Scrooge McDuck is perhaps the best-know figure in the Donald Duck universe next to Donald himself and nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie. He was created by Carl Barks and first appeared in the 1947 story “Christmas on Bear Mountain” published by Dell comics in December of that year. Barks had originally intended him to be a one-time character, but soon realized the potential of Scrooge as material for further stories and continued to develop him and his appearance over the next four years.
Since his first print appearance in 1947, Scrooge McDuck has graduated from a supporting player to a major character. As with all of the characters in the world of Disney, the animators have given them rich and storied lives. As you might guess, the name Scrooge McDuck is taken from the Charles Dickens classic, “A Christmas Carol” and reflects the famous character Ebenezer Scrooge, down to his miserly ways and sometimes-ruthless manner and ways of doing business. Scrooge’s second appearance in the comics was titled “The Old Castle’s Secret” Here he is seen with his nephew’s Huey, Dewey and Louie where he enlists their help in finding an old family treasure in the ancestral Castle of the McDuck family, Dismal Downs located in Scotland. This first meeting with his grand nephews was to form the basis of Scrooge McDuck’s biggest role in animation; a series called “Duck Tales” in 1987 in which Scrooge becomes the guardian of Huey, Dewy and Louie after Donald joins the US Navy. Here, Scrooge is not as penny-pinching and ruthless, but more of an old crotchety, lovable Uncle.
Scrooge will do anything to increase or preserve his fortune, but will not do it dishonestly. His word is gold and in one adventure, he promised his adversaries the Beagle Boys he would come back for them and he did. Scrooge McDuck has been all over the world, can speak many different languages, can pilot a plane, and is a shrewd businessman. . Many times, he has given Donald lessons in business and he has many adventures with his grandnephews in the Duck Tales series.
Scrooge came from humble beginnings and worked his way up to being the “Richest Duck in the World” He keeps the bulk of his money in Duckburg in a huge money bin where he likes to dive into it or sometimes burrow through it like a gopher. He was not formerly educated, but has a sharp mind. He also loves to find treasure and is somewhat of an amateur archaeologist. He is known for his cynicism and sometimes distrust of the human race. He also has a nasty temper at times and will not hesitate to use violence against his enemies. Again, in his dealings with his nephews in Duck Tales, his personality is toned down.
Scrooge McDuck’s actual first appearance in animation was in the lead-ins for the Mickey Mouse Club in 1955, but the first major role was in Disney’s 1967 short “Scrooge McDuck and Money” where he teaches his nephews some financial tips and tricks. His next role was that of Ebenezer Scrooge in “Mickey’s Christmas Carol in 1983. He also appeared in two episodes of “Mickey Mouse Works” a few episodes of “Raw Toonage” Disney’s “House of Mouse” as well as “Mickey’s Twice upon a Christmas” and “Mickey’s Once upon a Christmas” He is very popular overseas, especially in Europe where his comics and books have been translated into many languages. In addition, despite the great lengths he will go through to protect his wealth, Scrooge values his family and safety first. Miserly, cheap and sometimes downright crotchety, Scrooge McDuck is looked upon by Donald, nephews Huey, Dewey and Louie as their lovable old Uncle Scrooge.
