Duck Tales

This weekend, the family gathered on the couch at the Fortress of Ineptitude to catch the hour long premier of the revived Duck Tales. What little I know of Duck Tales comes from my super power of pop culture osmosis. Also there's that damn theme song.

DUCK TALES!     WOO-OO! 

Seriously, you can hear anyone say "Duck Tales" without the brain inserting a "woo-oo!" 

My exposure to the Duck Tales ("Woo-oo!") theme comes from my wife Andrea's boxed set of Disney theme music. It was also one of five songs that played on my daughter's favorite merry-go-round ride when she was six years old. 

Also, Andrea was of the age when Duck Tales ("Woo-oo!") was a part of Disney's afternoon cartoon block. 

Me? I was a grown MAN! I had better things to do than watch Disney cartoons!

I was watching Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Batman. 

Duck Tales ("Woo-" NO! Cut that out! It's annoying!).

All right then. 

Duck Tales follows the exploits of Scrooge McDuck (David Tennant), a retired treasure hunter and the world's richest duck. Tennant’s take on Scrooge lines up with the previous version. He’s an old Scottish man in search of the thrills of his youth, which he’s able to chase with his nephews -- Huey (Danny Pudi), Dewey (Ben Schwartz) and Louie (Bobby Moynihan, SNL alum) -- as well as Webby (Kate Micucci---Oh boy! The funny, sexy cute pixie half of Garfunkle & Oates...Oh yeah!), the little girl who lives in his house with her grandmother, Scrooge's maid Mrs. Beakley (Toks Olagundoye. Now THAT's a name to remember. Maybe not to pronounce but still...). 

The voice work is very good. Tennant's natural Scottish accent is prefect for Scrooge McDuck. Because it is his native accent, Tenant's McDuck sounds very real. 

Meanwhile, Pudi, Schwartz and Moynihan all have distinct voices as the nephews, dropping that signature Donald sound, leaving the famous Disney Duck -- voiced in the series by Tony Anselmo -- a unique sound all his own. (In other words, I don't know what the frick he's saying.) 

With distinct voices comes distinct personalities of its characters. Huey, Dewey and Louie in past cartoons have tended to be interchangeable, a condition I am told existed in the original Duck Tales. 

In this version of Duck Tales, Huey is the planner, Louie is the optimist and Dewey is the troublemaker who shares far more personality traits with his elderly uncle than either would like to admit. Giving the three nephews their own personalities makes their interactions with anyone they come across far more entertaining and gives the opportunity to tell more detailed stories in future episodes.



Scrooge McDuck is a bit different. As befits a name like "Scrooge", the elder McDuck has been played as being driven by the accumulation of money and more money. 


David Tennant’s Scrooge likes his money just fine but he's got that. Now he’s in it for the adventure, adrenaline and the chance to discover something previously thought unfindable. (How... dare I say it? like the Doctor, eh?) 



Webby was in the original series but from what understand, she was just sort of... there. Now she is an adventurer in her own right, capable and self sufficient.


I liked the animation style. It's not hand drawn like the original, it's computer animated. But done in 2-D style that harkens back to the original show.  


This was a fun show to watch. Thanks to my wife and daughter for dragging me to it. I look forward to seeing more installments in the future of  Duck Tales ("Woo-oo!")

OH! You're startin' that again, are ya?  

OK, fine!  Duck Tales theme: play us out!    

Life is like a hurricane, here in Duck Burg
Race cars, lasers, aeroplanes, it's a duck blur
Might solve a mystery, or rewrite history! 
Duck Tales (woo oo)
Everyday they're out there making, 
Duck Tales (woo oo)
Tales of daring-do bad and good
Luck Tales (woo oo)
When it's seems they're headed for the final curtain
Bold deduction never fails, that's for certain
The worst of messes become successes! 
Duck Tales (woo oo)
Everyday they're out there making, 
Duck Tales (woo oo)
Tales of daring-do bad and good
Luck Tales (woo oo)
D-D-Danger lurks behind you
There's a stranger out to find you
What to do? Just grab on to some
Duck Tales (woo oo)
Everyday they're out there making, 
Duck Tales (woo oo)
Tales of daring-do bad and good
Duck Tales (woo oo)
Not pony tails or cotton tails*

No, Duck Tales (woo oo)

*Can you guess what competing cartoon shows this line....

Not pony tails or cotton tails

...was throwing shade at?

Look for the answer to that in tomorrow's post.

Until then, remember to be good to one another.