Birdsong (CalArts Film 2022)

This is too difficult to notice unless you know exactly what you're listening for, so I'll put it here: at the very end of the film, we close with the sounds of mosquitoes humming. This is a small reference to a major factor of why the Kauaʻi ʻōʻō went extinct. In the 1800s, mosquitoes were accidentally introduced to the Hawaiian Islands via ships. They brought with them avian malaria, a disease many birds were not able to defend against. In this sense, island life is incredibly fragile, and human actions (intentional or not) can drastically change the equations of their surrounding environments. Btw - thank you for all for the sweet comments. As of posting this I have read every single one and I'd like each of you to know that they mean so much, from the bottom of my heart ❤

as a biologist, this short is so, so touching to me personally. this film is absolutely stunning and heartbreaking. i'm so impressed by not only the visuals but the storytelling and sound design as well. the inclusion of the mosquito buzz at the end is so ominous knowing what it represents, and a chilling reminder of what we've lost. this is the story of too many species - of species preserved only in sound and photos. i'm just so blown away by this. i adore this short so much <3

"I thought about it often: if it went back to its nest, if it kept looking, if it kept singing... but more than anything, I hoped it passed away, softly. Peacefully, in the middle of a dream." this makes me weep over how beautifully masterful this short film is. Nothing can come close to this. The Kaua'i 'o'o have always fascinated me and their stories -- his story -- a painful one. But you managed to capture it and give out to the world in such a beautiful way. Man, this is amazing, thank you for sharing this with us

Oh my GOD. That recording of the last Kauaʻi ʻōʻō has always haunted me. I think that's the most intense representation of loneliness I've ever heard, and ever since I heard it and learned the history behind it, I've thought of writing a short story or animation around it. Really cool job on the animation, and now you've started stirring ideas in my head again. Beautiful design and setting, you did an awesome job! Thanks for bringing this story to light again

When they started responding to the recording, I cried. This was beautiful yet heart breaking

Hello! You may not see this comment but I just would like to sincerely say, thank you. This made me cry as I am native Hawaiian! Ever since I was little I would listen to the last recording of the Kauaʻi Ōʻō in museums. I would often dream of our native birds when I was little. Imagining a little black bird with vibrant yellow feathers and red iʻiwi in the ʻōhiʻa lehua. I’d listen to their songs on YouTube knowing that I would never hear them. Not in my lifetime. It’s rare or impossible now. I always dreamt of going to CalArts. Though now I’ve switched from pursuing a fine arts major to a creative writing major. I always wondered when I would see an animation from home. You have no idea how important, how beautiful, how extraordinary this animation is. Not only because you took our birds and made them fly but because of the story that it carries along with it. Mahalo nui loa, thank you for bringing the ōʻō back to life and for making my dreams come true.

"and i hoped it passed away softly. peacefully. in the middle of a dream" beautiful, sensitive writing. from start to finish ♥️😭

The part where the birds standing on the side of the staff and sings a tune as the musical notes indicates their voices and morphed into a wing is visually remarkable.

YOU GOT ME CRYING OVER A BIRD!!!! anyway this was beautiful! everything about it was so eye-catching and it was melancholy but also soothing.

As someone who grew up in Hawaii and is now far away in the Midwest this beautiful film makes me intensely homesick. I remember sitting in class when our teacher played the song for us. Every once in a while I'll see or hear something that reminds me of the 'aina and this made the homesickness hit like a tsunami.

As someone from Hawaii, I am glad this song and the story of these birds are being discussed more. We have lost so many of our native bird species already. The animation was absolutely gorgeous!

This is one of those endings that swells and deepens as it sits with you. I've gone from quiet to starting to weep. The image of the lonely, sleeping bird resonates not only with the heartbreaking irreversible loss of species, but with human aging, isolation, and grief. Thank you for this film.

i love the animation style, the colors, the voice acting, the smoothness of it all the overall the theme as well and is it absolutely stunning!!! tysm for the food <33

Tears in my eyes. This is masterful. The birdsong is so wonderfully melancholy, too.

My girlfriend and I are watching several student-made films as she considers going to Cal Arts. This is such a wonderful animation! It brought us both to tears. Edit: just got home and watched it again, really got a chance to take in every little detail. I’m teary eyed and at the same time rejuvenated in the soul, thank you for making this.

So amazingly happy to have had the privilege of voice acting for this 🖤🖤 CONGRATS

The art, the voice acting LITERALLY EVERYTHING WAS SO BEAUTIFUL. This must have been really hard and we all appreciate your beautiful works of art❤

First time I watched this, the film rendered me speechless and having watched it over, it's so beautiful seeing all of the details and intricacies put into making this storytelling masterpiece. On top of this film being visually gorgeous, the way you made me feel such connection and empathy for the birds and their history is incredible. STOP BEING AMAZING MICHELLE!

Oh man, I’ve listened to John Green talk about the Kaua’i ‘ō’ō in his “The Anthropocene Reviewed” podcast. When I heard the narrator say that name I knew it was going to be solemn. This is a very lovely film, the softness and gentleness in the narration and the animation work together really well with the subject of the story. Every frame is so nice to look at, and the colors are so bright without being too overwhelming. This really did bring tears to my eyes. Wonderful work to you and those who helped make this. Edit: After a second watch I want to mention just how much I love the contrast between the light and shadow too. Seeing Sinecock and Jacobi standing against this bright yellow-green while the bird and the tape recorder appear bold in the darker foreground. The last lines of the narrator hit me as well. It’s just so heartbreaking that the best he could wish for is that the bird passed away peacefully, because he knows it is too unreasonable to hope it finds a mate. Really sad, but also somehow… hopeful, or optimistic, in a way. I love it.

It is beautiful to see a creature of this beauty done justice in a way like this. Many of those animals lost to us sadly do not get the privilege to have themselves acknowledged this beautifully. Thank you for telling its tale, even though it is tragic. A most incredible animated film, kudos!