Donald and His Friends (2014) Information

Donald and His Friends is a 2014 American traditionally animated musical fantasy-comedy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It is the 54th animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series, sharing with Big Hero 6. It shares with Disney's The Lion King and Planes: Fire & Rescue as the summer films. The film was directed by Stephen J. Anderson and Don Hall, who has directed Winnie the Pooh & Tinker Bell's Midsummer Rescue and Mickey's Christmas Carol Remastered. Most of the entire voice cast for Mickey and his friends (Tony Anselmo as Donald Duck, Rob Paulsen as José Carioca, Carlos Alazraqui as Panchito Pistoles, Christy Carlson Romano as Daisy, Russi Taylor as Huey, Dewey, Louie, and Minnie, Bret Iwan as Mickey, Bill Farmer as Goofy and Pluto, and Alan Young as Uncle Scrooge) reprise their respective character roles. It also includes archival recordings of Aurora Miranda, her sister Carmen Miranda, and Dora Luz. The songs for Donald and His Friends were written and composed by the original archive recordings and the husband-and-wife songwriting team of Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, both of whom had previously worked with Disney Animation on Winnie the Pooh & Tinker Bell's Midsummer Rescue (2011) and Frozen & Muppets & Fairies' Wintery Secret (2013). The film is plotted as a series of self-contained segments, strung together by the device of Donald Duck inviting his friends for his birthday party in the Mexico City vacation and opening gifts from his Latin American friends, José Carioca, the cigar-smoking parrot, representing Brazil and the pistol-packing rooster Panchito Pistoles, representing Mexico.
Donald and His Caballero Friends premiered at the El Capitan Theatre on June 23, 2014, and went into general release on June 27, 2014, to mark with the 80th anniversary of Donald Duck's debut and the 70th anniversary of the The Three Caballeros premiere in Mexico City. The film was met with very positive reviews and was a critical and commercial success, winning the Annie Award for Best Animated Feature and receiving nominations for the Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film and the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Donald and His Friends was released on Blu-ray and DVD on October 28, 2014 (the time of the Day of the Dead celebration).
It includes characters from the Mickey Mouse universe, Alice in Wonderland, The Sword in the Stone, Pinocchio, Peter Pan, Cinderella, and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, were cast throughout the film.
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Plot
The film consists of seven segments, each connected by a common theme.
Tonight is a very important night for Donald Duck (Tony Anselmo): it's his birthday (namely Friday the 13th)! He spent the whole day scrubbing and dusting and cleaning his house for the big party he is throwing for his friends. He was so tired after the hard day's work that he lay down on the sofa for a short nap, but instead he fell into a deep sleep!
Driiiing! Diiiing! The doorbell rang, but Donald was in the middle of a dream. He thought the doorbell was the telephone ringing. But when he reached over in his dream to pick it up, he slipped off the soda and fell onto the floor. "Ouch!" he muttered as he hit the door. "I must have fallen asleep!" Driiiing! Driiiing! The doorbell rang again. Oh! No! My guests are here! I haven't cooked dinner yet!" he thought in a panic as he went to open the door.
"Daisy! What a stroke of luck!" he said as he opened the door. "You must help me! I am running very late and..." "Me?" Help you?" laughed Daisy (Christy Carlson Romano). "You men are all alike! What do you want me to do?" "I need help in the kitchen. I haven't even started to cook dinner yet. I fell asleep!" Donald explained. "Okay, I will cook dinner, but first you must tell me what you think of my new shoes," said Daisy with a smile. "They are very elegant, Daisy..." said Donald, admiring. "And the gift I brought you?" "Beautiful, but it's too much," replied Donald. He was very happy to see her.
As Donald unwrapped Daisy's gift – she had given him a wonderful fly-swatter – the doorbell rang again. Minnie (Russi Taylor) and Mickey (Bret Iwan) had arrived. Donald led them to the living room. "Where is Daisy?" asked Minnie. "She told us she would come early." "Daisy?" Well...she..." stammered Donald. He was too embarrassed to tell Minnie that Daisy was cooking dinner in the kitchen.
