Clown of the Jungle is a 1947 American animated short film directed by Jack Hannah and produced by Walt Disney, featuring Donald Duck.[1] It marks the first short film appearance of the Aracuan Bird, previously seen in The Three Caballeros (1944). In the short film, Donald Duck is visiting the jungle to photograph its tropical birds, but things take a turn for the worse when Donald encounters the extremely annoying Aracuan Bird.

Clown of the Jungle
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJack Hannah
Story byRay Patin
Payne Thebaut
Produced byWalt Disney
StarringClarence Nash
Pinto Colvig
Music byOliver Wallace
Animation byAndy Engman
Volus Jones
Bill Justice
Hal King
Layouts byYale Gracey
Backgrounds byThelma Witmer
Color processTechnicolor
Production
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Distributed byRKO Radio Pictures
Release date
  • June 20, 1947 (1947-06-20)
Running time
6:19
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Plot

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In the South American jungle, the narrator introduces us to the various birds living there and to wildlife photographer Donald Duck intent on getting some pictures. However, all his attempts to photograph birds are ruined by the "clown of the jungle", the Aracuan Bird. Example: when Donald attempts to photograph a chorus line of hummingbirds, the Aracuan Bird interrupts the picture with a Russian kick dance. Donald becomes aggravated to the point where he gives chase but the bird always manages to outsmart Donald and make short work of his sanity.

Voice cast

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Television

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Home media

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The short was released on December 11, 2007, on Walt Disney Treasures: The Chronological Donald, Volume Three: 1947-1950[2] where the opening theme uses the cut-short 1947 Donald Duck theme instead of the first Mickey Mouse theme it originally used.

Additional releases include:

  • Donald's Birthday Bash (VHS)

Notes

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  • The hammer sound from Roustabouts (a song from Disney's 1941 film Dumbo) can be heard when Donald and the Aracuan Bird are hammering a nail.
  • When Donald goes insane and starts acting like the Aracuan Bird at the very end, he breaks the fourth wall by walking along the black iris and shrinking with it.

References

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  1. ^ Lenburg, Jeff (1999). The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons. Checkmark Books. pp. 74–76. ISBN 0-8160-3831-7. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  2. ^ "The Chronological Donald Volume 3 DVD Review". DVD Dizzy. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
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