As Daffy celebrates 80 years this week (well that's a lie since WB doesn't acknowledge the age of their characters anymore), here are some facts about Daffy that are fascinating.
1. Daffy's first appearance is a bigger landmark than expected.
Porky's Duck Hunt did more than introduced the world to Daffy Duck; This would be the first time Mel Blanc would voice Porky Pig full time. Joe Daughtry voiced Porky originally, but had a hard time as he really stuttered. Blanc went to a pig farm to help better understand the voice and came to the conclusion that it's not a stutter, but rather a grunt. Blanc would voice the majority of the Looney Tunes characters ever since.
The cartoons and the studio would tell you that Bugs is the real star of Looney Tunes, but many Looney Tunes fans will admit that Daffy Duck is the favorite out of the group. This is because Daffy will 100% mess with his adversaries whenever he wants. Bugs, however, will only attack when provoked
Bugs and Daffy never truly met until 1943 at then end of Porky Pig's Feat. It was there when he claimed Bugs to be his hero and calls him up. It wasn't until Chuck Jones teamed the two up in Rabbit Fire that changed the game for Daffy Duck. It marked the first time Daffy was the bad guy and there was no turning back for the rivalry between the two in future cartoons.
4. Daffy's voice may be based on his producer's voice
Chuck Jones claimed that once Daffy had a lisp, his would be based on Looney Tunes producer at the time, Leon Schlesinger. While not as strong as Daffy's, everyone there claimed he had a lisp when he spoke. When viewing Daffy with a lisp for the first time, he said, "Jesus Christ does he sound funny".....the crew laughed at that as Schlesinger said that with an unintended lisp.
5. Daffy and Sylvester DO have different voices.
No, more than just Blanc sped up for Daffy despite having lisps and phrases like Sufferin Succotash. When voicing Sylvester, Blanc used a sloppier voice, so his phrases and dialogues were actually longer and deeper whereas Daffy was faster. Even if you don't speed up Daffy's voice, you can tell the difference as to whether he was Daffy or Sylvester.
Mel Blanc voiced Daffy from 1937 until his death in 1989. This brings a total of 52 years of voicing an original character. The only reason it wasn't for Porky Pig was because he filled in two years after Porky was created. Clarence Nash would come a close second for Donald Duck with voicing him for 51 years.
7. Daffy Duck did crossover with the Groovie Goulies.
And it wasn't pretty either. Daffy Duck and Porky Pig meets the Groovie Goulies aired on Saturday Morning as a TV special. It was produced by Filmation, meaning the Looney Tunes characters suffered from limited animation among other issues such as Daffy's voice sped up way too fast. This is still considered one of the worst Looney Tunes of all time by many fans and historians.
8. Daffy never even received a nomination for an Academy Award
Despite popularity and having some of the greatest cartoons ever made, the Academy never recognized that. Even Porky Pig at least received one nomination. Perhaps this sparked the Bugs and Daffy rivalry even further (Bugs won 1 Academy Award and at least 2 other nominations).
9. Daffy Duck and Sailor Mars (from Sailor Moon) share the same birthday
Porky's Duck Hunt was originally released April 17th, 1937. According to official Sailor Moon merchandise, Rei Hino/Sailor Mars celebrates her birthday on April 17 (though not the same year you understand). One episode of Sailor Moon Crystal even acknowledges her birthday when an episode aired close to her birthday. Could this be why both have the same argumentative personalities????? Eh....could be..........
10. Daffy's Rhapsody, the CGI cartoon, would be based on the hit song of the same name
Not only that, but WB tracked down the original soundtrack to the song which was sung by Mel Blanc as Daffy Duck. Using the original Mel Blanc tracks, WB was able to make a whole new CGI cartoon mixing the song with the storyline. Both this and I Taught I Taw a Putty Tat would use Mel Blanc's tracks based on those hit Capitol Records from the late 1940's.
Got a favorite Daffy Duck moment? Let me know in the comments. Happy Birthday Daffy!!!
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