Referenced By / The Ugly Duckling

Film - Animated

• Lilo & Stitch: Lilo owns a copy of the book, and she shows Stitch how the duckling was all alone until found his family, symbolizing how she accepts Stitch for who he is.

Film - Live-Action

• In The Black Stork, the deformed Leffingwell Jr. shows his mother a copy of the book, apparently relating to the title character.

Video Games

• Animal Restaurant: The Swan's description references the plot of "The Ugly Duckling":
  When he was little he thought he was a duck, but when he grew up he still thought he was a duck, so he's not too mean.

Webcomics

• Hark! A Vagrant: "Dreams Come True" the ugly duckling is given help by a plastic surgeon who gives them human breasts and a perky human rear. On a duck. It is not an improvement, though the duck likes it.

Western Animation

• Garfield and Friends: In the U.S. Acres segment, "The Ugly Duckling", Orson tells Booker and Sheldon the eponymous story, with Wade Duck in the role of the title character. In an interesting twist, Wade turns down the chance to become beautiful after bringing the shoes of the Wicked Witch of the Wool (played by Lanolin) to the Wizard (played by Bo), as using his ugliness to defeat the Witch and her lackeys (played by Gort, Wart, and Mort) has given him a feeling of confidence. Plus, he still has thousands of "he's so ugly" jokes left to use up.
• The Looney Tunes Show: In "Year of the Duck", Daffy is outraged when he discovers that ducks are not part of the Chinese Zodiac. When he believes it to be because Ducks are viewed unfavorably by society, Bugs asks him if there's a children's book about a duck. Daffy asks if he means The Ugly Duckling, then snarkily says "Thanks a lot, Bugs."
• Rocky and Bullwinkle: In a Fractured Fairy Tales spoof of the story, the Ugly Duckling tries to become a movie star, but gets turned down by every producer in spite of his acting ability, prompting him to get a facelift.
• The Simpsons:
  • In "Lisa the Beauty Queen", when Lisa sinks into a depression about her appearance upon seeing a caricature artist's picture of her, Marge tries unsuccessfully to cheer her up by singing The Ugly Duckling.
    Marge: Lisa. I know a song that will cheer you up. (singing) There once was an ugly duckling...
    Lisa: So you think I'm ugly?
    Marge: No! No, I meant you were one of the good-looking ducks... that makes fun of the ugly one.
  • In a flashback from "Lisa's Sax", Bart's kindergarten teacher is shown finishing reading The Ugly Ducking and delivers the moral "There's hope for everyone."
    Bart: Even me?
    Teacher: No!

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