The Crunch Bird

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.

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'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!!!

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.

Many critics were up in arms when Marisa Tomei took home an Oscar for her walk-through in "My Cousin Vinny." And there were those who cried foul when "Crash" won Best Picture instead of "Brokeback Mountain."

As unfair as those may seem, I can safely say that the film that was least deserving of its Academy Award was "The Crunch Bird."

Slapped together over a weekend by one Ted Petok, with all voices done by one man who lacked the talent of Mel Blanc or Don Messick, "The Crunch Bird" won over the smart National Film Board of Canada production "Evolution" and the beautifully animated Oscar Wilde adaptation "The Selfish Giant." Methinks Petok threatened to sic a crunch bird on the Academy members.

This horribly-animated short is based on one joke. One antique, middle-school joke. It probably had you ROTFL in 7th grade but it's merely stupid now.

Classic cartoon, my a*s!