In a world filled with ducks… In a society of animation… there exist two birds that rule the nest. They are the memorable beaks that almost everyone is familiar. They are ducks that have affected millions worldwide with their antics and situation comedies. Though their popularity varies with groups, their fame is largely due to their very human personalities. They are different in many ways, but those differences are also where their similarities lie. Who are they? They are Donald and Daffy.
Before I go into the spell about who they are and how they compare, I want to go on record as officially stating that I am an avid and zealous Donald Duck fan. I believe that he is the superior feathered fowl. He made being a duck cool, before there ever was a Daffy. I also considered him to be the template for which they based the later incarnation of Daffy. I could go into every detail of why I think this and why I dislike Daffy (passionately so), but that is not what this article is about. I have made every attempt to remain Impartial while writing this, because this is a You decide article, more than a Donald Rules (even though, i believe he does) article.
So, begins my piece…
Donald duck was a creation of Walt Disney and debuted in the cartoon The Wise Little Hen on June 9, 1934. The sailor suit clad duck has since starred in a hundred and twenty-six cartoons (not including the recent House of Mouse cartoons and QuackPack series that he graced the screen with).
Daffy Duck was born on the year 1937 in his debut cartoon Porky’s Duck Hunt, a Warner Brothers production. This naked duck currently retains around a hundred and twenty-nine cartoons to his name (not including the recent Duck Dodgers of the 24 and ½ Century series that ran on Cartoon Network).
Donald is an all too human character, more so then his Disney friends Mickey and Goofy. This lies in the fact that he can loose his temper, like any normal person and blow up, only to be able to move on after wards. He laughs and he has cried (at least once), he wonders and becomes confused and he cowers just as easily as he fights. This feisty duck with attitude is a rash and unpredictable bomb of emotion that could be set off by the slightest gesture or word in his general direction.
Daffy is a character seemingly with multiple personality syndrome. In one instance he was completely unstable and irrational. He bounced around creating havoc and thwarting his antagonist whilst enraging them. His first incarnation was in a sense a daffy little duck. In another instance he was far more grounded, paranoid, greedy and narcissistic. He was easily angered (Especially by a certain wabbit, ha ha ha) and was often found yelling when his schemes were foiled. This sudden evolution of character was due to the talent that wrote him (ex. Tex Avery and Chuck Jones each did him differently). This made him much more similar to Donald. Unfortunately, the addition, which gave him depth, has also caused him a great deal of pain.
Donald first appeared on the screen as a supporting role to a character who has only appeared once, in a cartoon short that very few people would know. He would then follow through with guest star spots on various Micky mouse shorts and eventually into his very own series. He was paired with many other stars, each famous in their own right. To the amazement of his creators/animators, Donald surpassed and even out-shined the Mascot of the company.
Daffy first appeared on the screen as the main antagonist to one of the most popular characters in the animated world. His loony antics gained him more screen time, which eventually evolved into his own solo career. The ham that once hunted him, became relegated to a side-kick roll. Then the Feathers went flying when he was, to his frustration, paired with a certain long eared star. As popular as he was, he still was only second tier in comparison.
Donald not only had his own successful solo career in film, but he is (to this day) the star of his on comic book. A series that is hailed as one of the greatest and most successful ever, especially when compared to superhero comics. He has his own star on Holiywood’s walk of fame. Add to that, the fact that he is also the official mascot to the University of Oregon (Go Oregon Ducks!) and you have before you a multifaceted career.
Daffy has had a successful career, despite his inability to surpass his furry counterpart. He has appeared in many films and a few commercials. He has been described as “Quacktastic” in his antics and even has his on catch phrase (“You’re desthpicable” with a lisp). On a recent Internet survey of the greatest cartoon characters of all time, he was (to my dismay) placed ahead of Donald.
These two Ducks completely captured their audiences’ attention with their explosive personalities. This propelled them into careers that would leave even the most distinguished actors/creators awe struck. Their differences and similarities would especially be expressed when the two appeared together in the feature length film Who Framed Roger Rabbit? Their powerful personalities would come into conflict during their Piano Duet, resulting in comedy gold.
This one and only time they appeared together, would definitively show their competition as well as that of their creators. Because of the fact that they so closely parallel one another, they became the perfect vessels for inter-company competition. After all, does Warner Brothers have an hugely popular Mouse (without a diaper), to go against Mikey? Where is Disney’s wisecracking rabbit to counter Bugs? Who better, to truly express their creative prowess than with two like characters than two unlike ones? Even their names are similiar, have you ever noticed that both have a first name that start with the letter D? Interesting, is it not?
They, like the roles they play, are subject to their emotions. Both can and usually do blow up in a fit of anger and both have a counterpart that was slightly more recognized then they (for a time, any way). They are both stars that can speak more easily then they can fly, despite all their feathers and speech impediments (especially one’s inability to annunciate).
Because of where they each were born, they have become birds of a feather that do not flock together. Put them in a room with one another, and one of them might attempt duckacide on the second (or at least try to out do each other). Despite their need to be the center of attention, they are birds that have one time or another been out shinned by certain mammals. However, no matter how many swell mice or suave rabbits come their way, they will always try to be the star.
So the question is: Who is the Greater Duck? They are so much a like, yet so very different. Whatever your opinion, it will not change the fact that they will always go web toe for web toe at being the crowned Duck of comedy and that is a truth far simpler then Black and White.
