48

A common trope in the Duckverse is Daisy double-dating Gladstone Gander and Donald at the same time, never fully committing to either one.

During the times when he wasn't with Daisy, has Donald Duck ever had any love interest besides Daisy?

Lightness Races in Orbit
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TheAsh
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    For those voting to close, this question is on topic per meta. – TheLethalCarrot Nov 14 '19 at 12:35
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    What a marvelous question. <3 – Hanno Fietz Nov 14 '19 at 21:18
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    "Double-dating" usually involves two couples. If only the three of them are present, wouldn't that be more of a one-and-a-half date? – jmbpiano Nov 14 '19 at 23:29
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    Reginella maybe? – AndreKR Nov 15 '19 at 05:37
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    Does love potions count? I recall a story where a female duck tries to flirt with Donald, so Daisy asks an inventor to create a love potion to "restore" their couple but Donald drinks it and falls in love with the first character he sees : the other female duck... – Goufalite Nov 15 '19 at 12:58
  • I still question the fact that Donald is a duck. Feel he ought to be Donald Drake - maybe descended from Sir Francis..? – Tim Nov 15 '19 at 13:07
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    Definitely yes, I clearly remember that in comics he had several crushes on somebody. I don't have any comics on me anymore, unfortunately. – TGar Nov 15 '19 at 13:40
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    There are various one-off stories where Donald has another love interest, but I'm not sure if those should count since in the end status quo is maintained (i.e., Donald messes it up somehow, or Daisy prevails if she's in the story). – Arkku Nov 15 '19 at 14:20
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    Hmm, I suppose avoiding to answer in any way would count as ducking the question.. :/ – mathreadler Nov 15 '19 at 16:20
  • @Tim The word "duck" is commonly used to refer to either gender, so that's not unusual. What is disturbing is that when it's used as a last name, it implies that Donald and Daisy (or Donna) are already related even though they're not married. Mickey and Minnie Mouse have the same problem. – Darrel Hoffman Nov 15 '19 at 17:17
  • @DarrelHoffman - good point. Although should one believe in Adam and Eve, or later the story of Noah, that would point to humans being in the same sort of category, maybe..? – Tim Nov 15 '19 at 17:26
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    @DarrelHoffman Not everyone named "Smith" is related to everyone else named "Smith" (at least not closely enough to cause concern). "Duck" seems to be an equally common surname in this universe. – jmbpiano Nov 15 '19 at 18:37
  • @jmbpiano True, but it seems that only in cartoon world is it okay for almost every character's last name to simply be what kind of animal they are. It's like if every human on Earth had to share the last name "Human". Why even have last names in that case? – Darrel Hoffman Nov 15 '19 at 19:04
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    @DarrelHoffman Because some are named McDuck or Glomgold. – TheAsh Nov 16 '19 at 22:02
  • @DarrelHoffman Or as if Superman, Batman, Antman, Aquaman all had "man" in their names ;) – Hagen von Eitzen Nov 17 '19 at 14:54

1 Answers1

60

Yes, and no...

Donald Duck's first love interest was Donna Duck, first appearing in the Don Donald 1937 short film.

Donna Duck as she appears in Don Donald
Click image to enlarge.

However, this is where things get confusing. Whilst she has appeared in comics alongside Daisy, Disney states that they are the same character.

1951 comic showing Daisy and Donna together Comic showing Daisy and Donna together
Click images to enlarge.

I can't actually find a copy online to get the quote from it (will keep looking) but apparently Disney Dossiers: Files of Characters From the Walt Disney Studios refers to them as the same character. In the Walt Disney Cartoon Classics: Starring Donald and Daisy VHS the Don Donald short was re-released and it mentions it stars Donald and Daisy. See the still below and the video after it.

Title card for the Don Donald re-release
Click image to enlarge.

As such it would certainly appear that the characters were combined, even though they clearly aren't the same character.

...But also yes

We also have Reginella, the queen of an alien civilisation and the pair do love each other but are kept apart. However, they meet a few times and appear to be in love.

Donald serenades Reginella
Click image to enlarge.

TheLethalCarrot
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