Donald Fauntleroy Duck, an iconic anthropomorphic character created by the Walt Disney Company, is renowned for his distinctive, semi-intelligible speech and famously mischievous, temperamental, and pompous personality. First appearing in The Wise Little Hen in 1934, he quickly became a popular comic foil to Mickey Mouse, going on to star in more theatrical films—over 150—than any other Disney character, and earning a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
His film series introduced beloved characters like his permanent girlfriend Daisy Duck and nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie, and he remains a fixture in modern media, from TV shows like Mickey Mouse Clubhouse to the Kingdom Hearts video game series. Beyond animation, Donald is globally celebrated for his comics, where artists like Carl Barks significantly expanded his universe, creating characters such as his rich uncle Scrooge McDuck, and even gaining a superhero alter ego, Paperinik, in Italian comics. The character's unique voice, originally developed by Clarence Nash, perfectly embodies his impatient and often cynical but ultimately endearing nature, cementing his status as one of the 50 greatest cartoon characters of all time.