The Crunch Bird

Considering that the work is from 1971 and still makes me laugh, despite having a simple plot, it surprised me. Not as funny or with deep messages as other Oscar-winning animated shorts but still good.

The cartoon is merely the telling of a joke. Not only is it a good one, but the execution is perfect. Once you see it, you'll smile whenever you hear the phrase "crunch bird." The same people made one or two other cartoons, but faded away.

There's nothing wrong with this little film. It should have been set up better with a few more examples of the bird's horrible trait. Anyway, I had figured it out as soon as the chair was destroyed. I, too, can't imagine this little bit getting the Oscar.

Yes, it's based on a joke. (Hey, it's a SHORT animation film, right?) Yeah, it's from 1971, with 1971 technology, audio, acting, drawing, and dialog.

Still, it was humorous in its day.

As a theater manager in the mid-70s, I sometimes showed this prior to our main features (back before you PAID to see ADVERTISING on the big screen) and the audience always roared.

I'm not so harsh on this as some.... in those days we definitely needed a big laugh to escape the real world, even if for only a few minutes.

Give Crunch Bird a fair shake for what it is... a short piece of fluff that entertained the audiences of the day.

P.S. I can't speak to the points regarding the Academy selection, not having seen (or having seen but not remembered) the other contenders.

I'm in agreement with rnigma-1 from down south that THE CRUNCH BIRD definitely did not deserve to win the Oscar for Best Animated Short in 1972, though I wouldn't rate this film a 1--though perhaps my 5 is a bit generous. One problem is that the cartoon isn't particularly well animated and has very garish colors. The other is that the cartoon is a rather crude joke that 7th graders might find funny, but most anyone older that that won't. It's really sad that this insignificant film won, as one of the runners up (THE SELFISH GIANT) is head and shoulders better. Unlike the crude and rather stupid CRUNCH BIRD, THE SELFISH GIANT has a wonderful message, excellent animation and a depth to it. When seen today by sane people, it's obvious that THE CRUNCH BIRD is an inferior film and the Academy should have been embarrassed at picking the winner that year. I don't even think THE CRUNCH BIRD should have been nominated--let alone win. A super example of an over-rated film. Since they gave THE CRUNCH BIRD an Oscar, perhaps Pauley Shore will one day win the Best Actor Oscar!!!