It's Tough to Be a Bird

It's Tough to Be a Bird is a 1969 American animated educational short film directed by Ward Kimball and produced by Walt Disney Productions.[1][2] The short won the Academy Award for Best Short Subject, Cartoons in 1970 and was nominated for a BAFTA Film Award for Best Animated Film in 1971.[3][4] This was the last animated short film produced by Disney to win an Academy Award until Paperman (2012) and thus the final animated cartoon short released by Disney in the golden age of American animation.[5]

It's Tough to Be a Bird
Theatrical release poster
Directed byWard Kimball
Story byTed Berman
Ward Kimball
Produced byWard Kimball
StarringRuth Buzzi
Richard Bakalyan
John Emerson
Jim Swain
Ann Lord
Hank Schloss
Walter Perkins
Rolf Darbo
Edited byLloyd J. Richardson
Music byGeorge Bruns
Animation byEric Larson
Art Stevens
Layouts byJoe Hale
Color processTechnicolor
Production
company
Distributed byBuena Vista Distribution
Release date
  • December 10, 1969 (1969-12-10)
Running time
21 minutes
LanguageEnglish

Summary

In the short, a red bird (voiced by Richard Bakalyan) explains how birds have contributed to human culture, even as people often try to kill them. He claims this may be because humans were jealous that birds can fly but people cannot, mentioning the legend of Icarus and featured films of early unsuccessful flying machines.

In Disney's D-TV in the 1980s, clips from this short were set to Bobby Day's cover of "Rockin' Robin".[6]

Cast
  • Ruth Buzzi as Soprano
  • Richard Bakalyan as M.C. Bird
  • John Emerson as Bird Fancier
  • Jim Swain as Bird Fancier
  • Ann Lord as Bird Fancier
  • Hank Schloss as Bird Fancier
  • Walter Perkins as Bird Fancier
  • Rolf Darbo as Bird Fancier

See also

References
  1. D23
  2. "Dick Bakalyan, Character Actor Who Appeared in 'Chinatown,' Dies at 84". Variety. 2015-03-11. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
  3. ""Escalation": This 1968 anti-war animated film by Disney legend Ward Kimball is as timely as ever". nightflight.com. Archived from the original on 2015-11-22. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
  4. "Richard Bakalyan, Tough Guy Character Actor and a Cop in 'Chinatown,' Dies at 84". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
  5. Cone, Nathan. "Disney Draws On Young Talent For New Collection". Retrieved 2017-07-17.
  6. DTV Bobby Day Rockin' Robin by Rayzor-YouTube
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