Driiiing! Driiiing! The doorbell rang again! Donald left his guests to open the door. What a surprise! Standing in the doorway was a huge present, and this present could even talk and walk! "Happy Birthday!" it said, and Donald recognized the voice (Bill Farmer). "Goofy!" he laughed as he undid the wrapping. "What a wonderful surprise!"
Pluto (Bill Farmer) was the fourth guest to arrive. Donald's three nephews, Huey, Dewey, and Louie (Russi Taylor), heard their friend bark. They ran out of the kitchen where they had been helping Daisy. They couldn't wait to play with him. They reached for Donald's gift. But Pluto wouldn't let them have it. After all, it was Donald's birthday, not theirs. Huey, Dewey, and Louie were disappointed. But everyone started to sing 'Happy Birthday!' to Donald, and they joined the chorus. They had a good laugh. Hadn't Goofy looked funny wrapped up as a gift?
Mickey Mouse stepped forward and unwrapped his gift. "This is my gift to you," he said as he pulled a handsome top-hat out of the box. "Something you can wear to a grand ball." Donald didn't know what to say. But Daisy, who had overheard Mickey from the kitchen, popped her head out the door and said with a smile, "A grand ball, Mickey? What a wonderful idea!" Donald wasn't so sure.
"Come on, Uncle Donald! Try it on!" shouted his nephews impatiently. "Yes, Donald, put it on!" seconded Daisy with a twinkle in her eye. "Show us how handsome you are!" Donald obliged. As he placed the hat on his head, a stream of sparkling light and golden stars trickled out of it. "A magician's hat! A magician's hat!" shouted the nephews. Mickey told them to quiet down. "Listen!" he whispered. Everybody hushed. From inside the hat came a faint and faraway voice...
"Mr. Rabbit, where are you going so fast?" said the voice (Hynden Walch). Donald flipped the hat over. "Alice in Wonderland!" he exclaimed. Everybody rushed over and took a peek. "What is she looking for?" asked Louie. "She is after the White Rabbit!" explained Dewey. "Will she catch him?" "Of course she will," replied Dewey, "but only after she meets with the Cheshire Cat and the March Hare and the terrible Queen of Hearts in the kingdom of cards!"
"What a birthday this is!" said Donald, delighted. "You haven't seen anything yet!" said Mickey, watching his friend hold his head in amazement. The resonant sound of cymbals filled the room, and was followed by a gentle tune played on a harp.
Out of the hat came Merlin (Jeff Bennett) the Wizard, holding his magic wand in one hand and his wizard's cap in place with the other. Peter Pan (Blayne Weaver) was next, and Huey exclaimed, "It is a good thing he didn't bring that awful Captain Hook and his crocodile with him!"
Merlin raised his magic wand and whispered his very ancient magical formula: "Abracadabrus, abracadabra  abracadabri, abracadabro!" Immediately, a huge present appeared.
Donald couldn't wait to open this present. It was huge! Out of the box came the biggest birthday cake he had ever seen. His little nephews jumped up and down with anticipation. The whole room filled with applause. Donald did not know how to thank Merlin for his thoughtfulness. "Don't think about thanking me now!" advised the wizard with a smile. "This is only the beginning!"
"Abracadabrus, abracadabra  abracadabri, abracadabro!" whisper Merlin again. The cake grew even larger. Then a piece of chocolate broke off and a door appeared! The door opened and Snow White (Katherine Von Till) and the Seven Dwarfs stepped out. Each greeted Donald with a present.
Before Donald could finish thanking his unexpected guests, the cake grew again. It took the shape of a magical castle. "It's walls were made of caramel and its towers of chocolate. "It's Cinderella's castle!" exclaimed one of the guests. Cinderella (Jennifer Hale) came forward and offered Donald a pumpkin. "She's making fun of him!" giggled Louie.
