Horst in Translation ([email protected])
"Donald's Happy Birthday" is an American cartoon from 1949, so it is almost 70 years old now and the name Donald tells you of course that here we got another Disney short film that runs for approximately 6-7 minutes. Voice actor is Clarence Nash, but there's also several well-known names, even by today's standards, working on this one outside the acting parts. It's Donald's birthday soon and the kids are ready to give him a box of cigars. Wait what? Smoking ducks? That's right. And you have seen nothing yet. Without the humanization, this film would be highly disturbing. Then ahain, it still is somewhat with Donald shoving dozens of cigars into his boy's mouths eventually before he finally realizes what's going on and sinks and shrinks in the most hilarious manner. Another interesting aspect here is of course the use of cigars and how harmless they were considered back then while today smoking in film is almost a bigger no-go than nudity/sexuality. But completely aside from this contemporary part about society, this is also a really entertaining watch with the comedy and how the film goes over the top in pretty hilarious ways, especially in the second half. So there is not too much else to add I believe. This is one of the best cartoons of the year from a time that is unmatched until today I guess in terms of excellent animation, at least quantity wise, maybe quality-wise too. I highly recommend checking it out. A must-see if you love old cartoons.
TheLittleSongbird
There are funnier Donald and nephews shorts around, and more crisply paced ones. But these don't stop Donald's Happy Birthday from being an interesting short. I don't think Donald's Happy Birthday is all that routine. Most Donald and nephews shorts have the theme of the nephews causing trouble or playing cruel tricks on Donald getting him frustrated easily. Here Donald's nephews Huey, Dewey and Louie had good intentions and Donald is a jerk while feeling guilty when it's not all what it seems(though I do think he loves his nephews and has their interests at heart but doesn't go about it the right way). The very end I did find somewhat dark and touching. The animation is wonderful, very crisp and colourful, and the music is beautifully orchestrated and paced in a characterful manner as ever. All the characters are on top form even with the change of pace, and Clarence Nash's voice work is impeccable. All in all, a very good short. 8/10 Bethany Cox
Ron Oliver
A Walt Disney DONALD DUCK Cartoon.In order to ensure DONALD'S HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Huey, Dewey & Louie must first scheme a way to get the money to buy a gift.This is very much a routine Donald versus the Nephews cartoon, but it's pleasant enough. It is in this film that we learn that Donald's birthday is March 13th. Notice that Louie's name is misspelled `Luey' on the birthday card. Clarence Nash provided the voices for the entire Duck clan.Walt Disney (1901-1966) was always intrigued by pictures & drawings. As a lad in Marceline, Missouri, he sketched farm animals on scraps of paper; later, as an ambulance driver in France during the First World War, he drew comic figures on the sides of his vehicle. Back in Kansas City, along with artist Ub Iwerks, Walt developed a primitive animation studio that provided animated commercials and tiny cartoons for the local movie theaters. Always the innovator, his ALICE IN CARTOONLAND series broke ground in placing a live figure in a cartoon universe. Business reversals sent Disney & Iwerks to Hollywood in 1923, where Walt's older brother Roy became his lifelong business manager & counselor. When a mildly successful series with Oswald The Lucky Rabbit was snatched away by the distributor, the character of Mickey Mouse sprung into Walt's imagination, ensuring Disney's immortality. The happy arrival of sound technology made Mickey's screen debut, STEAMBOAT WILLIE (1928), a tremendous audience success with its use of synchronized music. The SILLY SYMPHONIES soon appeared, and Walt's growing crew of marvelously talented animators were quickly conquering new territory with full color, illusions of depth and radical advancements in personality development, an arena in which Walt's genius was unbeatable. Mickey's feisty, naughty behavior had captured millions of fans, but he was soon to be joined by other animated companions: temperamental Donald Duck, intellectually-challenged Goofy and energetic Pluto. All this was in preparation for Walt's grandest dream - feature length animated films. Against a storm of naysayers, Walt persevered and over the next decades delighted children of all ages with the adventures of Snow White, Pinocchio, Dumbo, Bambi & Peter Pan. Walt never forgot that his fortunes were all started by a mouse, or that childlike simplicity of message and lots of hard work always pay off.
rbverhoef
It is March 13 and it is Donald's birthday. The nephews want to by him a box of cigars but they don't have any money. They work for it so Donald will give them money, but they are not allowed to spend it right away. When Donald is sleeping they try to get the money. This short is a little boring and there are no real laughs in it. Compared to most others it is pretty bad. 5/10.
