Review: Classic Cartoon Favorites Starring Donald DVD

While classic Disney cartoons might not be everyone’s primary obsession, the chaotic energy of Donald Duck has long held a special place in animation history. Debuting in 1934 and quickly becoming the star of his own shorts by 1937, this famously short-tempered character resonated strongly with audiences of all ages. His distinct, often hard-to-understand voice, provided for nearly 50 years by the legendary Clarence Nash, added to his charm, making his frequent frustrations relatable. Donald’s immense popularity also led to the expansion of his animated universe, introducing iconic characters like his mischievous nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie, and the incredibly wealthy Uncle Scrooge. While these additions were fantastic, the original quacking sensation remained irreplaceable. In today’s entertainment landscape, Donald is as recognized a name as Mickey Mouse himself. Disney acknowledged this enduring appeal last year with The Chronological Donald: Volume 1, an impressive 2-disc set compiling 32 of Donald’s adventures from 1934-1941, complete with valuable extras. As is typical with many Disney home video releases, this comprehensive collection was initially a limited-time offer, though still available at the time of this review. For those who appreciate the foundational cartoons featuring the famous duck, exploring resources like those covering mickey mouse donald duck and goofy cartoons can provide deeper context into this era of animation history.

In a somewhat unexpected move, Disney then released Classic Cartoon Favorites – Starring Donald. This smaller collection features just 8 cartoons, which while perfectly watchable, are largely recycled content. Specifically, 75% of the shorts included here were already part of The Chronological Donald: Volume 1. Only two cartoons from Donald’s popular “bee” series from the late 1940s and early 1950s—”Inferior Decorator” and “Bee at the Beach”—make their debut on this particular disc. This makes the Classic Cartoon Favorites release a curious choice for anyone already owning the more extensive set.

Frankly, if you already own The Chronological Donald: Volume 1, there’s little reason to purchase this new release. The two new “bee” cartoons, while enjoyable classics in their own right (long-time fans might recall them from earlier compilations like the Gold Collection VHS), simply aren’t enough to justify the cost of the entire disc. Twelve minutes of new content for around $15 is a tough sell. For those who don’t own the 2-disc collection, Classic Cartoon Favorites – Starring Donald is hardly a recommended alternative either. With only a quarter of the cartoons and none of the bonus features found on the larger set, this disc is best suited for extremely casual fans or those operating on a very strict budget. To provide a complete picture, however, it’s worth listing the cartoons included in this collection. Fans interested in the broader scope of this period might also find articles on old classic mickey mouse cartoons valuable, as Mickey and Donald’s careers often overlapped.

Here is the lineup of included cartoons on the Classic Cartoon Favorites – Starring Donald DVD:

• “Inferior Decorator” (1947)
• “Don Donald” (1937)
• “Golden Eggs” (1941)
• “Bee at the Beach” (1950)
• “Donald’s Dog Laundry” (1940)
• “Donald’s Vacation” (1940)
• “Old McDonald Duck” (1941)
• “Chef Donald” (1941)

Again, the selection of shorts itself is great, showcasing some genuine highlights from Donald’s filmography. However, the significant overlap between this release and The Chronological Donald makes Classic Cartoon Favorites feel like an unnecessary “double-dip” maneuver by Disney. Instead of offering a somewhat random mix, it would have been preferable to see a collection focused on specific themes or chronological progression beyond the first volume, perhaps grouping together series like the complete “bee” cartoons. Furthermore, the bare-bones nature of this DVD is disappointing. A disc seemingly aimed at a wider, potentially younger audience, lacks any historical context or background information about these classic shorts, which is a missed opportunity. It’s the kind of thing that might even irritate Donald himself! But setting aside the release strategy, how does the disc perform in terms of technical quality? Exploring the broader history of these iconic figures can be fascinating, including looking at how they appeared in special features like an old mickey mouse christmas cartoon.

Presentation Quality: Video and Audio

Six out of the eight included cartoons look terrific on this DVD. These six shorts are ported directly from The Chronological Donald: Volume 1 and benefit from excellent restoration. Colors are vibrant, and image detail is impressively sharp, providing a visually pleasing experience, especially considering these cartoons are nearing 70 years old.

The two shorts new to this release, “Inferior Decorator” and “Bee at the Beach,” don’t look quite as good. While certainly watchable, they exhibit higher contrast and more grain compared to the other six. Nonetheless, their presentation is still superior to older formats like VHS. Overall, the visual quality remains strong for a collection of this era.

Audio quality is generally consistent with the video. The sound, often a challenge to restore from such old source material, is a bit thin overall. However, it likely represents the best possible presentation given the age of the original recordings. Fans familiar with the audio quality of classic cartoons from the 1930s and 40s won’t be disappointed by what’s offered here. Understanding the history and evolution of these characters, including the dynamic between mickey mouse cartoon donald duck is key to appreciating these historical releases.

Menu Design, Packaging, and Extras

The DVD features anamorphic widescreen menus that are straightforward and easy to navigate. It includes Disney’s “FastPlay” option, designed for simple playback without needing to use the menus. Each 6-minute cartoon is presented as its own chapter, and no layer change was detected during playback. While the menus are widescreen, the cartoons themselves are presented in their original fullscreen and non-anamorphic widescreen formats, preserving their historical aspect ratios. English subtitles are included, which are helpful for the deaf, hard of hearing, or anyone trying to decipher Donald’s more irate outbursts. The packaging is standard for a Disney DVD – a typical white keepcase with a few inserts and ads.

In terms of bonus features, this disc offers a significant disappointment: a complete lack of extras beyond standard Disney previews (including trailers for Studio Ghibli films like Porco Rosso, Nausicaä, and The Cat Returns). It seems like a missed opportunity not to include more cartoons or some relevant features from The Chronological Donald: Volume 1. A disc containing under 60 minutes of largely recycled content could have greatly benefited from supplementary material providing context or additional entertainment. Examining collections focused purely on disney mickey mouse classic cartoons might offer insights into how other character compilations are handled.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, Classic Cartoon Favorites – Starring Donald is essentially a condensed, less valuable version of the superior The Chronological Donald: Volume 1, save for the inclusion of the two “bee” cartoons. For those seeking the most comprehensive and best-value collection of early Donald shorts, the 2-disc set is the clear recommendation, despite Disney’s usual “limited time offer” potentially making it harder to find over time. While it might be an unnecessary purchase for collectors, saying Classic Cartoon Favorites is a complete waste isn’t entirely fair. It does offer a collection of genuinely great classic cartoons. Parents and children looking for a simple, enjoyable evening of vintage Disney animation can still find value here. It’s just a shame that Disney didn’t use this opportunity to release a more substantial or unique collection.

Recommendation: Rent It.