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Aku Ankka

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Aku Ankka
The first issue of Aku Ankka, December 1951
CategoriesComics
FrequencyWeekly
Circulation110,000 (2020)
PublisherSanoma Magazines
First issue1 December 1951; 73 years ago (1951-12-01)
CompanySanoma
CountryFinland
Based inHelsinki
LanguageFinnish
Websitewww.akuankka.fi
ISSN0355-2101

Aku Ankka (Finnish name of Donald Duck) is a Finnish weekly Disney comic book published by Sanoma Magazines since 1951.

History and profile

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The first issue of Aku Ankka ja kumppanit (Donald Duck & Co.) was published on 5 December 1951[1] and sold 34,017 copies. The first issue, with a special Christmas theme, and the Snow White story published later in the 1950s are very prized collectors' items and can fetch a price of several thousand euros on the collector market. The magazine was published monthly until 1956, twice a month between 1956 and 1960, and every Wednesday since 1961.[2] The magazine's name was shortened to Aku Ankka in early 1955. Aku Ankka is published by Sanoma Media (formerly Sanoma Magazines), which is part of Sanoma.[3][4]

Despite being part of a multinational franchise and despite most stories being translations into Finnish of stories first published abroad, Aku Ankka has become a cultural icon in Finland. This is largely due to the magazine's colourful and innovative use of the Finnish language. In 2001, in recognition of its work for the Finnish language, the editorial team was given the Kielihelmi award by the Finnish language department of the University of Helsinki.[5]

The comics are also known for their use of Finnish language spoofs of famous people or groups. Examples include Arnoltti Kvartsinikkari for Arnold Schwarzenegger, Alfred Hiisikukko for Alfred Hitchcock and Brutallica for Metallica.[6]

Alleged bans

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There is a popular urban legend that Donald Duck was once banned in Finland for not wearing pants. This myth was sparked by an incident in 1977, when Helsinki councilman Matti Holopainen proposed discontinuing the use of city funds to subscribe to Aku Ankka comics for youth centers, due to the city's financial difficulties. The following year, when Holopainen was running for a parliament seat, his opponent, called him "the man who banned Donald Duck from Helsinki" and Holopainen lost the election. National Coalition Party politician Ben Zyskowicz called Holopainen's decision "an accident at work".[7]

A similar incident had taken place a few years earlier in Kemi, and international reports exaggerated the situation in claims that the character's attire and his extramarital relationship with Daisy Duck were the causes of the local ban.[8]

Circulation

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Aku Ankka is one of the most popular weekly publications in Finland as well as the world's largest edition per capita of a Donald Duck magazine.[9]

It had a circulation of 320,500 in 2006,[3] 324,000 in 2007,[10][11] and 306,555 in 2010.[12] Its circulation of 282,794 in 2012 made it the third most popular magazine in Finland.[13] When 260,455 copies were sold in 2013, it became the best-selling Finnish magazine.[14] In 2020, circulation had dropped down to 110,000.[15]

The Aku Ankka comic is now more popular in Finland than in the country of its origin, the United States (where Disney is better known for its cartoons and films than comics). The US Donald Duck cartoonist Don Rosa is exceptionally popular in Finland, and he has acknowledged this by creating The Quest for Kalevala, a Donald Duck story specifically set in Finland.[16]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "SanomaWSOY Corporation - Company Profile". Reference for Business. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  2. ^ "Finland: utgåvor". INDUCKS. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
  3. ^ a b "Top ten titles by circulation/issue 2006". Nordicom. Archived from the original on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  4. ^ "World Magazine Trends 2010/2011" (PDF). FIPP. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  5. ^ The Finnish language department of the University of Helsinki Archived 12 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved 17 November 2006. (in Finnish)
  6. ^ Haapanen, Liisa (10 October 2016). "Aku Ankan päätoimittaja: Ankkalinnassa saattaa pian seikkailla "joku tunnettu suomalaisnobelisti"". Yle Uutiset. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  7. ^ Mikkelson, David (26 February 1999). "Was Donald Duck Banned in Finland Because He Doesn't Wear Pants?". Snopes. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  8. ^ "Fowled Out". Snopes. 19 August 2007. Retrieved 6 December 2007.
  9. ^ "Finland: Massmedier". Nationalencyklopedin (in Swedish). Retrieved 30 August 2010. (subscription required)
  10. ^ Austin, Anne; et al. (2008). "Western Europe Market & Media Fact" (PDF). Zenith Optimedia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  11. ^ YLE.fi: Aku Ankka teki uuden levikkiennätyksen (in Finnish)
  12. ^ "Magazine Facts 2011" (PDF). Mediakortit. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  13. ^ "Biggest magazines by circulation". Aikakaus Media. 17 May 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  14. ^ "Top ten titles by circulation 2013". Nordicom. Archived from the original on 9 January 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  15. ^ "Aku Ankka -lehti menetti leijonanosan tilaajistaan, mutta päätoimittaja Aki Hyyppä on toiveikas: "Aallonpohjasta selvittiin"". Yle Uutiset (in Finnish). 24 June 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  16. ^ McDermott, Julianna (3 May 2016). "Donald Duck Is A National Hero In This Country". Huffington Post. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
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