His distinctive quack has entertained generations of children, but there was a moment when Donald Duck took on a far more serious purpose, as the face of wartime America.
A new documentary is to explore not just how Donald helped the Allies win World War II, but how he beat Mickey Mouse to the job.
Experts say Donald's "frustrated everyman" character resonated with the American public and eclipsed Mickey in Disney's wartime propaganda films. While sensible Mickey was given the job of warden, "irascible" Donald became the face of the US home front.
A BBC Radio documentary is to explain how Disney helped the Allied war effort with a series of films dedicated to educating Americans on how they could help at home. Others covered topics such as how to collect war bonds, and tried to explain how Nazis were indoctrinated.
The documentary, presented by ex-Disney cartoonist Gerald Scarfe and including archive audio from Clarence Nash, the original voice of Donald, will ask: "Why did Donald Duck get drafted?"
