Duck Pimples


Duck Pimples is a 1945 animated whodunit short film produced by Walt [Disney Animation Studios|Walt Disney Productions] and released by RKO Radio Pictures. The cartoon parodies radio crime stories and film noir dramas.

Plot

On a dark and stormy night, Donald Duck attempts to relax by listening to serials on the radio, but the shows playing on each station are dark and disturbing. Turning off the radio, Donald is met at the door by an intimidating looking man who turns out to be a traveling book salesman. The salesman disappears, but leaves behind numerous books. Donald begins to read a crime novel.
As Donald reads, he finds the book manifesting into his living room. The world of the novel surrounds Donald, and he finds himself the prime suspect in the story's thievery and kidnapping plot, having to navigate numerous colorful characters. Donald ultimately finds himself back in his living room, where a voice tells him it was all just his imagination.

Censorship

Scenes where Donald is threatened with a knife and the detective is threatened with an axe were at one time cut, but have since been restored for the VHS and DVD releases.

Voice cast

Home media

The short was released on December 6, 2005, on Walt Disney Treasures: The Chronological Donald, Volume Two: 1942-1946.

Reception

called Duck Pimples "the creepiest Disney short ever made" and its animation a "top-drawer work".