Chronological Donald, part one: Day #237 – The Wise Little Hen (1934), Donald and Pluto (1936) & Don Donald (1937)
Viewed August 25, 2006
Okay, so I finally picked up Volume One of “The Chronological Donald”, the special edition 2-disc set that Disney released featuring Donald Duck’s first 36 cartoons (that don’t feature Mickey Mouse). Now, I’ve not seen most of these, so I’m making my way through them slowly, a few at a time. (If I did these one-a-day, even skipping those I’ve seen, it would still take a month.) Donald Duck has always been my favorite Disney character (I’ve got the toys to prove it) and it was fun finally seeing his first appearance (which is not, by the way, in the Mickey vehicle Orphan’s Benefit as is so often cited).
No, it all starts with the “Silly Symphony” The Wise Little Hen, basically a retelling of the well-known (at least at the time) folk tale of a hen trying to plant corn and finding no one to help her. This one is odd because it doesn’t really display Donald’s true personality. There is no hint of his temper or any of his other vices which made him so appealing. This is probably why Disney tends to stress Orphan’s Benefit (where Donald disrupts Mickey’s performance) over The Wise Little Hen. And his look hasn’t settled in yet, as he appears more angular and, frankly, more duck-like than he later would. Still, it is amusing enough and kids will no doubt like it.
After a couple of years supporting Mickey, Donald and Pluto finds Donald without the iconic mouse for the first time, although the film is still tagged as a “Mickey Mouse” and, of course, features Mickey’s dog, Pluto. In fact, this is more Pluto’s cartoon than Donald’s, with Donald mostly in support, losing his temper due to the crazy antics Pluto gets into by swallowing a magnet. Donald’s temper is, of course, in full effect and he has the look that had developed for the character over the course of his many appearances in Mickey cartoons. The comedy itself is certainly amusing enough if you enjoy the kind of controlled mayhem that Pluto’s shenanigans often tended towards. If you prefer a bit more character-based comedy (the mark of most Donald cartoons), this one is less appealing.
Finally, in Don Donald, he sets out on his own, unsupported by any other established Disney character. This cartoon even foreshadows Donald’s greatest work (and my favorite animated film), The Three Caballeros. First, there is the Latin American flavor (it appears to take place in Mexico). Next, there’s Donald’s skirt chasing (we get our first view of his girlfriend, here called Donna). Finally, there’s a bit of trippy, musically-charged visuals that point in the direction of the later film. This is the first time in the series that we really get to see Donald’s character really delved into. He obviously likes Donna, but can’t help laughing at her when she falls into a bucket of water. He has an explosive temper (that she virtually matches), but he is easily cowed by one stare from Donna. It’s a classic example of Donald’s character flaws getting him into more and more trouble until the whole thing blows up in his face and it’s easy to see why audiences of the day found him so entertaining.
Due to his many quirks, Donald was more accessible and understandable than the more straightforward and whitebread Mickey. This is quite natural, as that was why he was created in the first place. Walt Disney found that Mickey had become such a hero to young children, parents began complaining whenever he would get into any kind of mischief (which was common in his early cartoons). Disney felt he had to soften Mickey’s image and created Donald to fill the void, which he did. These early Donald cartoons show how the character quickly developed into the full-fledged icon that would eventually surpass Mickey in popularity, if not recognition. While Mickey was the face of Disney, Doanld was the workhorse, supporting not only his very successful cartoon series, but a comic strip (which Mickey also had), a comic book (the flagship Walt Disney’s Comics & Stories), and merchandising that more than equalled Mickey’s output. I cannot recommend these cartoons enough (and the DVD set, if you can find it*). They showcase one of the greatest cartoon creations of all time, preserving his legacy for genrations to come.
*Note: After searching all over for the best price on The Chronological Donald, volume one, I found it at a Best Buy store for about $25. Even with tax, this should be significantly cheaper than anywhere else online, including eBay, where it tends to go for more than $30. If you are thinking about getting this set, be sure to check a brick & mortar Best Buy first. BestBuy.com charges $29.99.