I'm in agreement with rnigma-1 from down south that THE CRUNCH BIRD definitely did not deserve to win the Oscar for Best Animated Short in 1972, though I wouldn't rate this film a 1--though perhaps my 5 is a bit generous. One problem is that the cartoon isn't particularly well animated and has very garish colors. The other is that the cartoon is a rather crude joke that 7th graders might find funny, but most anyone older that that won't. It's really sad that this insignificant film won, as one of the runners up (THE SELFISH GIANT) is head and shoulders better. Unlike the crude and rather stupid CRUNCH BIRD, THE SELFISH GIANT has a wonderful message, excellent animation and a depth to it. When seen today by sane people, it's obvious that THE CRUNCH BIRD is an inferior film and the Academy should have been embarrassed at picking the winner that year. I don't even think THE CRUNCH BIRD should have been nominated--let alone win. A super example of an over-rated film. Since they gave THE CRUNCH BIRD an Oscar, perhaps Pauley Shore will one day win the Best Actor Oscar!!!
14 Reviews
The Shortest Oscar Winning Animated Short in History
elicopperman25 March 2022
With the 94th Academy Awards coming out this weekend, it's time to look back on the shortest animated short film that ever won the Oscar. Made by late UPA animator Ted Petok, The Crunch Bird remains the most brief short film in history at the Academy Awards.
Made in Detroit, Michigan and based on a crude joke, not even Petok himself could've predicted this brisk cartoon would have been awarded with so much prestige. In fact, based on Petok's background in commercials, the short was made as a gag to be put on the end of a car dealership commercial. However, this gag short about a woman trying to find a birthday present for her husband became a hit at small theaters to the point of boosting Petok's company and even spawning a sequel four years later. It really shows you how one small seed could end up being the biggest seed of all.
While not seemingly possible today with what's to be expected from the more "elite" award ceremonies, this brief segment alone is worth so much attention. After over 50 years in the spotlight, it remains a historical artifact for different reasons than ever intended. After all, two minutes can often say more than two hours.
Made in Detroit, Michigan and based on a crude joke, not even Petok himself could've predicted this brisk cartoon would have been awarded with so much prestige. In fact, based on Petok's background in commercials, the short was made as a gag to be put on the end of a car dealership commercial. However, this gag short about a woman trying to find a birthday present for her husband became a hit at small theaters to the point of boosting Petok's company and even spawning a sequel four years later. It really shows you how one small seed could end up being the biggest seed of all.
While not seemingly possible today with what's to be expected from the more "elite" award ceremonies, this brief segment alone is worth so much attention. After over 50 years in the spotlight, it remains a historical artifact for different reasons than ever intended. After all, two minutes can often say more than two hours.
Most undeserved Oscar
rnigma-19 August 2008
Many critics were up in arms when Marisa Tomei took home an Oscar for her walk-through in "My Cousin Vinny." And there were those who cried foul when "Crash" won Best Picture instead of "Brokeback Mountain."
As unfair as those may seem, I can safely say that the film that was least deserving of its Academy Award was "The Crunch Bird."
Slapped together over a weekend by one Ted Petok, with all voices done by one man who lacked the talent of Mel Blanc or Don Messick, "The Crunch Bird" won over the smart National Film Board of Canada production "Evolution" and the beautifully animated Oscar Wilde adaptation "The Selfish Giant." Methinks Petok threatened to sic a crunch bird on the Academy members.
This horribly-animated short is based on one joke. One antique, middle-school joke. It probably had you ROTFL in 7th grade but it's merely stupid now.
Classic cartoon, my a*s!
As unfair as those may seem, I can safely say that the film that was least deserving of its Academy Award was "The Crunch Bird."
Slapped together over a weekend by one Ted Petok, with all voices done by one man who lacked the talent of Mel Blanc or Don Messick, "The Crunch Bird" won over the smart National Film Board of Canada production "Evolution" and the beautifully animated Oscar Wilde adaptation "The Selfish Giant." Methinks Petok threatened to sic a crunch bird on the Academy members.
This horribly-animated short is based on one joke. One antique, middle-school joke. It probably had you ROTFL in 7th grade but it's merely stupid now.
Classic cartoon, my a*s!
Funny
igornveiga25 July 2022
A single joke makes this relevant
Kalashnikovin10 October 2022
Come on Academy, you could have chosen some of the masterpieces that were produced that year, but no! This time they wanted to see the world burn and chose this crap as a worthy Short Film to be the Oscar winner.
This is the most Undeserved Oscar I've ever seen, it's only 2 Miserable minutes of terribly simplistic animation (although a little better than UPA) accompanied by an Awful voice acting that made my ears cry, The short is based on a single Joke, The Woman buys a Bird and it bites her Husband's Buttocks!.
Seriously, how did they get to nominate this Filth, Crap, Nastiness, Degradation, Garbage, Slop, Diarrhea, Stupidity and Sillyness for Oscars?.
This is the most Undeserved Oscar I've ever seen, it's only 2 Miserable minutes of terribly simplistic animation (although a little better than UPA) accompanied by an Awful voice acting that made my ears cry, The short is based on a single Joke, The Woman buys a Bird and it bites her Husband's Buttocks!.
Seriously, how did they get to nominate this Filth, Crap, Nastiness, Degradation, Garbage, Slop, Diarrhea, Stupidity and Sillyness for Oscars?.
Controversial winner!
injury-6544721 May 2020
Yep it's true!
