| For the Birds | |
|---|---|
_poster.jpg) Film poster | |
| Directed by | Ralph Eggleston |
| Written by | Ralph Eggleston |
| Produced by | Karen Dufilho-Rosen |
| Starring | Ralph Eggleston |
| Edited by | Jennifer Taylor Tom Freeman |
| Music by | Riders in the Sky |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Buena Vista Pictures Distribution[a] |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 3 minutes |
| Country | United States |
For the Birds is a 2000 American animated short film produced byPixar and written and directed byRalph Eggleston. It won theAcademy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 2001.[1] It debuted on June 5, 2000, at theAnnecy International Animated Film Festival in France,[2] and was shown alongside the theatrical release of the2001Disney/Pixar feature filmMonsters, Inc.[2]
It is also available on home video versions of the film. In 2012, the short was re-rendered into 3D, and it was theatrically re-released alongside the 3D re-release ofMonsters, Inc.[3] The short was also released in 3D onMonsters, Inc. Blu-ray 3D, on February 19, 2013.[4] The short was paired in theaters in front ofLuca on March 22, 2024.[5]
A small, egg-shaped blue bird lands on apowerline and makes himself comfortable, only for a second bird to land close by. The two birds start squabbling and are gradually joined by 13 others of the same species, all bickering for space.
A large, awkwardshoebill-like bird honks and waves at them from a nearby power pole, interrupting the squabble. The 15 little stubby birds start imitating his plumage and honk, mockingly, until the tall, thin bird again calls to them, causing the little birds to scoot further down the line and quietly gossip about it.
Undeterred, the bigger bird flies and perches between the flock of smaller birds, but his weight causes the powerline to sag almost to the ground. The smaller birds slide down and are squished together against the big bird's sides. They start chirping indignantly about the cramped space, but the big bird doesn't understand that they are angry and joins in with more squawking.
After a few seconds, one little bird angrily pecks the big bird's side, making him stand up in alarm and fall backward, hanging upside down by his feet. Cheered on by the others, the two little birds in the middle start pecking the big bird's toes, which release one by one from the line, though the big bird doesn't seem to be bothered by this. One little bird eventually realizes how close to the ground they are and warns the others, before they finally alert the middle two. They stop too late, and the last toe of the big bird releases, accidentally snapping the line like aslingshot and flinging the little birds out of sight.
The bigger bird lands unharmed on the ground and plays with the floating feathers until one of the smaller birds, now naked, crash lands beside him. He sees the naked little bird and laughs at him, though he kindly offers a leaf for coverage. Seconds later, the 14 other little birds land nearby, also nude. The big bird laughs even harder at the little birds, who quickly hide behind him in defeat.
For the Birds won the following awards:
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A reference toFor the Birds was put in the 2006 Pixar filmCars, during theLife Is A Highway segment. WhenLightning McQueen is in the back of Mack, they drive down the freeway and pass a section of powerline with the birds resting on top, which is accompanied by the squeaks the birds made to communicate with each other.[7] A similar appearance occurred inInside Out, while Riley and her family are driving toSan Francisco at the beginning of the movie.[8] The small birds also make a cameo appearance in the upcoming filmHoppers, which directorDaniel Chong confirmed was a deliberate homage.[9]
The birds can be found in the main hub world for the Kinect gameRush: A Disney-Pixar Adventure.
For the Birds is one of two short films on theDVD andVHS release ofMonsters, Inc. The film was also released as part ofPixar Short Films Collection, Volume 1 in 2007. The short was shown alongside the 3D re-release ofMonsters Inc. on December 19, 2012.[3] The short was also released in 3D onMonsters, Inc. Blu-ray 3D, on February 19, 2013.[4]For the Birds was paired in theaters in front ofLuca on March 22, 2024.[5]
With this release, audiences also get to see "For the Birds" the original short that ran with Monsters, Inc., take off in 3D, as well as a brand-new trailer for Disney's March release Oz The Great and Powerful!
