The Song of the Birds is a strange little trip

Is it worth your time?

Honestly, maybe? If you have ten minutes and a high tolerance for old-school, slightly haunting animation. If you’re the type of person who needs a happy ending or hates seeing animals get hurt, skip this one. It’s definitely not for kids, despite how it might look at a glance.

The whole thing kicks off with this kid and his air rifle. You know exactly where it's going, and it’s that specific kind of sinking feeling in your gut. He hits the bird, and for a second, I thought the movie was just going to be about a boy being a jerk. But then the birds start singing. Not like chirping, but actually mourning.

It gets weird fast. The way the other birds gather around? It’s not cute. It’s almost like a funeral march. The sound design here is surprisingly aggressive for something this old. It’s not just wind and rustling leaves; it’s this persistent, high-pitched scratching that gets under your skin. I found myself checking my own window, which is probably exactly what they wanted.

There's this one shot where the boy just stands there, rifle limp in his hands. The camera lingers on his face for way too long. He looks less like a kid who made a mistake and more like a guy who just saw a ghost. It’s an uncomfortable beat, and the movie doesn’t give you a music swell to help you process it. It just sits there.

Bits and bobs

• The animation style is a bit jittery. Sometimes it feels like the frames are fighting each other.
• The silence after the birds stop singing is louder than any explosion I've seen in recent blockbusters.
• Reminds me a bit of the heavy-handed moral lessons in The Seven Swans, though this one feels way more personal.
• I’m still thinking about the eyes on those birds. Why did they draw them like that? 🐦

It’s not a masterpiece, and it’s definitely not subtle. But there’s something about the way it handles guilt that feels surprisingly real. Most shorts try to be clever or funny. This one just wants you to feel bad for a few minutes. Mission accomplished, I guess.

Don't expect a deep dive into character development. You get a kid, a gun, and a whole lot of regret. That’s the movie. It’s short, punchy, and leaves you wanting to go apologize to the nearest pigeon in the park. Maybe don't watch this right before bed if you're already feeling a bit off.