Jenny Lerew posted this clip on her blog.  It’s an animation by R.O. Blechman done for CBS back in 1966.  I really like simple stories with nice messages and this one stands out.

What made it memorable for me was showing it to my 11 year old daughter – a big animal activist – and watching the emotions wash across her face.  At first, there was surprise – “why is my Dad making me watch something as ancient and ‘crude’ as this?”.  Then laughter and happiness when she succumbed to the birds’ charm.  This quickly changed to contempt as the man walks in with a saw and the birds stop singing.  Finally, there was the “Awwww” moment.

All from a simple, short, sweet line-drawn animation.

Awww…