Comedores Anônimos de Pássaros

"Birds Anonymous" is a very good Looney Tunes cartoon. However, I really can't see why it won the Oscar for Best Animated Short--especially since the studio clearly has made much better cartoons that never received this recognition. The animation was decent but very late 1950s style--with minimalistic backgrounds and familiar characters.

The short begins with Sylvester doing what he always does in these cartoons--he's trying to eat Tweety. However, just before he does the deed, he's stopped by another cat--a cat who is a member of Bird-eaters Anonymous. Inexplicably, Sylvester joins as well and thinks he's finally conquered his addiction. Naturally, however, things don't go all that smoothly and his BA buddy comes to his aid.

While this is a good but not great cartoon, I am actually amazed at how timely it was, as AA had only just begun the same year this cartoon debuted. In an odd way, the cartoon brought a lot of positive publicity to the program--so in that sense it's a fascinating film.

"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!

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?

Sylvester is about to eat Tweety when he is confronted by another cat. That other cat tells Sylvester that he should join Birds Anonymous to work out his compulsion. Sylvester joins the group and it even seems to work.

This won an Oscar. I don't know why. Maybe the jury pool are all AA members. This is fine. The story is fine except for one issue. For somebody to be addicted, they have to have some of their addictions. You can't be addicted to drugs if you've never taken any. As far as I can tell, Sylvester has never eaten a bird. Maybe he should get treatment for stalking. That would make more sense.