It's Tough to Be a Bird

He is a red bird (voiced by Richard Bakalyan), soaring freely in the azure sky, humming a little tune when he carelessly gets shot at by a hunter's rifle. This unlucky fellow seems to take it all in stride, as he puts on a record for the audience and, accompanied by a cheerful melody, explains just how tough it is to be a bird. For instance, in the sky, one first faces attacks from hunters' guns, and after landing on the ground, there are all sorts of threats to deal with. He then goes on to recount the history of biological evolution and the branching development of birds, naturally not overlooking the conflicts with humans. He showcases the role birds have played in human history and their influence on human culture. An interesting story with thought-provoking significance... This film won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film at the 42nd Oscars.