But the pumpkin turned into a sports car when Donald put it on the floor. Huey, Dewey, and Louie couldn't believe their eyes! "Don't look so surprised!" teased Cinderella, and to Donald she said, "Come on, get behind the wheel!" Donald jumped into the car. "Who wants to go for a ride?" he called out. "Me!" shouted Huey. "Me too!" yelled Dewey. "And me too!" cried Louie, afraid he'd be left out.
Everyone went for a ride in Donald's sports car. Merlin had no more tricks up his sleeve, so Mickey sent them back into the hat. "Good-bye, Peter Pan!" said Louie. "Will you come back for my birthday?" "Yes, I will!" promised Peter Pan as he disappeared into the hat.
The Cold-Blooded Penguin / The Flying Gauchito
One of Donald's first presents is a film projector, which shows him a documentary about birds. During the documentary, he learns about a penguin named Pablo, narrated by Jim Cummings, reproducing images of Punta Tombo in Argentina along the coast of Patagonia, "Pablo the penguin" is shown to be so fed up with the freezing conditions of the South Pole that he would much rather leave for warmer climates. The next thing to learn is about the Aracuan Bird, who received his name because of his eccentric song. The Aracuan also makes several appearances throughout the film. This segment involves the adventures of a little boy from Uruguay, and his winged donkey, who goes by the name of Burrito (Spanish for 'little donkey').
Plot
Driiing! Driiing! The doorbell rang. "Who could be coming so late?" wondered Donald. "Uncle Scrooge! I did not expect you to come," said Donald surprised. "He must have smelled the food," giggled Daisy. "And he said to himself, 'I'll go and have a free dinner!'" added Minnie, laughing. But Uncle Scrooge (Alan Young) said instead with a sob, "I just was the victim of a robbery!"
"A robbery?" cried Donald in disbelief. "Yes! A most horrible robbery!" insisted Uncle Scrooge. "If only I had not bought you that beautiful present!" "What beautiful present?" asked Donald. "The one I bought you, of course!" said Uncle Scrooge, annoyed. "I was on my way here carrying your present when a robber..." "...jumped on top of you and ran away with my present!" finished Donald, who did not believe this tale of misery. "If you search your pocket," teased Donald, "you might find a little piece of it!"
Uncle Scrooge searched his pockets in vain. "Uncle Scrooge! You've got such bad luck!" said everyone, tongue-in-cheek. "Since you lost my present, Uncle Scrooge, take this one!" said Donald. Uncle Scrooge realized that they were making fun of him. He flew into a rage.
"Is this how you treat me?" he shouted. "And to think I have been so generous to you!" Everyone burst out laughing. Uncle Scrooge was livid. He threw whatever he could get his hands on at Donald. But Donald ducked, and the presents, books, lamps, telephone hit...
...Medusa, Madam Mim (Russi Taylor), Cruella De Vil (Susanne Blakeslee), and Maleficent (Susanne Blakeslee)! The witches had come when they heard that Merlin, Cinderella, and Snow White had been invited to the party. They had hid in a dark corner of the room, but now they were discovered. So they left as fast as they could, to everyone's delight.
But the last object Uncle Scrooge hurled across the room knocked Goofy over. He was very surprised, and he worried that something else would hit him as well. But instead, a beautiful and soothing music filled the room. Even Uncle Scrooge forgot his anger and listened to the music.
"Thank you, Happy, for your cheerful music!" said Goofy, relieved. "Thank you, Bashful, for the sweet sound of your guitar! And thank you, Sneezy and Doc, for the trumpet and the cymbals!" The Seven Dwarfs were welcomed with a round of applause.
For once, Sleepy (Bill Farmer) was wide awake, pulling an organ on wheels, while Grumpy (Corey Burton) was at the keyboard in a good mood!
"Would you care to dance?" Donald asked the beautiful Snow White. "I would love to!" replied Snow White. Donald blushed with delight: for one dance, he would be Prince Charming!
Clarabelle (April Winchell) and Goofy preferred the tango. To the sound of Dopey's accordion, they paced the floor and twirled and paced the floor again. When the dance was over, they received a hearty applause.
