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Daffy Duck

March 18, 2007 – 11:16 pm

 Daffy Duck

Daffy Duck was the second character to emerge from the Warner Bros. studio after Porky Pig. Daffy Duck was created by Tex Avery in 1937 and first appeared in “Porky’s Duck Hunt” which was released on April 17, 1937. Daffy was shown as a little black duck with a white ring around his neck and a twisted twinkle in his eye. He was shown as bouncing up and down on top of his lake and rather than run away from the hunter Porky Pig he chooses to confront him. At this point Daffy still didn’t have a name. He got his name in his second short “Daffy Duck and Egghead” which was released in 1938. Voice of Daffy is supposed to be high pitched impersonation of producer Leon Schlesinger who had a tendency to lisp. Daffy was voiced by Mel Blanc from 1937 till 1989, while Dee Bradley Parker gave his voice to Daffy for “Space Jam” and Joe Alaskey for “Looney Tunes: Back in Action” and “Duck Dodgers”.

Daffy was redesigned by director Robert McKimson in 1940’s as rounder and more elastic. In this era Daffy starred with his one time rival Porky Pig. During World War 2 Daffy starred in several war related themes. Daffy battles a Nazi goat who wants to eat his scrap metal in “Scrap Happy Daffy” (1943) and in short “Draftee Daffy” (1945) he avoids being drafted. In the 1940’s Daffy starred in over 40 movies including “The Henpecked Duck”, “Daffy’s Southern Exposure”, “Along Came Daffy” costarring with Porky Pig, Elmer Fudd, Yosemite Sam.

In 1950’s Chuck Jones gave his touch to Daffy’s personality. Jones made Daffy taller, skinnier and having a more pronounced beak. Daffy was portrayed as a winner before but Jones chose to show Daffy as a loser with a lust for money and one who was never satisfied.  In “Duck Dodgers in the 24½th Century” (1953) Daffy tries to be Buck Rodgers, in “Drip-along Daffy” and “My Little Duckeroo” Daffy is shown in Western while “Robin Hood Daffy” sees Daffy donning the role of Robin Hood. In 1953 a masterpiece of American animation was released in the form of “Duck Amuck”. In it Daffy himself along with the setting and the soundtrack is altered by his animator’s paintbrush. It is later revealed than none other than Bugs bunny was responsible for this. This short was selected to be preserved in the United States National Film registry in 1999. In “Rabbit Fire” (1951), “Rabbit Seasoning” and “Duck Rabbit Duck” Daffy is shown in the Bugs series along with Elmer Fudd. Daffy ended his career as a start of cartoon shorts in “Speedy Gonzales”.

In “Who Framed roger Rabbit” released in 1988 Daffy stars along with Donald Duck. He also starred in “Space Jam” (1996) and in “Looney Tunes: Back in Action” (2003). In 2003, he was cast in brand-new “Duck Dodgers” series. After release of “Looney Tunes: Back in Action”, Warner Bros. seems to be slowly moving away from Bugs and towards Daffy.