Donald Duck is one ofDisney’s most iconic characters. In 2024, the character officially turned 90 years old, with June 25, 2025, being recognized as his official birthday. Over the years, the temperamental waterfowl has been both a friend and foil to Mickey Mouse.
He has also been known for making appearances in other media, with him having great fame as a comic book character in various countries. Donald is also well-known for various television appearances, like inDuckTalesandHouse of Mouse.
No matter how fans have been introduced to the famous duck in a sailor suit, Donald got his big break in animated shorts. After all, these helped to define the character during his early years of development. Some explore his relationship with his love interest, Daisy Duck, or his comedic adventures with his nephews, Huey, Dewey, and Louie. In the end, however, his acerbic nature usually brings about the worst of luck.
10The Wise Little Hen (1934)
The Wise Little Henis a retelling ofThe Little Red Hen, making it one of Disney’smany adaptations of classic stories. However, the short would also prove to be a milestone for Disney as the animated debut of Donald Duck.
Donald’s Official Birthday Is a Nod to This Short
As in the classic story, the titular hen wants some help when it comes to planting corn. Donald Duck and Peter Pig, however, get out of helping by pretending to be sick. However, with the help of her chicks, the hen manages to not only reap a good harvest, but whip up a delicious array of food. When Donald Duck and Peter Pig pretend to have recovered to join in on the feast, she’s got the perfect revenge: a gift of castor oil.
While never reaching the heights of the famous fowl, Donald Duck’s partner Peter Pig would make a few other appearances in later Disney shorts, such asThe Band Concert. Notably, Donald’s “birthday” is taken from one of the short’s release dates.
Stream on Disney+
9Orphan’s Benefit (1934)
Orphan’s Benefitwas one of the first Disney shorts to pair up Donald Duck with Mickey Mouse. The story sees Mickey Mouse hosting a performance for local orphan mice, complete with free snacks. Donald Duck starts off the show with performances of “Mary Had a Little Lamb” and “Little Boy Blue,” only for orphans to disrupt him.
Not Over Until the Duck Sings
Donald trying to finish reciting “Little Boy Blue” becomes a running joke throughout the short, only for him to get constantly interrupted by the mischievous orphans. In the end, Donald ultimately concedes defeat.
The 1934 short was later given a color remake in 1941. The short also later served as the inspiration for another short,Mickey’s Amateurs, which also sees Donald try and fail to recite a nursery rhyme, “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.”
8Donald’s Dilemma (1947)
Despite its name,Donald’s Dilemmais actually more of a Daisy Duck cartoon, but it still serves as one of Donald Duck’s biggest times to shine in the animated shorts. As Daisy explains to a psychologist, Donald developed a beautiful singing voice after a flower pot fell on his head. He soon becomes a big starwith his rendition of"When You Wish Upon a Star." However, he rejects Daisy, as if he has no memory of Daisy, the former love of his life.
When You Wish Upon a Star…
The dilemma is truly Daisy’s in the end: Daisy could possibly get Donald back with another hit to the head, but it would cost the world its new star. Between her own happiness and that of the whole world, Daisy immediately chooses herself, dropping another flower pot on Donald’s head and restoring his memory. Donald has lost his singing career, but the ending is happy enough with him overjoyed to see Daisy again.
RELATED:15 Best Sci-Fi Movies Made by Disney
7Donald’s Golf Game (1938)
Donald’s Golf Gameis a sports-themed short that sees Donald trying to tee off with Huey, Dewey, and Louie as his caddies. However, the perpetually unlucky duck gets off to a bad start, getting distracted by a songbird and his nephews blowing tissues. The nephews aren’t above playing a few tricks on their uncle, including a few fake clubs.
Their big trick, however, is placing a grasshopper inside the ball, causing it to move on its own. Things get so out of hand that Donald finds himself trying to hit the ball while underwater. After one prank too many, Donald attempts to hit his nephews with a golf club. However, this backfires when it turns out to be one of the joke clubs: it’s a boomerang that comes right back at him. Overall, the simple short illustrates how Donald makes any disaster entertaining to watch.
6Donald’s Diary (1954)
Donald’s Diaryis a love story between Donald and Daisy, with the former serving as the narrator. Despite Disney’s reputation for romance, the short doesn’t necessarily have a happy ending for the two literal lovebirds. Donald and Daisy fall in love and even get married. After enjoying the pleasures of married life, Donald ends up joining the French Foreign Legion.