Huey, Dewey, and Louie were a little too young to enjoy the tango, so while Clarabelle and Goofy stole the show, they slipped down to the basement. "Over there!" said Louie, pointing to an electrical box on the wall. He climbed on top of Dewey and opened it. They started to giggle. With one flick of the switch, everyone upstairs would be in the dark!
When the lights went off. Donald was so surprised he did not know what to say. He had no time to scold his three nephews because the instant they returned to the room the show began! "Take your seats!" giggled Dewey. "It's show time!"
"Pluto!" shouted the audience when the brave dog appeared on the screen. He was peacefully sleeping, but a slow and suspenseful music foretold a future mishap...
A crow (Jess Harnell) stood in front of Pluto and yelled at the top of his lungs, "Wake up, you lazy dog! Wake up! I dare you to catch me!" Pluto woke up with a start. "Grrr..." he mumbled.
Pluto leapt up and the chase began! The audience was delighted. "Go, Pluto! Go!" they cheered.
Pluto went for the crow's tail. Just as he was about to catch it, the bird slipped into the house. Pluto followed him into the house while the audience laughed, "Faster! Faster!"
Inside the house, a big surprise awaited Pluto. Mickey was holding a huge birthday cake in his hands. "Happy Birthday, Pluto!" sang his friends as he skidded to a stop. "Don't look so surprised," teased Minnie. "Some crows are nice!" "Thank you," said Pluto, and with a wink he added, "But today is Donald's birthday, not mine!"
Baia
The next present is a pop-up book given to Donald by José Carioca (Rob Paulsen), the Brazilian parrot. The book tells of the Brazilian state of Baia, which is one of Brazil's 26 states. José shrinks them both down so that they can enter the book. The Aracuan usually taunts everyone with his madcap antics sometimes stealing José's cigar trying to make José jealous. His most famous gag is when he re-routes a train that Donald and José ride on by drawing new tracks, making the train disassemble. Donald and José meet up with several of the locals, who dance a lively samba, and Donald ends up pining for Aurora Miranda, but fails, After the journey, Donald and Jose leave the book.
Plot
Upon returning, Donald realizes that he is too small to open his third present. José shows Donald how to use "black magic" to return himself to the proper size.
"Yes, it is indeed Donald's birthday today" said a voice (Corey Burton) from the back of the room. The lights were turned on. "Gladstone Gander!" exclaimed Donald. "In the flesh," said Gladstone, dressed to the hilt. He pointed to a huge present next to him and said, "My dear Donald, this is a very small gift for you. I hope it suits you."
"You hope it suits me?" asked Donald, not understanding. "Yes, I hope it suits you, or pleases you, to put it plainly. In any case, I am sure that I am better at choosing gifts than our Uncle Scrooge!" he continued. "Just imagine, he gave me an hour glass for my birthday...." Donald Duck and his friends listened carefully. They knew better than to interrupt Gladstone. Uncle Scrooge had meanwhile very quietly slipped under the table.
"An hour glass?" repeated Donald, not believing his ears. "An hour glass!" insisted Gladstone. "An hour glass! Which furthermore wouldn't work, because the sand was so coarse it could not pass through the opening!" "Hah! That little rascal!" said Donald with a chuckle.
"Indeed, he is a rascal!" continued Gladstone. "But I had my revenge! A week after he gave me this useless gift, I called him on the telephone. 'Hello, Uncle Scrooge!' I said. "This is Gladstone calling to thank you for your marvelous gift! Since I've had it, my arthritis has disappeared; I won a whole new wardrobe; and my old aunt Adele died and left me a castle in Spain, a few summer houses by the sea and three million dollars! Your gift sure is a lucky charm, Uncle Scrooge! Thank you very much!'"
"The following day," Gladstone went on, "Uncle Scrooge came to see me. He wanted his gift back. He was even willing to part with a few of his beloved greenbacks!"
Gladstone started to laugh. "I gave him back the hour glass. The next day Uncle Scrooge called me. He was very upset: the night before he had been robbed! Tongue-in-cheek, I asked him, 'Did they leave the good luck charm behind?' 'That's all they left me!' cried Uncle Scrooge. 'I will get rid of it this very minute!' With that, he hung up on me!"
