Birds Anonymous

I do like the Sylvester and Tweety cartoons in general, Tweety I do like when he is active and not nothing more than a plot device, but I love Sylvester who always excels at providing the laughs. Birds Anonymous is a contender for their best cartoon. Tweety is underused and is more a plot device here, but this is one instance where this works, because Sylvester is so good and delightful to watch. The story is reminiscent of a spoof while also stepping away from the usual formula in this set of cartoons, and it is fast-paced and energetic, helped by the witty writing, infectious music and delightful gags, while the animation is of fluid and colourful quality and the opening sequence is wonderful and almost Hitchcockian. Mel Blanc does a brilliant job with the voices and it shows perfectly that it was apparently his favourite WB cartoon. Overall, wonderful and probably the best of this cartoon duo. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Poor old "Tweety" is happily sitting in it's cage, when in comes "Sylvester" who prepares for a small yellow snack! Then a benign orange cat arrives, just in the nick of time, and points out the error of his ways to our hungry antagonist. Then he suggests he visit him and his colleagues at "Birds Anonymous". This first meeting sees him regaled by of all sorts of reformed characters ruing their days of chasing their feather friends! Might "Sylvester" return home a changed cat? If so, can it last? What temptations might lie in his path? I enjoyed this tale of feline cold turkey and the animation of the increasingly frantic eyes and the bird-through-a-straw are really quite funny. Personally, I hated that bird too!

This is a delightful cartoon and one of the most effective and entertaining Sylvester and Tweety cartoons Warner Brothers did. The B. A. meeting is inspired parody and Sylvester's attempts to kick the "bird habit" are exceptionally funny. Tweety's closing line is the perfect capper to a wonderful ending. Won a well-earned Oscar. Shows frequently on Cartoon Network. Highly recommended.

Perhaps, since there are hundreds of these featuring Bosco, Goofy Gophers, H. Hawk, Col. Shuffle, Buddy, Foghorn Leghorn, Gabby Goat, Pete Puma, Nasty Canasta, Sniffles, Speedy Gonzales, Hector the Bulldog, Pepe Le Pew, Melissa Duck, Slowpoke Rodriguez, Hubie & Bertie, Black Jack Shellac, Beaky Buzzard, Angus Mac Roary, Foxy, Granny, Witch Hazel, Rocky & Mugsy, Penelope Cat, Miss Priscilla Hen, Spike the Bulldog and Chester the Terrier. However, it is quite important to remember that though BIRDS ANONYMOUS was far worthier of a gelded statuette award than any of the umpteen Tom & Jerry's so honored, it pales in comparison to hundreds of OTHER Looney Tunes, including the universally acclaimed Best Animated Short of All-Time, Bugs Bunny and Elmer's classic WHAT'S OPERA, DOC?

"Birds Anonymous," like "Alcoholics Anonymous" is trying to cure an addiction. In this case, it's cats curing their addiction to eating birds. As one bird says in a testimony, "It cost me five houses," however the analogy of "BA" to "AA" really doesn't fit since cats are inbred to go after birds while choosing to drink is just that: a choice.

Nevertheless, it's just a cartoon and a spoof and shows poor Sylvester trying to do the right thing but everywhere he looks and turns, it makes things worse. For instance, he turns on the TV and the first thing he sees is an ad for a tasty bird - a turkey. The announcer says, "Every succulent morsel will simply melt in your mouth...." Listening to this, the poor cat is sweating like Niagara Falls and is tongue is about on the floor. The radio brings more (albeit sadistic) laughs as the music is nothing but songs about birds.

I felt sorry for Sylvester in here. Addiction is brutal and really no laughing matter, whether it's drugs, alcohol or whatever. As some insincere political bigwig once said: "I feel your pain." In here, I felt Sylvester's pain. I've always been in the minority here and rooted for Tweety, but not in this episode. Give the cat a break!