The Blackbird

Original title: Le merle

IMDb RATING

7.3/10

555

YOUR RATING

Animation Short

Cut out animation set to the French-Canadian nonsense song 'Le merle' (The Blackbird)Cut out animation set to the French-Canadian nonsense song 'Le merle' (The Blackbird)Cut out animation set to the French-Canadian nonsense song 'Le merle' (The Blackbird)

Director
- Norman McLaren

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.3/10

555

YOUR RATING

Director
- Norman McLaren

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
- 1 nomination total

Photos

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Norman McLaren initially used a synthesized version of the featured folk tune, using the same process used for Synchromy (1971). He ultimately used the traditional music track instead, but the sound tests survive.

Connections
Edited into Histoire(s) du cinéma: Le contrôle de l'univers (1999)

User reviews5

Review

Featured review

10/10

A Superb Short

Maclaren's insight in animation is rare , and his version of the french canadian folk song "Le Merle" is no exception. The song is about a blackbird that loses a part of its body only to get it back two fold , eyes . beak , wings , legs , feet , all join in this dizzy romp that cannot fail to raise a smile. Watch it and you will be singing it in your head for days , its speedy lunacy will stay with you for a very long time. A cinematic rush.