Don Donald

Don Donald
Directed by	Ben Sharpsteen
Produced by	Walt Disney
Written by	Webb Smith Otto Englander Merrill De Maris
Studio(s)	Walt Disney Productions
Distributor	United Artists
Released	January 9, 1937
Language	English
Followed by	Modern Inventions

Don Donald is a 1937 American animated short film produced by Walt Disney Productions. It was Donald Duck's first headliner cartoon (although it was initially billed as a Mickey Mouse cartoon, despite the eponymous character not appearing at all). It introduces Donna Duck (the precursor to Daisy Duck) as Donald's girlfriend. Clarence Nash voices both since Donna's voice is the same as Donald's an octave higher. The short also notably features the first appearance of the car that would become 313, Donald's vehicle of transportation in the comics.

Synopsis

The cartoon takes place in Mexico and tells the story of Don Donald going to greet his girlfriend Donna. Donald rides a donkey and lets Donna also ride it, but unfortunately Donna hates the animal. Angered at blowing his chances with Donna, Donald Duck gets angry at his donkey and calls it a jackass, then he sees a flashy new red car on sale. Donald trades in his burro for the new car. Donna loves the new car – until it breaks down in the middle of nowhere. She leaves Donald, who is left with nothing but a shrunken sombrero. The donkey, having returned on the scene, has the last laugh.

Trivia

• Though originally billed as a Mickey Mouse cartoon despite the eponymous character not appearing at all, the reissue prints of this cartoon however correctly bill this as a Donald Duck cartoon.
• This cartoon marks the only appearance of Donna Duck in animation, though she would reappear in the comics. For the rest of the late-1930s, Donald would not have a love interest until 1940 when Daisy Duck debuted in Mr. Duck Steps Out.
• This cartoon's appearance on Walt Disney Cartoon Classics: Starring Donald and Daisy VHS release confusingly refer both Donna and Daisy as the same character, despite that both Donna and Daisy are intended to be a separate characters.

Voice Characterizations

• Clarence Nash - Donald Duck, Donna Duck

Releases

Television

• The Mickey Mouse Club, October 12, 1955
• Good Morning, Mickey, episode #46
• The Ink and Paint Club, episode 1.4: "Disney Firsts"
• Donald's Quack Attack, episode #77

Home video

VHS

• Walt Disney Cartoon Classics: Donald Duck's First 50 Years
• Walt Disney Cartoon Classics: Starring Donald & Daisy
• Donald's Greatest Hits

Laserdisc

• Walt Disney Cartoon Classics: Starring Donald & Daisy / Starring Pluto & Fifi

DVD

• Walt Disney Treasures: The Chronological Donald, Volume 1
• Walt Disney's Classic Cartoon Favorites: Starring Donald

Gallery

Donna gets mad and leaves.

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Reissue Title Card

v - e - d

1930s The Wise Little Hen • Donald and Pluto • Don Donald • Modern Inventions • Donald's Ostrich • Self Control • Donald's Better Self • Donald's Nephews • Good Scouts • Donald's Golf Game • Mother Goose Goes Hollywood • Donald's Lucky Day • The Hockey Champ • Donald's Cousin Gus • Beach Picnic • Sea Scouts • Donald's Penguin • The Autograph Hound • Officer Duck • The Fox Hunt (co-starring Goofy) • Polar Trappers (co-starring Goofy) 1940s The Riveter • Donald's Dog Laundry • Mr. Duck Steps Out • Put-Put Troubles • Donald's Vacation • The Volunteer Worker • Window Cleaners • The Fire Chief • Timber • The Golden Eggs • A Good Time for a Dime • Early to Bed • Truant Officer Donald • Old MacDonald Duck • Donald's Camera • Chef Donald • Donald's Decision • The Village Smithy • The New Spirit • Donald's Snow Fight • Donald Gets Drafted • Donald's Garden • Donald's Gold Mine • Sky Trooper • Bellboy Donald • Der Fuehrer's Face • The Spirit of '43 • Donald's Tire Trouble • Lake Titicaca • Aquarela do Brazil • The Flying Jalopy • Fall Out-Fall In • The Old Army Game • Home Defense • Trombone Trouble • Donald Duck and the Gorilla • Contrary Condor • Commando Duck • The Plastics Inventor • Donald's Off Day • The Clock Watcher • The Eyes Have It • Donald's Crime • Duck Pimples • Cured Duck • Old Sequoia • Donald's Double Trouble • Wet Paint • Dumbell of the Yukon • Lighthouse Keeping • Straight Shooters • Sleepy Time Donald • Clown of the Jungle • Donald's Dilemma • Bootle Beetle • Wide Open Spaces • Chip an' Dale • Drip Dippy Donald • Daddy Duck • Donald's Dream Voice • Blame It on the Samba • The Trial of Donald Duck • Inferior Decorator • Soup's On • Three for Breakfast • Tea for Two Hundred • Donald's Happy Birthday • Sea Salts • Winter Storage • Honey Harvester • All in a Nutshell • The Greener Yard • Slide, Donald, Slide • Toy Tinkers • Billposters (co-starring Goofy) • No Sail (co-starring Goofy) • Frank Duck Brings 'em Back Alive (co-starring Goofy) • Crazy with the Heat (co-starring Goofy) 1950s Lion Around • Crazy Over Daisy • Trailer Horn • Hook, Lion and Sinker • Bee at the Beach • Out on a Limb • Dude Duck • Corn Chips • Test Pilot Donald • Lucky Number • Out of Scale • Bee on Guard • Donald Applecore • Let's Stick Together • Uncle Donald's Ants • Trick or Treat • Don's Fountain of Youth • The New Neighbor • Rugged Bear • Working for Peanuts • Canvas Back Duck • Spare the Rod • Donald's Diary • Dragon Around • Grin and Bear It • The Flying Squirrel • Grand Canyonscope • No Hunting • Bearly Asleep • Beezy Bear • Up a Tree • Chips Ahoy 1960s The Litterbug Educational Shorts How to Have an Accident in the Home • How to Have an Accident at Work • Donald in Mathmagic Land • Donald and the Wheel • Steel and America • Donald's Fire Survival Plan • Family Planning Songs Donald Duck See Also DuckTales (1987 series) • Donald's Quack Attack • Quack Pack • Pomp and Circumstance • DuckTales (2017 series)