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Walt Disney Art Classics - Donald Duck with Chip and Dale - Train Gang
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The Story
Determined Donald Duck creates a detailed miniature town including a railroad complete with a working train. The only thing out of place is a large tree that doesn't quite fit into his scale model setting. Not realizing it is Chip and Dale's home, Donald replaces the tree. Well, those resourceful chipmunks get their comic revenge by taking a wild ride on Donald's train.
The Artwork
In honor of Donald Duck's 70th anniversary, this scene was chosen to showcase Donald as we've come to know and love him mad. This lively scene was inspired by Walt Disney Pictures' animated short Out of Scale (1951).
From the moment Donald first walked on screen in the Silly Symphony The Wise Little Hen in 1934, to his over one-hundred-twenty-five successive screen appearances, he's endeared audiences with his palpable disposition and scorching temper. Unlike most other Disney characters, we always know just what Donald's thinking; unfortunately for Donald so do Chip and Dale. Their mischief-wrought adventures often result in Donald blowing his top, as he is here with Chip blowing the big whistle.
How do we know it's Chip. The quickest way to tell is visually: he's got the smaller, black nose (similar to a chocolate 'chip'). Animator Bill Justice created the chipmunks' distinguishing physical and attitudinal characteristics so they would have distinct personalities. He gave Dale the larger red nose and space between his teeth. These cute but feisty foils first lit Donald's fuse in Chip an' Dale (1947) and continued to fan Donald's fire in a total of 18 cartoons.
Out of Scale is a story that was more than likely based on Walt's personal passion for trains and railroads. In fact, when Walt lived in the Holmby Hills area of Los Angeles, he even built a working, ride-on 1/8-scale Carolwood Pacific Railroad in his backyard. This train enthusiast went a step further, insisting that a railroad and train be a major part of the Disneyland experience so the guests could get a full overview of the park before venturing into a specific land.
It's interesting to note that in the end of Out of Scale, each character received a gift of sorts: the chipmunks get their tree back, upon which they placed a "Giant Redwood" sign that added to his diminutive landscape. Finally, for Donald, a well-deserved happy ending, which we celebrate in this Anniversary edition.
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