29:
248:
conversation, actually believing that this creature is also an "early bird" after the worm. He shares his mammy's descriptive warning about the fox, slowly coming to realize that he is face to face with one. The young bird is captured but, as the fox is fixing him up as a sandwich, the worm - with the assistance of an angry bee - rescues him. The bird goes home and gets back into bed with his siblings just as the alarm clock rings and Mammy comes in. She asks her three children what they want for breakfast. The other two say worms, but the "early bird" says he does not want worms. The worm pops up from beneath the sheets and says he doesn't, either, then covers his mouth, followed by the iris out.
247:
style, the fox appears and holds up two signs for the audience. One says "The
Villain" and the other "As if you didn't know". The fox then chases the bird as the bird is chasing the worm. Noticing the fox but not realizing it is indeed this dangerous animal, the bird stops and engages in
224:
next to him and tries to tell him about the story, but he doesn't care. Mammy notices the light coming from the children's room so goes in and, seeing what her son is doing, grabs the book and throws it out the window. Then, she tells the three of them about the
236:. At five a.m., he sneaks out and begins sniffing out a worm. Meanwhile, a worm has come across the discarded book and reads about the "early bird"; he decides to sniff one out. In this manner, they find each other and, frightened, each run away.
259:(Jan 24, 1940): "The little bird doesn't believe the story, wants to find out for himself, is caught by the bad fox, and then saved by the little worm, all of which is familiar, but made in the better Schlesinger vein. Good."
220:
tells them goodnight, and the children get into bed to go to sleep. But, as soon as they are alone, one sits up and begins reading a book called "The Early Bird gets The Worm". He wakes the
28:
1799:
1249:
232:
The youngsters prepare again to go to sleep; the book-reader tells the other two that he will get up early in the morning and go catch the
1789:
1819:
1809:
1834:
1804:
1814:
1779:
1824:
605:
496:
478:
267:(Oct 10, 1943): "A sidelight on the old adage, this Leon Schlesinger cartoon suggests that a bird can't be too careful."
1106:
417:
1367:
380:
669:
281:
LaserDisc/videocassette series. Additionally, it can often be found on low-quality VHS tapes and DVDs of various
629:
353:
1625:
204:. The short was released on January 13, 1940. The name is a play on the adage "The early bird gets the worm."
789:
645:
1647:
1794:
1752:
1745:
1161:
1082:
544:
1724:
589:
407:
1829:
1657:
1485:
693:
277:
1784:
1707:
1343:
1209:
1697:
1391:
1257:
1021:
909:
861:
370:
1289:
1123:
797:
765:
741:
733:
685:
471:
229:
who eats birds and who surely, if they try to go outside early to catch a worm, will catch them.
1225:
773:
573:
1327:
1281:
1273:
1731:
1547:
1531:
1463:
893:
829:
564:
263:
103:
1563:
1523:
869:
677:
621:
346:
Looney Tunes and Merrie
Melodies: A Complete Illustrated Guide to the Warner Bros. Cartoons
1193:
1185:
1169:
8:
1774:
1501:
1407:
1139:
989:
981:
845:
749:
725:
701:
34:
1738:
1617:
1555:
1539:
1335:
1073:
997:
965:
957:
901:
877:
837:
805:
757:
653:
536:
464:
1687:
1593:
1515:
1471:
1415:
1319:
1201:
1013:
1005:
973:
949:
853:
717:
413:
376:
349:
275:
The cartoon has not been officially released on DVD. However, it was included in the
1579:
1455:
1351:
1305:
1265:
1147:
1037:
821:
781:
709:
64:
239:
Once the bird realizes he has met the worm, he chases after him. After a few gags
1702:
1571:
1493:
1435:
1297:
1233:
941:
613:
309:
217:
196:
1359:
1383:
1241:
1177:
1045:
1029:
813:
637:
520:
294:
The cartoon was reissued in the 1943-44 season and again in the 1952-53 season.
456:
1768:
1601:
1375:
661:
282:
1667:
1662:
1217:
1131:
1061:
933:
917:
597:
552:
505:
304:
192:
114:
1053:
925:
581:
528:
78:
438:
1682:
1672:
1652:
1115:
244:
240:
1692:
1609:
1399:
488:
201:
74:
46:
212:
The story starts in the house of the
Blackbird family. Three young
409:
That's Enough, Folks: Black Images in
Animated Cartoons, 1900-1960
285:
cartoons, since the copyright on this film has not been renewed.