The first thing you do after watching is scratch your head and ask yourself "how did THIS win an Oscar"?
Then You chuckle and realise it doesn't matter and this is a funny short. Worth watching! And what else really matters huh?
Cute one joke cartoon based on a joke I heard before the short was made
llltdesq4 February 2014
Warning: Spoilers
This short won the Academy Award. There will be minor spoilers ahead:
This short is very brief and is simply an old joke animated. I heard the joke for the first time before the short was made in 1971 and it was an old joke when I heard it the first time.
It's a cute, simple concept. I wouldn't have given it the Oscar because the other two nominees are very good shorts. I probably would have given the award to The Selfish Giant myself. But I have no problems with this winning. Second-guessing the Academy more than 40 years later is a fun pastime, but The Crunch Bird will still be the winning short after we're done rehashing the choice.
Besides, I wouldn't want to attract the attention of the Crunch Bird. Things which do don't last terribly long! ;) This short is floating around online and it doesn't seem to be too hard to find. It's worth watching. Recommended because it's a fun, fast three or so minutes.
This short is very brief and is simply an old joke animated. I heard the joke for the first time before the short was made in 1971 and it was an old joke when I heard it the first time.
It's a cute, simple concept. I wouldn't have given it the Oscar because the other two nominees are very good shorts. I probably would have given the award to The Selfish Giant myself. But I have no problems with this winning. Second-guessing the Academy more than 40 years later is a fun pastime, but The Crunch Bird will still be the winning short after we're done rehashing the choice.
Besides, I wouldn't want to attract the attention of the Crunch Bird. Things which do don't last terribly long! ;) This short is floating around online and it doesn't seem to be too hard to find. It's worth watching. Recommended because it's a fun, fast three or so minutes.
I enjoyed it
JPMDatIMDB15 October 2009
Yes, it's based on a joke. (Hey, it's a SHORT animation film, right?) Yeah, it's from 1971, with 1971 technology, audio, acting, drawing, and dialog.
Still, it was humorous in its day.
As a theater manager in the mid-70s, I sometimes showed this prior to our main features (back before you PAID to see ADVERTISING on the big screen) and the audience always roared.
I'm not so harsh on this as some.... in those days we definitely needed a big laugh to escape the real world, even if for only a few minutes.
Give Crunch Bird a fair shake for what it is... a short piece of fluff that entertained the audiences of the day.
P.S. I can't speak to the points regarding the Academy selection, not having seen (or having seen but not remembered) the other contenders.
Still, it was humorous in its day.
As a theater manager in the mid-70s, I sometimes showed this prior to our main features (back before you PAID to see ADVERTISING on the big screen) and the audience always roared.
I'm not so harsh on this as some.... in those days we definitely needed a big laugh to escape the real world, even if for only a few minutes.
Give Crunch Bird a fair shake for what it is... a short piece of fluff that entertained the audiences of the day.
P.S. I can't speak to the points regarding the Academy selection, not having seen (or having seen but not remembered) the other contenders.
Very funny one-gag cartoon
crothman6 March 2002
The cartoon is merely the telling of a joke. Not only is it a good one, but the execution is perfect. Once you see it, you'll smile whenever you hear the phrase "crunch bird." The same people made one or two other cartoons, but faded away.
I discovered this on Cartoon Brew as linked from YouTube when it mentioned the passing of The Crunch Bird's animator, Ted Petok
tavm26 April 2010
Last week, the Cartoon Brew site mentioned the passing of one Ted Petok. He was an animator whose works appeared on "Seseme Street" and "The Electric Company" during the '70s. CB linked from YouTube Mr. Petok's Oscar-winning short whose title is up above as tribute. It's only a couple of minutes long. In this one, a lady is searching for a gift for her husband. She comes to a pet shop. She doesn't think her husband would want a dog or cat. She decides to get him a "crunch bird" even though the shop proprietor doesn't think that's a good idea. That's all I'll mention of what appears and just say I found this quite funny and maybe even a little hilarious for such a limited time animated short. Does it really deserve the Academy Award? Well, I've yet to watch what else was nominated that year so I don't know. But it was certainly entertaining for what it was. Anyway, when Petok received his award he said, in a paraphrase of the last line from this short, "Crunch Bird, my Oscar". Rest in peace, Ted.
The Academy loved it and so did I
Horst_In_Translation26 September 2015
Warning: Spoilers
This little cartoon from the early 1970s only runs for slightly over 2 minutes, but it fully delivers during these. It has a touch of "Married with children" attached to it with the husband coming home from work and having to deal with all the bills as his woman was shopping again. I could even imagine the man being a shoe salesman. And funnily enough, the woman also looks a bit like Peggy Bundy. But this time, she brought a gift for her husband or did she really? A pet named crunch bird. The humor is politically incorrect and the whole thing is like a joke in video form with the ending. The display of the closing credits was perfect too while we heard the bird crunching. There is no amazing depth or stunning story in here, but at 2 minutes, I think it was a really funny watch and good job by the Academy honoring it. Too bad Ted Petok did not manage to build a long career on the success of this one, but he led a long life and certainly delivered in other areas. There is also a sequel to this little movie here, but sadly I cannot find it. Anyway, I recommend "The Crunch Bird". Fun watch.
Based on an Old Joke
Hitchcoc18 October 2021
There's nothing wrong with this little film. It should have been set up better with a few more examples of the bird's horrible trait. Anyway, I had figured it out as soon as the chair was destroyed. I, too, can't imagine this little bit getting the Oscar.
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