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]
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
- List of American films of 1969
- Birdwatching
- National Audubon Society - featured in the film
- Hinkley, Ohio - featured in the film
- Noah's Ark
References
- ^ D23
- ^ "Dick Bakalyan, Character Actor Who Appeared in 'Chinatown', Dies at 84". Variety. 2015-03-11. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
- ^ ""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.
- ^ "Richard Bakalyan, Tough Guy Character Actor and a Cop in 'Chinatown', Dies at 84". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
- ^ Cone, Nathan. "Disney Draws On Young Talent For New Collection". Retrieved 2017-07-17.
- ^ DTV Bobby Day Rockin' Robin by Rayzor-YouTube
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