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.

With the 94th Academy Awards coming out this weekend, it's time to look back on the shortest animated short film that ever won the Oscar. Made by late UPA animator Ted Petok, The Crunch Bird remains the most brief short film in history at the Academy Awards.

Made in Detroit, Michigan and based on a crude joke, not even Petok himself could've predicted this brisk cartoon would have been awarded with so much prestige. In fact, based on Petok's background in commercials, the short was made as a gag to be put on the end of a car dealership commercial. However, this gag short about a woman trying to find a birthday present for her husband became a hit at small theaters to the point of boosting Petok's company and even spawning a sequel four years later. It really shows you how one small seed could end up being the biggest seed of all.

While not seemingly possible today with what's to be expected from the more "elite" award ceremonies, this brief segment alone is worth so much attention. After over 50 years in the spotlight, it remains a historical artifact for different reasons than ever intended. After all, two minutes can often say more than two hours.

I don't understand what I just watched! Or how it won an Oscar.

The animation was crude, even cruder than animation done decades ago, and didn't really add anything.

The story was poor. The humour stale. The voice acting limited.

Last week, the Cartoon Brew site mentioned the passing of one Ted Petok. He was an animator whose works appeared on "Seseme Street" and "The Electric Company" during the '70s. CB linked from YouTube Mr. Petok's Oscar-winning short whose title is up above as tribute. It's only a couple of minutes long. In this one, a lady is searching for a gift for her husband. She comes to a pet shop. She doesn't think her husband would want a dog or cat. She decides to get him a "crunch bird" even though the shop proprietor doesn't think that's a good idea. That's all I'll mention of what appears and just say I found this quite funny and maybe even a little hilarious for such a limited time animated short. Does it really deserve the Academy Award? Well, I've yet to watch what else was nominated that year so I don't know. But it was certainly entertaining for what it was. Anyway, when Petok received his award he said, in a paraphrase of the last line from this short, "Crunch Bird, my Oscar". Rest in peace, Ted.

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.