Busy Little Bears

Short subjects, like short stories, as a rule lack the broad popularity of features and novels. That's a shame, because it means that it's hard to locate and view some of the best.

Three cubs in Yosemite frolic in search of food, tussle with an owl, a badger, and a skunk, and end up in a cabin, where they make mayhem in the kitchen till they're found by the owners. The narration gives them names but doesn't anthropomorphize them unduly, and the camera is mostly content to sit back and watch their antics, which are charming. This Oscar winner certainly earns the "AWWWWWWW" it gets from the audience at the last shot -- the three cubs cuddled up on a sofa.