The show features the adventures of Scrooge McDuck and his great-nephews. The nephews, who were originally living with their uncle Donald, are left in Scrooge's care when Donald joins the Navy. Though Scrooge is the richest duck in the world, he constantly tries to find ways to increase his wealth. Many episodes involve protecting his wealth from villains who want to rob Scrooge of all his money. The prominent recurring antagonists in the show include the Beagle Boys and Magica De Spell who are always finding ways to rob and swindle Scrooge and his nephews. Scrooge's nemesis in the show is Flintheart Glomgold, who always tries to devise plans to unseat Scrooge McDuck from his "Richest Duck in the World" title. A few of the stories also surround Scrooge's "Number One Dime" which is the source of Scrooge's good luck and wealth. Scrooge keeps the dime in a glass jar in his money vault, and constantly protects it from the villains on the show. The show's second season saw the addition of characters Fenton Crackshell and Bubba Duck. Along with them came stories that generally shifted away from the globetrotting plots of the first season, and revolved primarily in the contemporary setting of Duckburg. Episodes would feature either Bubba or Fenton but rarely both. Although Scrooge and his nephews were the show's main characters, some episodes focused on other characters like Launchpad or Gyro. Some members of Scrooge's extended family (The Duck Universe), like Gladstone Gander who had extremely good luck, were also seen in the series. Characters like Gladstone were often seen in the early Carl Barks comic book stories.
The richest duck in the world and the main protagonist, Scrooge is constantly seeking ways to further increase his wealth(his favorite pastime appears to be treasure hunting), and to avoid losing it. The only thing Scrooge values more than money is his family.
Voiced by: Alan Young . Born November 19, 1919. Image via IMDb.
Huey (red clothes) serves as the general leader of the trio and is very skilled at playing marbles.
Voiced by: Russi Taylor. Born May 4, 1944. Image via Behindthevoiceactors.
Dewey (blue clothes) is arguably the most clever of the three and sometimes fills in the role of leader over Huey.
Voiced by: Russi Taylor. Born May 4, 1944. Image via Behindthevoiceactors.
Louie (green clothes) is probably the most creative thinker of the bunch and more laid-back than his brothers.
Voiced by: Russi Taylor. Born May 4, 1944. Image via Behindthevoiceactors.
Female child who secretly wants to be accepted as the fourth "nephew".
Voiced by: Russi Taylor. Born May 4, 1944. Image via Behindthevoiceactors.
Maid/Nanny of the household, and maternal grandmother to Webby.
Voiced by: Joanellen Gerber . Born Jul 29, 1935. Died August 22, 2011. Image via Behindthevoiceactors.
Scrooge's longtime, no-nonsense butler/chauffeur. Despite having "Duck" in his name, Duckworth is actually an anthropomorphic dog. He worked for Scrooge even before the nephews moved in. He is also Scrooge's chauffeur and errand boy on occasion. Duckworth used to be Scrooge's only household servant until Scrooge hired Mrs. Beakley. He usually appears as a supporting character. His only starring roles on the show were Duckworth's Revolt and Take Me Out of the Ballgame. He first appeared in the pilot episode of DuckTales. Duckworth is a jack-of-all-trades in the McDuck mansion, making him an important member of Scrooge's staff.
Voiced by: Chuck McCann. Born September 2, 1934. Image via Behindthevoiceactors.
Scrooge's pilot. An able flyer, Launchpad can scarcely set a plane down without a massive crash, yet has survived numerous crashes without injury; he is also easily capable of aerial feats bordering on the impossible.
Voiced by: Terence McGovern. Born May 11, 1942. Image via Behindthevoiceactors.
An inventor who often works for Scrooge, designing anything from relocation rays ("The Money Vanishes") to time machines ("Time Is Money"). Despite being duped once in a while by the Beagle Boys, Gyro is generally extremely clever and resourceful. Often his inventions help drive an episode's plot, as they do not always work as designed—when anyone besides Gyro attempts to use them! However, the relocation ray does work too well for the Beagle Boys in "The Money Vanishes," as they trick Scrooge into spraying his money for a nonexistent bug. Huey, Dewey, and Louie end up saving the day using the same ray.