221:
1677:
233:
213:
226:
1766:
486:
348:(1st ed.). New York: H. Holt. p. 98.
472:
343:
216:are seen saying their bedtime prayers. Their
479:
465:
27:
401:
399:
331:Cartoon Voices of the Golden Age, Vol. 2
1800:1940s Warner Bros. animated short films
405:
368:
1767:
460:
436:
396:
375:. Checkmark Books. pp. 104–106.
372:The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons
344:Beck, Jerry; Friedwald, Will (1989).
328:
337:
13:
14:
1846:
430:
1790:Stereotypes of African Americans
606:I'd Love to Take Orders from You
412:. Scarecrow Press. p. 170.
1820:African-American animated films
329:Scott, Keith (3 October 2022).
439:"The Early Worm Gets the Bird"
437:Avery, Tex (13 January 1940).
362:
333:. BearManor Media. p. 78.
322:
1:
1810:American animated short films
790:Johnny Smith and Poker-Huntas
315:
270:
1835:English-language short films
1805:1940s English-language films
1753:Tex Avery Screwball Classics
1746:The Wacky World of Tex Avery
886:The Early Worm Gets the Bird
545:The Legend of Rockabye Point
251:
188:The Early Worm Gets the Bird
22:The Early Worm Gets the Bird
7:
1815:Films directed by Tex Avery
1780:Merrie Melodies short films
298:
151:November 29, 1952
10:
1851:
1825:Animated films about birds
406:Sampson, Henry T. (1998).
278:Golden Age of Looney Tunes
129:January 13, 1940
1716:
1640:
1344:The Cat That Hated People
1210:The Shooting of Dan McGoo
1105:
1072:
563:
504:
495:
176:
166:
140:October 2, 1943
120:
110:
94:
86:
70:
60:
52:
42:
26:
21:
1725:Casper's First Christmas
1392:Little Rural Riding Hood
1258:Northwest Hounded Police
1022:All This and Rabbit Stew
910:A Gander at Mother Goose
862:Land of the Midnight Fun
742:Daffy Duck & Egghead
670:I Only Have Eyes for You
288:
257:Motion Picture Exhibitor
1486:Droopy's Double Trouble
1124:The Early Bird Dood It!
798:Daffy Duck in Hollywood
766:The Isle of Pingo Pongo
734:Little Red Walking Hood
207:
33:Title card in the 1952
1226:Swing Shift Cinderella
1162:What's Buzzin' Buzzard
774:Cinderella Meets Fella
369:Lenburg, Jeff (1999).
200:cartoon supervised by
1732:The Kwicky Koala Show
1532:The Three Little Pups
1368:The House of Tomorrow
894:Cross-Country Detours
830:Thugs with Dirty Mugs
264:Motion Picture Herald
159: (second reissue)
104:Warner Bros. Cartoons
1564:The Farm of Tomorrow
1524:The T.V. of Tomorrow
686:Uncle Tom's Bungalow
622:Porky the Rain Maker
148: (first reissue)
82:Margaret Hill-Talbot
1795:1940 animated films
1408:The Counterfeit Cat
1140:Red Hot Riding Hood
1107:Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
990:Hollywood Steps Out
982:Tortoise Beats Hare
846:Dangerous Dan McFoo
750:The Sneezing Weasel
726:I Wanna Be a Sailor
702:Egghead Rides Again
574:Gold Diggers of '49
35:Blue Ribbon reissue
1739:The Tex Avery Show
1618:Millionaire Droopy
1556:Homesteader Droopy
1540:Drag-a-Long Droopy
1464:Droopy's Good Deed
1443:The Peachy Cobbler
