I, I Aku Ankka

"I, Donald Duck - 70 years in the life of a duck" is an exhibit at the Päivälehti Museum between now and 31 December 2004. Jarkko and I visited it last week and I took a few pictures. Donald Duck, a.k.a. Aku Ankka, is incredibly popular in Finland and it's charming when I see an older man sitting on a plane caressing the pages of the latest Aku Ankka magazine. I had never heard of this national addiction until Jarkko took me aside one afternoon to break the news to me that he had 30 years of Aku Ankka comic book serials in storage at his parent's house and that they would really like their garage space back. It took a moment for it to sink in that I had married a grown man who reads Disney comic books. I could understand a porn collection or a few boat anchors masquerading as old computers, but a fetish for a duck who doesn't wear pants? Donald Duck was quite possibly the last secret vice I would have imagined. :)

The exhibit had a brochure with a brief description of the history of Aku Ankka in Finland, the items on display and why Finns have a special fondness for the half-naked quacker. It doesn't mention, however, that Aku Ankka has been given awards for its outstanding use of the Finnish language. Jarkko has often pointed out some clever passages or regional dialects and encouraged me to start reading the comics to help my Finnish language lessons along. I'm going to have to give it a try and buy some of my own since I suspect Jarkko wouldn't like me mussing his copies.

The Disney character Donald Duck - Aku Ankka in Finnish - made his debut in the movie "A Wise Little Hen" on June 9, 1934. Subsequent research puts the official date of his birth at March 13, when his egg was laid. Donald Duck first appeared in cartoon strips on September 16, 1934.

It is no surprise that Donald Duck should be the Finnish favourite among the various Disney characters as he somewhat resembles the soldier Sven Dufva and the farmer Paavo, two epic characters of Finnish national poet J.L. Runeberg. Life is tough but one gets by. At work, for instance, Donald often finds himself in a desperate situation but he is always ready to meet any new challenge.

The Donald Duck 70th Anniversary Exhibition at the Päivälehti Museum introduces the house where Donald lives with his three nephews Huey, Dewey and Louie. The exhibition assembles the furniture usually found in Donald's home: the armchair, round rug, book case, TV set and the nephews' three-layer bed. Over the years Donald Duck has introduced the Finns to several interesting details in the American way of life and American culture. [from the brochure in Finnish these 'interesting details' are: Santa Claus, apple pie, round metal garbage cans, round door handles and Television.]

Aku Ankka, the Finnish Donald Duck cartoon strip, first appeared in the daily Helsingin Sanomat in May 1936 and in the tabloid Ilta-Sanomat in February 1941. The definitive breakthrough came in 1951 when the publisher, the Sanoma Corporation, began to issue the comic book Aku Ankka. It so happened that the first issue appeared on Walt Disney's birthday, December 5th. The first edition printed 34,017 copies. In 1951-1952 it was printed at the press on Ludviginkatu Street - the building that now houses the Päivälehti Museum. In 2003, Aku Ankka was Finland's largest magazine, with a circulation of 294,500.

Films occupy a leading role in the world of Donald Duck and so he has a movie theatre of his own in the exhibition. Donald has appeared as the principal character in a total of 128 Disney movies of which eight have been nominated for Oscars. He got an Oscar for the propaganda film "Der Führer's Face" in 1943.

The birthday celebrations at the Päivälehti Museum continue through the year. The exhibition provides a substantial program with a variety of themes and events. Welcome to the World of Donald Duck!