BURBANK,
Calif., June 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, The
Walt Disney Company kicked off a special company-wide campaign
celebrating 90 years of Donald Duck
with an exclusive first-look on Good Morning America that
showcased new Donald Duck-inspired
products and a surprise party in studio for Donald. The months-long
celebration will feature feathered festivities and exciting moments
from across the company, including Walt Disney Animation Studios,
consumer products, Disney parks, and more. Disney will release a
new brand spot on June 9 highlighting
the storytelling magic behind the beloved character to commemorate
the anniversary of Donald's 1934 debut in Walt Disney's Silly Symphony short cartoon,
The Wise Little Hen.
Today's Good Morning America segment showcased over 70 exciting
Donald Duck-themed products from
over 20 licensees, highlighting popular brands like American
Tourister, Casetify, and Loungefly. Throughout the summer, fans
will be able to shop dozens of additional products from
industry-leading brands like Cakeworthy, Citizen, Forever 21, GAP,
PEZ, Simple Modern, and more.
This campaign will look back at the journey of this iconic
character and the role he has played in Disney's unparalleled
storytelling legacy. Donald's relatable frustrations with everyday
life and events have made him one of the world's most famous
personalities. His popularity and accomplishments both on and off
screen have earned him numerous accolades, including a star on the
legendary Hollywood Walk of Fame and having his webbed footprints
immortalized in cement outside the famed Chinese Theatre in
Hollywood.
Donald Duck has been featured in
over 150 short films – more than any other Disney character – and
on June 9, The Walt Disney Studios
Restoration and Preservation Team will release two newly restored
classic Donald Duck shorts directed
by Disney Legend Jack Hannah, which will stream on Disney+. In
Crazy Over Daisy (1950), Donald attempts to get back at Chip
and Dale for wrecking his bicycle while on his way to Daisy's
house. In Out on a Limb (1950), Donald discovers the tree
home of the chipmunks – disrupting it with a tree pruner which they
believe to be a monster.
Additionally, on June 9, Donald's
adventures will continue in an all-new short from Walt Disney
Animation Studios, D.I.Y. Duck, the Studios' first
Donald Duck-starring short since
1961. Debuting on Disney+ as well as Walt Disney Animation Studios'
YouTube, Disney Channel, and Freeform, this short finds Donald
trying his hand at some home repairs which begin with the
replacement of a light bulb and quickly turn into a series of comic
catastrophes. His temper flares and his frustration grows as things
spiral out of control and lead to an explosive finale. Incoming
Disney Legend and renowned animator Mark
Henn wrote and directed D.I.Y. Duck as his last
project before retiring from the company in December 2023. The short is produced by Emmy®
Award-winner Dorothy McKim and was
created by the hand-drawn animation team at Walt Disney Animation
Studios. Jennifer Lee, Disney
Animation's chief creative officer, executive produced. The short
also pays tribute to Disney Legend Clarence "Ducky" Nash, who
originated the voice of Donald for his first 50 years, and who
delivers the character's vocal gestures and assorted wise quacks by
way of archival voice recordings.
Throughout June at the Tokyo Disney Resort, guests can enjoy
even more fun during "Donald's Quacky Duck City" at Tokyo
Disneyland, a celebration featuring limited-time themed
decorations, merchandise, food and beverage offerings, and the
"Quacky Celebration: Donald the Legend!" parade. Over at Hong Kong
Disneyland Resort, fans of Donald can join the celebration through
July 7 with limited-time offerings
including "Donald's Birthday Duckling Dance" where guests will have
the chance to walk and twirl alongside Donald, specialty outfits
for Donald as he walks around the park and hotels, and themed
merchandise and food and beverage items. A themed castle projection
show "Donald's Quacktastic Surprise!" will take place on the
evening of June 9 for one night
only.
At the Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank, California, Donald Duck started his birthday celebrations
early by making some "quack-tastic" changes across the historic
space, including a Donald-centric reimagining of the Walt Disney
Archives logo based on Donald Duck's
designs through the years; the classic Mickey Avenue sign
originally seen in The Reluctant Dragon (1941) transforming
into "Donald" Avenue; and other special overlays and
activities.
Follow @Disney and @MickeyMouse on Instagram for a special
surprise and to watch the all-new brand spot on June 9 to celebrate #DonaldDuck90th.
Donald Duck 90th
Assets:
https://slingshot.disney.com/?c=tC8kcR9sGFRcKwgBKCmHG7Svh266Rb6P27h8
Contact:
Bruce Lam
The Walt Disney Company
Bruce.Lam@disney.com
About The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company,
together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading
diversified international entertainment and media enterprise that
includes three core business segments: Entertainment, Sports, and
Experiences. Disney is a Dow 30 company and had annual revenues of
$88.9 billion in its Fiscal Year
2023.
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SOURCE The Walt Disney Company Corporate Communications