1313:What Price Fleadom
1290:Uncle Tom's Cabaña
1074:Paramount Pictures
966:The Crackpot Quail
958:Holiday Highlights
878:Screwball Football
838:Believe It or Else
806:The Mice Will Play
758:The Penguin Parade
654:Porky the Wrestler
630:The Village Smithy
537:Crazy Mixed Up Pup
514:Towne Hall Follies
487:Films directed by
1830:Films about worms
1762:
1761:
1688:George and Junior
1636:
1635:
1594:The First Bad Man
1516:Little Johnny Jet
1472:Symphony in Slang
1449:Cock-a-Doodle Dog
1416:Ventriloquist Cat
1202:The Screwy Truant
1014:Aviation Vacation
1006:The Heckling Hare
974:The Haunted Mouse
950:Of Fox and Hounds
854:Detouring America
678:Porky's Duck Hunt
184:
183:
1842:
1785:1940 short films
1587:Field and Scream
1580:Dixieland Droopy
1502:One Cab's Family
1456:Daredevil Droopy
1423:The Cuckoo Clock
1352:Bad Luck Blackie
1306:King-Size Canary
1266:Henpecked Hoboes
1155:One Ham's Family
1083:Down on the Farm
1038:The Cagey Canary
822:A Day at the Zoo
782:A Feud There Was
710:A Sunbonnet Blue
694:Ain't We Got Fun
502:
501:
481:
474:
467:
458:
457:
453:
451:
449:
424:
423:
403:
394:
393:
391:
389:
366:
360:
359:
341:
335:
334:
326:
158:
156:
147:
145:
136:
134:
65:Leon Schlesinger
31:
19:
18:
1850:
1849:
1845:
1844:
1843:
1841:
1840:
1839:
1765:
1764:
1763:
1758:
1712:
1703:Screwy Squirrel
1632:
1572:The Flea Circus
1509:Rock-a-Bye Bear
1494:Magical Maestro
1479:Car of Tomorrow
1436:The Chump Champ
1328:Half-Pint Pygmy
1298:Slap Happy Lion
1282:Red Hot Rangers
1234:Wild and Woolfy
1170:Screwy Squirrel
1148:Who Killed Who?
1101:
1068:
998:Porky's Preview
942:Wacky Wild Life
902:The Bear's Tale
646:Don't Look Now
614:I Love to Singa
590:Page Miss Glory
559:
491:
485:
447:
445:
433:
428:
427:
420:
404:
397:
387:
385:
383:
367:
363:
356:
342:
338:
327:
323:
318:
310:Censored Eleven
301:
291:
273:
254:
210:
197:Merrie Melodies
169:
162:
154:
152:
143:
141:
137: (original)
132:
130:
123:
106:
99:
97:
81:
77:
38:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1848:
1838:
1837:
1832:
1827:
1822:
1817:
1812:
1807:
1802:
1797:
1792:
1787:
1782:
1777:
1760:
1759:
1757:
1756:
1749:
1742:
1735:
1728:
1720:
1718:
1714:
1713:
1711:
1710:
1705:
1700:
1695:
1690:
1685:
1680:
1675:
1670:
1665:
1660:
1655:
1650:
1644:
1642:
1638:
1637:
1634:
1633:
1631:
1630:
1622:
1614:
1606:
1598:
1590:
1584:
1576:
1568:
1560:
1552:
1544:
1536:
1528:
1520:
1512:
1506:
1498:
1490:
1482:
1476:
1468:
1460:
1452:
1446:
1440:
1432:
1426:
1420:
1412:
1404:
1396:
1388:
1384:Wags to Riches
1380:
1372:
1364:
1356:
1348:
1340:
1332:
1324:
1320:Little 'Tinker
1316:
1310:
1302:
1294:
1286:
1278:
1270:
1262:
1254:
1250:The Hick Chick
1246:
1242:Lonesome Lenny
1238:
1230:
1222:
1214:
1206:
1198:
1194:Big Heel-Watha
1190:
1186:Happy-Go-Nutty
1182:
1178:Batty Baseball
1174:
1166:
1158:
1152:
1144:
1136:
1128:
1120:
1111:
1109:
1103:
1102:
1100:
1099:
1093:
