Birds Anonymous is a 1957 Merrie Melodies short directed by Friz Freleng.
Plot
Sylvester catches Tweety and is about to eat him, but he is interrupted by another cat named Clarence. Clarence claims that eating birds can become a serious addiction, and hands Sylvester a business card for a support group called Birds Anonymous. Sylvester goes to a meeting and hears the testimony of several cats and decides to kick the habit. Back home, he turns on the television, but a cooking program featuring a roast bird tempts him. He turns on the radio to distract himself, but it plays "Bye Bye Blackbird" and "When the Red Red Robin Comes Bob-bob-bobbin' Along". He handcuffs himself to the radiator so he can't reach Tweety, but desire overcomes him, and he pulls it right out of its fittings. He grabs the bird, but just as he is about to pop it in his mouth, Clarence shoots a plunger in Sylvester's face to stop him.
That night, Sylvester can't sleep because he is in withdrawals. "Just one," he rants, "I'll quit after just one more." He grabs Tweety, and Clarence stops him again by pouring alum in his mouth, which makes him pucker so much that he physically cannot fit Tweety inside. Sylvester finally breaks down, admitting he can't help himself. Clarence demonstrates how to love birds without eating them. He plants a kiss on Tweety's head, but the taste of the bird overcomes him, and he starts chasing Tweety himself. Sylvester intervenes and tries to restrain him. Tweety remarks, "Once a bad puddy tat, awways a bad puddy tat!".
Television
- The Merrie Melodies Show (1972-1978)
- Sylvester and Tweety (1976-1977)
- The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Show (1979-1981; 1983-1985)
- The Daffy/Speedy Show [CBS] (1982-1983)
- The Bugs Bunny and Tweety Show (1986-1990; 1995-2000)
- Looney Tunes on Nickelodeon (1990-1995)
- Acme Hour [Cartoon Network] (1999-2003)
- The Bugs and Daffy Show [Cartoon Network] (1999-2004)
- The Looney Tunes Show [Cartoon Network] (2001-2004)
- Looney Tunes on Boomerang (2003-2005; 2013-present)
- Looney Tunes on Cartoon Network (2009-2015)
- Bugs Bunny and Friends [Me TV] (2021-present)
Availability
The Looney Tunes Video Show Volume 9
A Salute to Friz Freleng
Stark Raving Looneys
The Bodyguard (UK rental only)
Sylvester and Tweety's Bad Ol' Putty Tat Blues
Special Bumper Collection (Vol. 1)
Looney Tunes Presents Tweety: Tweet and Lovely
Looney Tunes: The Collectors Edition Volume 13: Comic Cat-Tastrophies
Tweety & Sylvester (2003)
Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 3, Disc Four
Looney Tunes Collection All Stars Volume 4
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Academy Awards Animation Collection, Disc 1
Looney Tunes Spotlight Collection: Volume 7, Disc 2
Sylvester
Looney Tunes Platinum Collection: Volume 3, Disc Two
Looney Tunes Platinum Collection: Volume 3, Disc Two
Looney Tunes Super Stars Family Multi-Feature Vol. 2, Disc 2
Looney Tunes Collection Volume 3
Streaming
Notes
- This cartoon won the 1957 Academy Award for best animated short subject. Before producer Eddie Selzer died, he gave the Oscar to Mel Blanc. The Oscar is now with Mel Blanc's family.
- This cartoon was included in Bugs Bunny's Easter Special, Bugs Bunny's Thanksgiving Diet, and Friz Freleng's Looney Looney Looney Bugs Bunny Movie (edited for time), which names the unnamed cat Clarence.
- Unlike most Warner Bros. cartoons reissued during the 1959-64 season, the original closing title is kept. This is most likely because many of the last cartoons to be reissued with altered opening titles say "COPYRIGHT 1957 BY THE VITAPHONE CORP" instead of "COPYRIGHT 1957 BY WARNER BROS. PICTURES INC.", because Vitaphone dissolved in 1959.
Gallery
TV Title Cards
References
External Links
- "Birds Anonymous" at the SFX Resource