Donald Sounds Different In His Mind’s Ear
The joke throughout is that Donald overly romanticizes what’s actually happening. For starters, Donald claims that Daisy was hard to get, when she has to literally set a trap to get his attention. This is highlighted by the fact that Donald’s internal voice, which narrates the story, sounds nothing like his usual voice. Huey, Dewey, and Louie also notably cameo in the short as Daisy’s brothers.
5Donald’s Double Trouble (1946)
Donald’s Double Troublestarts off when Daisy breaks things off with Donald, accusing him of being ill-mannered. However, when he meets up with a duck that looks just like him, with a better grasp of the English language and good manners, Donald concocts a plan. The double, “Dapper Duck” will pose as Donald and take Daisy on a date, which he agrees to when he sees her picture.
With Donald Duck, You Can’t Stop At One
Donald keeps an eye on things like a silent Cyrano de Bergerac. Of course, he isn’t too happy seeing Dapper Duck get too romantic with Daisy, especially when it comes to kissing. Dapper crosses a line when he takes Daisy on the Tunnel of Love, in spite of Donald’s pleading. After a fight in the dark, Donald and his double find themselves on the boat together, realizing they’ve left an irate Daisy behind.
4Donald in Mathmagic Land (1959)
Donald in Mathmagic Landsees the famous duck enter a math-themed Wonderland. While there, the “True Spirit of Adventure” teaches Donald all about the wonders of numbers. Donald writes this off as something only “eggheads” care about, but the spirit assures him things like music and games go hand in hand with the golden section and the golden rectangle.
When Donald Duck Comes To School
Notable figures in mathematics, like Pythagoras and Lewis Carroll, are name-dropped. Donald even gets to briefly play Alice and meet living chess pieces in a nod toThrough the Looking-Glass. In the end, Donald learns that something that can help improve his billiards game, especially with its “diamond system,” can’t be all bad.
Over the years, the short has especially become well-known as an educational film that has been played in schools, even asearly as the 1960s.
RELATED:12 Best TV Shows Based on Animated Disney Movies
3Trick or Treat (1952)
Trick or Treatis a Halloween-themed short that sees Donald Duck and his nephews meet Witch Hazel. An opening song warns viewers to be generous on Halloween, setting the plot into motion. Witch Hazel spies Huey, Dewey, and Louie out asking for candy, only to get pranked by their uncle Donald. The witch befriends the boys and decides to help them get the last laugh, with a few tricks of her own.
Double, Double, Toil & Trouble
Donald doesn’t initially believe in witches, but he does after experiencing some of Hazel’s magic firsthand. The story ends with the nephews getting their candy and Hazel flying off on her broomstick. Interestingly enough, Hazel’s voice actress, June Foray, would later voice another animated Witch Hazel, who would become a recurring character fortheLooney Tunescanon.
2Donald’s Nephews (1938)
Donald’s Nephewsis a short famous for being the first animated appearance of the three title characters, Huey, Dewey, and Louie. The story starts off with Donald’s sister, Dumbella, sending him a postcard telling him her triplet sons are going to visit him. However, the boys cause trouble for their Uncle Donald.
Trouble Comes in Three
Donald tries to use a book,Modern Child Training, for help, but it proves little help, with the nephews leaving his house in ruins. When the end of the book tells him that children as practically angels deep down, an enraged Donald rips it up.
Donald’s extended family would soon grow to become a popular concept in other Disney media, such as the comics and theDuckTalesanimated series. Donald’s sister, “Dumbella,” served as a precursor to his sister Della Duck in later media, such as theDuckTalesreboot.
1The Autograph Hound (1939)
The Autograph Houndsees Donald Duck trying to fill up his autograph book while meeting celebrities in Hollywood. Unfortunately, a security guard is on his trail. Various real life celebrities are featured in the short, like Greta Garbo and Mickey Rooney.
All The Stars Come Out For Donald Duck
Even when the stars prove to be obliging, Donald’s bad luck still gets the best of him. Sonja Henie, for example, carves out her name in ice while skating, only for it to melt in the sun.
The story manages to end on a heartwarming note. Shirley Temple recognizes Donald and asks for his autograph. She also comes to his defense when the security guard catches up with him. Now that everyone recognizes who the duck in the sailor suit is, all the stars come out for his autograph. He even gets the last laugh on the guard with one last prank.