1087:
1078:
1076:
1070:
1069:
1067:
1066:
1058:
1050:
1046:Wabbit Twouble
1042:
1034:
1030:The Bug Parade
1026:
1018:
1010:
1002:
994:
986:
978:
970:
962:
954:
946:
938:
930:
922:
914:
906:
898:
890:
882:
874:
866:
858:
850:
842:
834:
826:
818:
814:Hamateur Night
810:
802:
794:
786:
778:
770:
762:
754:
746:
738:
730:
722:
718:Porky's Garden
714:
706:
698:
690:
682:
674:
666:
658:
650:
642:
638:Milk and Money
634:
626:
618:
610:
602:
594:
586:
578:
569:
567:
561:
560:
558:
557:
549:
541:
533:
525:
521:The Quail Hunt
517:
510:
508:
499:
497:Short subjects
493:
492:
484:
483:
476:
469:
461:
455:
454:
432:
431:External links
429:
426:
425:
419:978-0810832503
418:
395:
381:
361:
354:
336:
320:
319:
317:
314:
313:
312:
307:
300:
297:
296:
295:
290:
287:
272:
269:
253:
250:
209:
206:
182:
181:
178:
174:
173:
170:
167:
164:
163:
161:
160:
149:
138:
126:
124:
121:
118:
117:
112:
111:Distributed by
108:
107:
102:
100:
95:
92:
91:
88:
84:
83:
72:
68:
67:
62:
58:
57:
54:
50:
49:
44:
40:
39:
32:
24:
23:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1847:
1836:
1833:
1831:
1828:
1826:
1823:
1821:
1818:
1816:
1813:
1811:
1808:
1806:
1803:
1801:
1798:
1796:
1793:
1791:
1788:
1786:
1783:
1781:
1778:
1776:
1773:
1772:
1770:
1755:
1754:
1750:
1748:
1747:
1743:
1741:
1740:
1736:
1734:
1733:
1729:
1727:
1726:
1722:
1721:
1719:
1715:
1709:
1706:
1704:
1701:
1699:
1696:
1694:
1691:
1689:
1686:
1684:
1681:
1679:
1676:
1674:
1671:
1669:
1666:
1664:
1661:
1659:
1656:
1654:
1651:
1649:
1646:
1645:
1643:
1639:
1628:
1627:
1623:
1620:
1619:
1615:
1612:
1611:
1607:
1604:
1603:
1602:Deputy Droopy
1599:
1596:
1595:
1591:
1588:
1585:
1582:
1581:
1577:
1574:
1573:
1569:
1566:
1565:
1561:
1558:
1557:
1553:
1550:
1549:
1545:
1542:
1541:
1537:
1534:
1533:
1529:
1526:
1525:
1521:
1518:
1517:
1513:
1510:
1507:
1504:
1503:
1499:
1496:
1495:
1491:
1488:
1487:
1483:
1480:
1477:
1474:
1473:
1469:
1466:
1465:
1461:
1458:
1457:
1453:
1450:
1447:
1444:
1441:
1438:
1437:
1433:
1430:
1429:Garden Gopher
1427:
1424:
1421:
1418:
1417:
1413:
1410:
1409:
1405:
1402:
1401:
1397:
1394:
1393:
1389:
1386:
1385:
1381:
1378:
1377:
1376:Doggone Tired
1373:
1370:
1369:
1365:
1362:
1361:
1357:
1354:
1353:
1349:
1346:
1345:
1341:
1338:
1337:
1333:
1330:
1329:
1325:
1322:
1321:
1317:
1314:
1311:
1308:
1307:
1303:
1300:
1299:
1295:
1292:
1291:
1287:
1284:
1283:
1279:
1276:
1275:
1274:Hound Hunters
1271:
1268:
1267:
1263:
1260:
1259:
1255:
1252:
1251:
1247:
1244:
1243:
1239:
1236:
1235:
1231:
1228:
1227:
1223:
1220:
1219:
1215:
1212:
1211:
1207:
1204:
1203:
1199:
1196:
1195:
1191:
1188:
1187:
1183:
1180:
1179:
1175:
1172:
1171:
1167:
1164:
1163:
1159:
1156:
1153:
1150:
1149:
1145:
1142:
1141:
1137:
1134:
1133:
1129:
1126:
1125:
1121:
1118:
1117:
1113:
1112:
1110:
1108:
1104:
1097:
1094:
1091:
1090:In a Pet Shop
1088:
1085:
1084:
1080:
1079:
1077:
1075:
1071:
1064:
1063:
1059:
