Birds of a Feather.(Product Information)

PIXAR'S LATEST SHORT FILM HIGHLIGHTS THE STUDIO'S ATTENTION TO DETAIL

Of all the animated films shown during Siggraph's Electronic Theater, Pixar Animation Studio's "For the Birds" prompted the biggest reaction. The audience started laughing right from the beginning, when the first bluebird sitting on a telephone wire started grousing at the second fat little bluebird to fly in, and people kept laughing all the way to the last scene with all the newly naked little birds, wings crossed in front of them.

The latest in a Series Of short animations created with 3D graphics from Pixar, "For the Birds" was written, storyboarded, and directed by Ralph Eggleston, the art director for Toy Story, Pixar's first feature film and produced by Karen Dufilho, head of development for Pixar Shorts and producer of Pixar's "Geri's Game."

"For the Birds" is already gathering awards, having received the Best Short Film award (audience vote) at the Catalonian International Film Festival (Sitges, Spain) in October; and an Annie from ASIFA-Hollywood (International Animated Film Society) in November for Outstanding Achievement in an Animated Short Subject. Pixar has submitted "For the Birds" for consideration by the Academy of Motion Pictures, and if nominated next month, the film will join a growing list of Pixar shorts to achieve Academy recognition: "Luxo, Jr." received a nomination in 1987; "Tin Toy" (1989) and "Geri's Game" (1998) both got Oscars. The film could have a good chance.

In addition to festival awards, Internet Movie Database reviewers have given "For the Birds" a 9.5 rating out of 10, using phrases like, "leaves you rolling in the aisles" and words like "hilarious" to describe it. How does the studio keep rolling out winners? Talented people, good stories, and attention to detail in every aspect.

The Story

Although most films begin with idea, "For the Birds" had a different origin. "I came up with the ideas as part of a design project back in the mid-'80s when I was a student at CalArts," explain Eggleston. "I had to work with shapes, so I started futzing around with a story about a big bird that lands on a wire and little birds that get squished together because they couldn't get away." The exercise with shapes evolved into a story that could be a metaphor for human behavior on the playground ... or in the corporate world, for that matter. Or, the film could be viewed simply as good slapstick comedy.