Voiced by: Hal Smith. Born August 24, 1916. Died January 28, 1994. Image via Behindthevoiceactors.
A friend of Huey, Dewey, and Louie, and Launchpad's sidekick. Generally speaking, Doofus is a rather dim-witted and clumsy character, with a positive attitude as insatiable as his appetite. He exhibits hero worship for Launchpad, which frequently borders on the delusional. (The relationship between Doofus and Launchpad in many ways mirrors that of Launchpad and Scrooge.) Doofus is also marked by his strong moral compass, best demonstrated in the episode "Superdoo!", in which he uses paranormal powers to save the Junior Woodchucks from catastrophe, only to voluntarily relinquish them for the sake of hard work and friendship.
Voiced by: Brian Cummings. Born March 4, 1948. Image via Behindthevoiceactors.
Scrooge's arch-rival, the main antagonist of the series, and the second-richest duck in the world. Glomgold often comes up with schemes to earn more money, often at Scrooge's expense, in order to surpass Scrooge and capture the title of World's Richest Duck. According to an essay in one of the Gladstone Comics , early Barks sketches for Scrooge and Glomgold show remarkable similarities, especially in temperament. While the comics originally depicted Glomgold as a native of South Africa, his origin was changed to Scottish descent just like Scrooge.
Voiced by: Hal Smith. Born August 24, 1916. Died January 28, 1994. Image via Behindthevoiceactors.
The mother of the gang, Ma has more experience than her boys, and always takes charge when she's around.
Voiced by: June Foray. Born September 18, 1917. Image via Behindthevoiceactors.
Short beagle with a lot of cunning.
Voiced by: Frank Welker. Born March 12, 1946. Image via IMDb.
Dimwitted beagle who is constantly hungry.
Voiced by: Chuck McCann. Born September 2, 1934. Image via Behindthevoiceactors.
Usually serves as a set of muscles for the group.
Voiced by: Chuck McCann. Born September 2, 1934. Image via Behindthevoiceactors.
Dopey beagle who dresses in baggy clothes.
Voiced by: Frank Welker. Born March 12, 1946. Image via IMDb.
Dopey beagle who dresses in baggy clothes.
Voiced by: Peter Cullen. Born July 28, 1944. Image via Behindthevoiceactors.
Small and clean-shaven, Babyface dresses much like a little kid and has a distinctive propeller hat.
Voiced by: Terry McGovern. Born May 11, 1942. Image via Behindthevoiceactors.
Lanky beagle with a passion for music, mostly jazz and disco.
Voiced by: Brian Cummings. Born March 4, 1948. Image via Behindthevoiceactors.
A powerful witch who is constantly after Scrooge's Number One Dime.
Voiced by: June Foray. Born September 18, 1917. Image via Behindthevoiceactors.
Magica's brother and familiar, Poe was somehow transformed into a non-anthropomorphic raven, and cannot be turned back by conventional magic.
Voiced by: Frank Welker. Born March 12, 1946. Image via IMDb.
Life is like a hurricane here in Duck-burg
Race cars, lasers, aeroplanes it's a, duck-blur!
Might solve a mystery, or rewrite hist'ry!
DuckTales!
(a - whooh ooh)
Every day they're out there making DuckTales!
(a - whooh ooh)
Tales of daring do bad and goodluck tales!
D - D - D - Danger!
(Watch behind you!)
There's a stranger
(out to find you!)
What to do?
Just grab on to some DuckTales!!
(a - whooh ooh)
Everyday they're out there making DuckTales
(a-whooh ooh)
Tales of daring do bad and good luck tales!
(a-whooh ooh)
Not pony tales or cotton tales, no DuckTales!
(a - whooh ooh)