Donald Duck's 90th Birthday Party

Client

Disney

Year

2024

Tags

  • Experiential
  • Content & Campaign
  • Music
  • Media & Entertainment

The Context

CELEBRATING A BELOVED ICON

How do you throw a 90th birthday for one of the greatest animated characters of all time? Disney approached MATTE for DD90, a birthday party for the spirited, beloved Donald Duck – inviting Gen Z and celebrating NYC culture. The project needed to create a memorable experience that honored Donald’s rich history while appealing to a wide audience, from lifelong fans to new generations discovering him for the first time.

The Approach

WELCOME TO NEW DUCK CITY

The celebration took place in a vibrant setting, featuring a series of interactive installations that highlighted key moments from Donald's life. Through immersive experiences, such as life-sized photo ops and engaging activities, the event encouraged attendees to dive into the world of Donald Duck. This thoughtful blend of nostalgia and innovation aimed to evoke emotional connections and spark joy among visitors. DJ Pee .Wee’s 90s, vinyl-only DJ set spawned a dance routine that brought the hype and energy to make the occasion a truly celebratory and larger-than-life New York moment. At the event’s climax, a balloon drop was the exclamation point at the end of an occasion that was equal parts fun and functionality.

The Outcome

A Memorable Celebration with Lasting Impact

Attendees left with a renewed appreciation for Donald Duck, and the celebration not only commemorated his legacy but also reinforced his relevance in today’s culture. This 90th birthday party set a benchmark for future events, proving that classic characters can continue to inspire and engage audiences across generations. Through attracting significant crowds and generating hype in the New York City scene, DD90 triumphed as a tribute to an icon, while being future-forward in the center of culture.

WELCOME TO NEW DUCK CITY [Entrance Windows Treated WITH Skyline Mural on Garage Door]

INTERACTIVE MOMENTS

Driven by experiences, visitors to DD90 were treated to a blend of interactive moments and performative displays such as Duck St Records and Duck Court that immersed guests in the world of New Duck City.

PARTNER SPACES

Disney partners received their own activation space, inspired by classic 90’s New York motifs.
Vespa Garage: A product showcase and photo op took on the form of a Brooklyn scooter/auto-body shop
Hot Topic Boardwalk: Hot Topic’s merch stand drew inspiration from the Coney Island boardwalk
Pandora Diamond District Bar: A bar and product display inspired by the gritty glitz of NYC’s Diamond District
Canal Street Vendors: Product scaffolding display with convex mirrors encouraging guests selfies
Loungefly Park: Inspired by the spirit of New York's parks, a swing set offered opportunity for group photos
Illusion Island Arcade: 90s nostalgia was at the essence of this arcade where guests played Nintendo Switch

BTS

Partner Spaces

From render to reality, Disney partners and their products were seamlessly integrated into New Duck City with a variety of displays and showcases.

Donald’s Sound System With DJ Pee .Wee

DJ Pee. Wee’s 90s, vinyl-only DJ set spawned a dance routine that brought the hype and energy to make the occasion a truly celebratory and larger-than-life New York moment. At the event’s climax, a balloon drop was the exclamation point at the end of an occasion that was equal parts fun and functionality.

QUACKIN CONTENT CAPTURE

The magnetic energy of the evening was initially teased on social, giving followers a cryptic yet exciting clue as to the event ahead. Within 24 hours an energetic :60 second video hit feeds, giving a full scale view of the evening before. From detailed animations to considered photo treatments, Matte and Disney merged into a seamless vis ID that captured the spirit of Donald Duck's 90th celebration.

  • MATTE Partner

    Matt Rowean

    Max Pollack

  • Group Client Director

    Shreena Shah

  • Client Manager

    Kiara Fairbrother

  • Senior Experiential Designer

    Andre Brown

  • Experiential Designer

    Trinity Montgomery

    Rada Singhasaneh

  • Designer

    Nick Wilson

  • Head of Experiential

    Thad Somoza

  • Director of Experiential Production

    Leo Oliva

  • Executive Creative Director, Experiential

    Michael Yu

  • Junior Producer, Experiential

    Aim Wagemans

  • Experiential Production Coordinator

    Joey Daoud

  • Programming and Events Director

    Eugene Young

  • Associate Creative Director

    Kelsey DaHarb

    Caleb Ekeroth

  • Art Director

    Tori Arcuri

    Lewy Westhoff

  • Designer

    Ross Arcuri

  • Producer

    Steven Almonte

  • Director of Production

    Spencer Thompson

  • Editor

    Ben Swanson-Ralph

    Jared Bordeaux

  • Post-Production Coordinator

    Caro Fortuna

  • Director of Post-Production

    Michael Czeizinger

  • Managing Director, MATTE Finish

    Harrison Nalevansky

  • Client Director

    Vlad Omazic

  • Videographer

    Philey Sanneh

    Karleah Delmoral

  • Photographer

    Jess Licata

    Wes Kloefkorn

  • Animator

    Sinister Studios

  • 3D Artist

    Salvo Behar