In the late 1930s, Della Duck was first referenced in the “Donald Duck” comic strips and animated short films. She has never featured in any animated film or television series previous to her 2017 DuckTales relaunch and had just a few appearances in Disney comics. But did you know she was actually the mother of Huey, Dewey, and Louie?
Della Duck is Donald Duck’s twin sister. She was first referenced in 1937, but they did not make her animated debut until 2017. She is the mother of Huey, Dewey, and Louie.
Who is Della Duck?
Della Duck, also known as Dumbella Duck, is a cartoon character created by Al Taliaferro and Ted Osborne in 1937. As the niece of Scrooge McDuck, the younger twin sister of Donald Duck, and the mother of Huey, Dewey, and Louie Duck, she is an essential member of the Disney Duck family. Della is a white duck with an anthropomorphic yellow-orange beak, legs, and feet.
She often wears an aviator helmet, a bomber jacket with a light blue scarf, brown slacks, and, as an adult, a robot leg in the Duck Tales revival. Della is known for her less volatile demeanor than Donald, her adventurous energy, and, as a female explorer and amputee in the reboot, for being a great role model to young people. (Source: Deccan Chronicle)
Della Duck’s History Before Ducktales
Della Duck was first mentioned in a Donald Duck Sunday strip on October 17, 1937. She writes to Donald Duck, explaining to Donald that she is sending her sons to stay with him. Donald received a postcard from his sister, addressed Dear Brother, and signed Sister Dumbella in Donald’s Nephews. This cartoon marked the film debut of Donald’s three sons, Huey, Dewey, and Louie Duck.
Della Duck first appeared in comics as a child in the 1990s series The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck. Her first appearance as an adult was in a 2014 Donald Duck comic, 80 is Prachtig!, created to celebrate Donald’s 80th birthday. Della is depicted as a successful test pilot, the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean, and stranded in space after test-flying a rocket ship that accidentally propelled her to near light speed. (Source: The Nostalgia Spot)
Della Duck During the Newer Duck Tales Era
On August 18, 2018, Della Duck was depicted for the first time in a speaking role on DuckTales. She was revealed to have survived the cosmic storm and still lived in her rocket ship’s remains. Della has recurring appearances in season 2 of the series, beginning with the episode “Last Christmas!”.
The first episode of DuckTales will focus on Della for the first time since she was lost in space. The episode, What Ever Happened to Della Duck?!, aired on March 9, 2019. In the season two finale, the Moon aliens Della encountered an attempt to mount an invasion using technology reverse-engineered from her rocket. Although she tries to hide her children away, the returned Donald convinces her to join them in fighting off the invasion.
Della uses one of her brother’s signature phrases, Aw, phooey! Like Donald, she uses the phrase to indicate that she has given up on something she was trying to do or after realizing things have gone wrong. Della has a distinctive motto reflecting her relentless attitude: Nothing can stop Della Duck! (Source: The Nostalgia Spot)
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