1056:
1055:
1051:
1048:
1047:
1043:
1040:
1039:
1035:
1032:
1031:
1027:
1024:
1023:
1019:
1016:
1015:
1011:
1008:
1007:
1003:
1000:
999:
995:
992:
991:
987:
984:
983:
979:
976:
975:
971:
968:
967:
963:
960:
959:
955:
952:
951:
947:
944:
943:
939:
936:
935:
931:
928:
927:
923:
920:
919:
915:
912:
911:
907:
904:
903:
899:
896:
895:
891:
888:
887:
883:
880:
879:
875:
872:
871:
867:
864:
863:
859:
856:
855:
851:
848:
847:
843:
840:
839:
835:
832:
831:
827:
824:
823:
819:
816:
815:
811:
808:
807:
803:
800:
799:
795:
792:
791:
787:
784:
783:
779:
776:
775:
771:
768:
767:
763:
760:
759:
755:
752:
751:
747:
744:
743:
739:
736:
735:
731:
728:
727:
723:
720:
719:
715:
712:
711:
707:
704:
703:
699:
696:
695:
691:
688:
687:
683:
680:
679:
675:
672:
671:
667:
664:
663:
662:Picador Porky
659:
656:
655:
651:
648:
647:
643:
640:
639:
635:
632:
631:
627:
624:
623:
619:
616:
615:
611:
608:
607:
603:
600:
599:
595:
592:
591:
587:
584:
583:
579:
576:
575:
571:
570:
568:
566:
562:
555:
554:
550:
547:
546:
542:
539:
538:
534:
531:
530:
526:
523:
522:
518:
515:
512:
511:
509:
507:
503:
500:
498:
494:
490:
482:
477:
475:
470:
468:
463:
462:
459:
444:
440:
435:
434:
421:
415:
411:
410:
402:
400:
384:
382:0-8160-3831-7
378:
374:
373:
365:
357:
351:
347:
340:
332:
325:
321:
311:
308:
306:
303:
302:
293:
292:
286:
284:
283:public domain
280:
279:
268:
266:
265:
260:
258:
249:
246:
242:
237:
235:
230:
228:
223:
219:
215:
205:
203:
199:
198:
194:
190:
189:
179:
175:
171:
165:
150:
139:
128:
127:
125:
122:Release dates
119:
116:
113:
109:
105:
101:
93:
90:Robert Cannon
89:
85:
80:
76:
73:
69:
66:
63:
59:
55:
51:
48:
45:
41:
36:
30:
25:
20:
1751:
1744:
1737:
1730:
1723:
1668:Chilly Willy
1663:Cecil Turtle
1648:Big Bad Wolf
1624:
1616:
1608:
1600:
1592:
1586:
1578:
1570:
1562:
1554:
1546:
1538:
1530:
1522:
1514:
1508:
1500:
1492:
1484:
1478:
1470:
1462:
1454:
1448:
1442:
1434:
1428:
1422:
1414:
1406:
1398:
1390:
1382:
1374:
1366:
1360:Señor Droopy
1358:
1350:
1342:
1334:
1326:
1318:
1312:
1304:
1296:
1288:
1280:
1272:
1264:
1256:
1248:
1240:
1232:
1224:
1218:Jerky Turkey
1216:
1208:
1200:
1192:
1184:
1176:
1168:
1160:
1154:
1146:
1138:
1132:Dumb-Hounded
1130:
1122:
1114:
1095:
1089:
1081:
1062:Crazy Cruise
1060:
1052:
1044:
1036:
1028:
1020:
1012:
1004:
996:
988:
980:
972:
964:
956:
948:
940:
934:Ceiling Hero
932:
924:
918:Circus Today
916:
908:
900:
892:
885:
884:
876:
868:
860:
852:
844:
836:
828:
820:
812:
804:
796:
788:
780:
772:
764:
756:
748:
740:
732:
724:
716:
708:
700:
692:
684:
676:
668:
660:
652:
644:
636:
628:
620:
612:
604:
598:The Blow Out
596:
588:
580:
572:
565:Warner Bros.
553:Sh-h-h-h-h-h
551:
543:
535:
527:
519:
513:
506:Walter Lantz
446:. Retrieved
442:
408:
386:. Retrieved
371:
364:
345:
339:
330:
324:
305:Looney Tunes
276:
274:
262:
261:
256:
255:
238:
231:
211:
195:
193:Warner Bros.
187:
186:
185:
168:Running time
115:Warner Bros.