Las Posadas
After Gladstone's story, Donald opened the present and he meets Panchito Pistoles (Carlos Alazraqui), a native of Mexico. The trio take the name "The Three Caballeros" and have a short celebration. Panchito then presents Donald's next present, a piñata. He tells the story of a group of Mexican children who celebrated Christmas by re-enacting the journey of Mary, the mother of Jesus and Saint Joseph searching for room at the inn. "Posada" meant "inn", or "shelter", and their parents told them "no posada" at each house until they came to one where they were offered shelter in a stable.
Plot
Just as Panchito finished his story, the doorbell rang. Donald excused himself and went to open the door. "Chip and Dale! How nice of you to remember my birthday," he said to his two friends (Tress MacNeille and Corey Burton) at the door. "Come on in!" "Look Uncle Scrooge! They found your stolen present!" said Donald as he read the calling card. "You did buy me a gift!" Uncle Scrooge came out from under the table and blushed a deep red.
Donald opened the box and pulled out...the hour glass! Everyone in the room broke into laughter–everyone but Uncle Scrooge. "What is so funny?" he asked. But no one heard him. They were laughing too hard.
Mexico: Pátzcuaro, Veracruz and Acapulco
This leads to festivities including Panchito telling Donald of the tradition behind the piñata. José and Panchito then blindfold Donald, and have him attempt to break open the piñata, which eventually reveals many surprises. Panchito gives Donald and José a tour of Mexico on a flying sarape. Several Mexican dances and songs are learned here. A key point to what happens later is that Donald is pining for some more ladies again, tries to hound down every single one he saw, and gain return affections, but once more fails and ends up kissing José while blindfolded.
You Belong To My Heart
The skies of Mexico City result in Donald falling in love with singer Dora Luz. The lyrics in the song itself play parts in the scenarios as to what is happening as well.
Donald's Surreal Reverie
Several imagined kisses lead to Donald going into the "Love is a drug" scene. This is similar to "Pink Elephants on Parade" for being a major "drunk" scene. Donald constantly envisions sugar rush colors, flowers, and Panchito and José popping in at the worst moments, making chaos. The scene changes after Donald manages to dance with Carmen Molina from the state of Oaxaca, from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. The two dance and sing the song "La Zandunga". Carmen begins by singing the song, with Donald "quacking" out the rest of the chorus with her. The "drunkenness" slows down for a second after Donald multiplied himself while dancing, but speeds up again when Carmen reappears dressed in a Charro's outfit and uses a horsewhip as a conductor's baton to make cacti appear in many different forms while dancing to "Jesusita en Chihuahua", a trademark song of the Mexican Revolution. The is a notable scene for live action and cartoon animation mixing, as well as animation among the cacti.
Plot
Donald called his friends to the dining room. Daisy had cooked a delicious meal! After the dessert, he climbed on top of the table and announced. "My friends you have all been so good to me! Now please follow me to the garden where the grand finale awaits us!"
The scene is interrupted when Panchito and José suddenly spice things up for finale, and Donald ends up battling the same ferocious toy bull with wheels on its legs from earlier (with which the firecracks are lit by José with his cigar).
Everyone followed him outside. Donald stepped up to a detonator and said, "Now, stay still! And keep your eyes open, because you are about to see the greatest show ever!"
The catch is that it is again loaded with firecrackers and other explosives following with a fireworks finale with the words "The End" exploding from the fireworks first in Mexican Spanish (Fin) in the colors of the Mexican Flag, then in Brazilian Portuguese (Fim) in the colors of the flag of Brazil and finally in English in the colors of the flag of the United States of America.
Donald pushed down the lever and boom! A million fireworks lit up the sky and trickled down as stars. "Ooh! Aah!" they gasped, all but one individual, who cried out for help.
"Goofy!" called Donald as his friend ran around the garden with his pants smoking. "Goofy! Sit on the wet grass!" Goofy followed his friend's advice and sighed with relief.
