DuckTales (2017 TV series)
Reboot of the 1987 series, expanding the Duck universe.
DuckTales is an American animated television series created by Matt Youngberg and Francisco Angones for Disney Television Animation. This version reboots the 1987 series, which was itself based on Carl Barks' Uncle Scrooge comic books and other Duck universe stories. The show follows Scrooge McDuck and his family as they go on adventures in the fictional city of Duckburg and around the world. The reboot introduces new elements and more detailed character arcs, notably giving Donald Duck a bigger role and adding his twin sister, Della Duck.
The series premiered on August 12, 2017, with a 44-minute pilot on Disney XD. The first season then began regular broadcasts on Disney XD from September 23, 2017. From May 2018 to September 2019, the show moved to Disney Channel for the remaining first-season episodes and all of the second season. It returned to Disney XD for its third season, ending with a 67-minute finale on March 15, 2021. Critics gave the series positive reviews, praising its voice acting, humor, writing, animation, and the greater depth compared to the original. The show also expanded into a comic book series, a scripted podcast, and several online shorts.
**Premise**
After a ten-year estrangement, Donald Duck asks his uncle, former adventurer and business magnate Scrooge McDuck, to babysit his triplet nephews—Huey, Dewey, and Louie—for a day. Following an accidental release and defeat of several ancient evils, plus a trip to Atlantis, Scrooge rediscovers his love for adventure. He invites Donald and the boys to live at McDuck Manor, along with his housekeeper Mrs. Beakley and her granddaughter Webby Vanderquack. Together with Scrooge's chauffeur and pilot Launchpad McQuack, the Ducks embark on treasure hunts and global adventures, facing villains such as Flintheart Glomgold, Ma Beagle and the Beagle Boys, and Mark Beaks.
In the first season, Dewey and Webby investigate the rift between Scrooge and Donald, as well as the mysterious disappearance of the boys' mother—Donald's twin sister, Della Duck. Meanwhile, the sorceress Magica De Spell manipulates events to free herself from Scrooge's Number One Dime and take revenge.
In the second season, Scrooge and Glomgold make a wager: whoever is not the richest duck in the world by year's end must surrender their company to the winner.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Adventure / Comedy drama / Mystery
- Based On
- DuckTales · Jymn Magon / Uncle Scrooge · Carl Barks
- Developer
- Matt Youngberg / Francisco Angones
- Voices
- David Tennant / Danny Pudi / Ben Schwartz / Bobby Moynihan / Kate Micucci / Beck Bennett / Toks Olagundoye / Tony Anselmo / Paget Brewster
- Theme Music Composer
- Mark Mueller
- Open Theme
- "DuckTales Theme" / by Felicia Barton
- End Theme
- "DuckTales Theme" (instrumental)
- Composer
- Dominic Lewis
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Num Seasons
- 3
- Num Episodes
- 69
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The pilot episode 'Woo-oo!' was released on YouTube on August 12, 2017, before the first season was green-lit for broadcast from September 23 that year on Disney XD. From May 2018 to September 2019, the series moved to Disney Channel for the previously unbroadcast part of the first season and all of the second season. DuckTales then moved back to Disney XD for its third season, concluding with a 67-minute finale on March 15, 2021. The series has received positive reviews from critics, with praise for its voice acting, humor, writing, animation, and expanded depth from the original series.
Reader's Guide
The 2017 DuckTales reboot is significant for reintroducing the Duck universe to a new generation while deepening character arcs, notably giving Donald Duck a larger role and introducing Della Duck. The series expanded beyond television into a comic book series, a scripted podcast, and several online shorts. Its art style was heavily influenced by Carl Barks' original comics and paintings. The theme song, written by Mark Mueller for the 1987 series, was re-recorded for the reboot and arranged by Michael 'Smidi' Smithand and TJ Stafford, sung by Felicia Barton. The show's legacy includes its crossover with other Disney Television Animation properties in its third season, such as Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers and Darkwing Duck.
Did You Know?
- The series was developed by Matt Youngberg and Francisco Angones.
- Lin-Manuel Miranda was cast as Fenton Crackshell-Cabrera / Gizmoduck because of his suitability for the role; the character was written as Latino from the start, not changed due to Miranda's heritage.
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