuck Jones, and the Hannah-Barbera Tom & Jerry-ies) but The Riveter is rather amusing, and I can genuinely say that I laughed when Donald proclaimed "What a peculiar doorway!"

2. Put-Put Troubles. I remember seeing this when I was a kid, and it had me in stitches. Revisiting it in the present (well ... two years ago when I watched the WD Treasures set), I can see why.

3. Drip Drippy Donald. At least I think that's what it's called. You know ... the one where Donald can't sleep because of all the dripping taps.

4. How To Have An Accident in the Home. I saw this on the last WD Treasures set and really liked it. Felt like the Disney shorts division was trying to break out of its shell in the late 50s!

5. Der Fuehrer's Face. Earlier, I said that I don't find Disney shorts particularly funny. This one is an exception. It had me howling on seeing it for the first time, and I'm really glad it got the Oscar. Because of it I really want to see other studios' WWII output ... which reminds me that I really want to buy the Looney Tunes Golden Collection sets. I think I haven't seen a Looney Tune or a Merrie Melody for about 10 years! It sucks!

Do you prefer the "Donald versus Chip 'n' Dale" or "Donald versus Huey, Dewey, & Louie" cartoons?

Huey, Dewey and Louie all the way! I don't dislike Chip 'n Dale, but their shorts are a little on the formulaic side. I think I'd like them better if they were alone, and not pitted as antagonists towards Donald, or Pluto, or whatever poor creature is sadistically included in the screenplay alongside them.

You're temporarily marooned on a desert island with Donald Duck, but his random quackety rants eventually get annoying. Do you try to talk it out with him or just figure out ways to annoy him back until you get rescued?

I think I'd try talking simply because I think we'd get along! Were Donald Duck a real person, or anthropromorphic duck, I think he'd actually be quite a nice guy - despite the short fuse.

BelleGirl, who made those illustrations? They're lovely! I especially like the Mondrian-inspired piece. Wonder what he would have thought. Eh?

[Goliath]

@ BelleGirl: Thank you very much. I'm glad the rest of UD now can enjoy this fabulous piece of artwork. I find it funny how the artist (Gerben Valkema) has used a great deal of characters that are normally never seen in the (Dutch) comics. I think it was very creative the way he choose certain Disney characters to mirror figures on the Sgt. Pepper cover, like Jessica Rabbit and Mulan. I'm not sure why he chose to use the Beast and Shere Khan and Tigger (but it is funny).

[Goliath]

BelleGirl, who made those illustrations? They're lovely! I especially like the Mondrian-inspired piece. Wonder what he would have thought. Eh?

Those illustrations were made by Dutch comic artist Gerben Valkema. Here's an English page about him: http://lambiek.net/artists/v/valkema_gerben.htm

The illustrations were made for the mock-'glossy' magazine (personality magazine) DONALD which appeared to celebrate his 75th anniversary.

[Grumpy]

Happy birthday Donald Duck 80 year today.

[Disneyphile]

I plan to spend my 80th birthday not wearing pants also!

[Semaj]

Happy birthday, Donald Duck!

He was always my favorite non-princess Disney character.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5dowCyaP7I

[2Disney4Ever]

Happy birthday to Disney's classic short-tempered duck.

[Big Disney Fan]

Happy birthday, Donald! He's my sister's absolute favorite Disney character! And to celebrate, here's a music video (okay, it's for the 50th in 1984, but it should work; how time flies, huh?):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Obhsql25Hc4

[Sotiris]

Donald Duck’s 90th Quacktacular - D23 Expo Full Presentation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-DfxqQtrxc