The party came to an end and, though everyone was a little sad that the fun was over, they all had enjoyed themselves. Even Goofy, who had lost his pants to the fireworks, was laughing. "See you all next year!" he called out to Donald and his friends as he left.
Characters
Voice Cast
Tony Anselmo – Donald Duck
Rob Paulsen – José Carioca
Carlos Alazraqui – Panchito Pistoles
Tress MacNeille – Daisy Duck / Chip / Madame Medusa
Russi Taylor – Huey / Dewey / Louie / Minnie Mouse / Madam Mim
Bret Iwan – Mickey Mouse
Bill Farmer – Goofy / Pluto / Sleepy
Alan Young – Scrooge McDuck
Corey Burton – Gladstone Gander / Dale / Grumpy / Captain Hook / Mad Hatter
Hynden Walch – Alice / Wendy Darling
Jeff Bennett – Merlin / Bashful / White Rabbit / March Hare / Mr. Smee
Blayne Weaver – Peter Pan
Katherine Von Till – Snow White
Stephen Stanton – Happy
Bob Joles – Sneezy
David Ogden Stiers – Doc
Jennifer Hale – Cinderella
Rosalyn Landor – Blue Fairy
Susanne Blakeslee – Maleficent / Cruella De Vil / The Witch
April Winchell – Clarabelle Cow / Queen of Hearts
Jim Cummings – Cheshire Cat
Jess Harnell – Crow / Present Delivery Weasel
Additional Voices (Party guests, Wonderland inhabitants, Never Land inhabitants)
Ava Acres, Isabella Acres, Keith Anthony, Kirk Baily, Eva Bella, Bob Bergen, Paul Briggs, Tyree Brown, Reed Buck, June Christopher, Cam Clarke, Mason Cook, David Cowgill, Makenna Cowgill, Terri Douglas, Pat Fraley, Eddie Frierson, Don Fullilove, Jackie Gonneau, Nicholas Guest, Emily Hahn, Bridget Hoffman, Rif Hutton, John Kassir, Daniel Kaz, Katie Lowes, Mona Marshall, Dara McGarry, Scott Menville, Laraine Newman, Raymond Ochoa, Paul Pape, Raymond Persi, Phil Proctor, Peter Renaday, Lynwood Robinson, Carter Sand, Jadon Sand, Katie Silverman, Livvy Stubenrauch, Fred Tatasciore, Claudette Wells
Places/locations
Soundtrack (June 24, 2014)
Reception/Critical response
Donald and His Caballero Friends received generally positive reviews from critics. The review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes reports that 87% of critics have given the film a positive review based on 163 reviews, with an average score of 7.4/10. The site's consensus reads: "Equally entertaining for both kids and parents old enough to catch the references, Donald Duck is a clever, colorful adventure with catchy songs and gorgeous animation built on familiar themes and joyful nostalgia." The film earned an "A" from audiences polled by CinemaScore.
Rating
The film was rated G: "General Audiences-All Ages Admitted." by the Motion Picture Association of America.
This is a film which contains nothing in theme, language, nudity and sex, violence, etc. which would, in the view of the Rating Board, be offensive to parents whose younger children view the film. The G rating is not a "certificate of approval," nor does it signify a children's film. Some snippets of language may go beyond polite conversation but they are common everyday expressions. No stronger words are present in G-rated films. The violence is at a minimum. Nudity and sex scenes are not present; nor is there any drug use content.
Trailers
The teaser trailer for Donald and His Caballero Friends was released on November 15, 2013, debuting with Mickey's Christmas Carol Remastered, and an official trailer was released on March 20, 2014, coinciding with Muppets Most Wanted.
The trailers is seen in theaters, including
Planes: Fire & Rescue
Big Hero 6
The Incredibles 3D
Annie
The Muppets Take Manhattan
The Boxtrolls
The Penguins of Madagascar
Supervising Animators
Anniversaries
Actors' ages
Actors' ages
Actors' ages
Actors' ages
Actors' ages
Birthdays
Genres