This is an exceptionally clever and sweet CGI film directed by Pierre Trudeau (not the ex-prime minister) and sponsored by the National Film Board of Canada. While the computer generated animation is very simple (even for 1999), this does not seriously impact the quality of the story and it's a lovely tale about a fastidious cuckoo clock bird who unwillingly becomes the proud father of three young birds! The film begins with the cuckoo clock bird going about his rounds with great precision--something he is quite proud of, by the way. However, on one occasion, lightning strikes--knocking him off his perch as well as knocking three eggs from a nearby nest into his clock! The cuckoo is just too nice a fella to throw them out, so he devotes the rest of the film to raising these three energetic chicks once they hatch.
Highly original, though reminiscent of another Film Board-sponsored animated short (THE BOY AND THE SNOW GOOSE), it's a winner and only misses out on a perfect 10 because the animation isn't great--though it works very well in this sweet tale.
Highly original, though reminiscent of another Film Board-sponsored animated short (THE BOY AND THE SNOW GOOSE), it's a winner and only misses out on a perfect 10 because the animation isn't great--though it works very well in this sweet tale.