87:Animation by
1336:Lucky Ducky
1054:Aloha Hooey
926:A Wild Hare
582:Plane Dippy
79:Sara Berner
61:Produced by
56:Jack Miller
43:Directed by
1775:1940 films
1769:Categories
1708:Willoughby
1683:Elmer Fudd
1673:Daffy Duck
1653:Bugs Bunny
1641:Characters
1626:Cat's Meow
1116:Blitz Wolf
1096:In the Zoo
870:Fresh Fish
355:0805008942
316:References
271:Home media
245:Elmer Fudd
241:Bugs Bunny
191:is a 1940
155:1952-11-29
144:1943-10-02
133:1940-01-13
96:Production
47:Fred Avery
16:1940 film
1693:Porky Pig
1610:Cellbound
1548:Billy Boy
1400:Out-Foxed
489:Tex Avery
448:April 20,
252:Reception
202:Tex Avery
75:Mel Blanc
529:I'm Cold
443:imdb.com
299:See also
177:Language
71:Starring
53:Story by
1717:Related
222:brother
180:English
153: (
142: (
131: (
98:company
1678:Droopy
1629:(1957)
1621:(1956)
1613:(1955)
1605:(1955)
1597:(1955)
1589:(1955)
1583:(1954)
1575:(1954)
1567:(1954)
1559:(1954)
1551:(1954)
1543:(1954)
1535:(1953)
1527:(1953)
1519:(1953)
1511:(1952)
1505:(1952)
1497:(1952)
1489:(1951)
1481:(1951)
1475:(1951)
1467:(1951)
1459:(1951)
1451:(1951)
1445:(1950)
1439:(1950)
1431:(1950)
1425:(1950)
1419:(1950)
1411:(1949)
1403:(1949)
1395:(1949)
1387:(1949)
1379:(1949)
1371:(1949)
1363:(1949)
1355:(1949)
1347:(1948)
1339:(1948)
1331:(1948)
1323:(1948)
1315:(1948)
1309:(1947)
1301:(1947)
1293:(1947)
1285:(1947)
1277:(1947)
1269:(1946)
1261:(1946)
1253:(1946)
1245:(1946)
1237:(1945)
1229:(1945)
1221:(1945)
1213:(1945)
1205:(1945)
1197:(1944)
1189:(1944)
1181:(1944)
1173:(1944)
1165:(1943)
1157:(1943)
1151:(1943)
1143:(1943)
1135:(1943)
1127:(1942)
1119:(1942)
1098:(1941)
1092:(1941)
1086:(1941)
1065:(1942)
1057:(1942)
1049:(1941)
1041:(1941)
1033:(1941)
1025:(1941)
1017:(1941)
1009:(1941)
1001:(1941)
993:(1941)
985:(1941)
977:(1941)
969:(1941)
961:(1940)
953:(1940)
945:(1940)
937:(1940)
929:(1940)
921:(1940)
913:(1940)
905:(1940)
897:(1940)
889:(1940)
881:(1939)
873:(1939)
865:(1939)
857:(1939)
849:(1939)
841:(1939)
833:(1939)
825:(1939)
817:(1939)
809:(1938)
801:(1938)
793:(1938)
785:(1938)
777:(1938)
769:(1938)
761:(1938)
753:(1938)
745:(1938)
737:(1937)
729:(1937)
721:(1937)
713:(1937)
705:(1937)
697:(1937)
689:(1937)
681:(1937)
673:(1937)
665:(1937)
657:(1937)
649:(1936)
641:(1936)
633:(1936)
625:(1936)
617:(1936)
609:(1936)
601:(1936)
593:(1936)
585:(1936)
577:(1935)
556:(1955)
548:(1955)
540:(1955)
532:(1954)
524:(1935)
516:(1935)
416:
388:6 June
379:
352:
1658:Butch
289:Notes
218:mammy
214:birds
450:2016
414:ISBN
390:2020
377:ISBN
350:ISBN
243:and
234:worm
208:Plot
172:8:33
1698:Red
227:fox
1771::
441:.
398:^
480:e
473:t
466:v
452:.
422:.
392:.
358:.
157:)
146:)
135:)
37:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
_-_Title_Card_(second_Blue_Ribbon_reissue_print).jpg)