The Early Worm Gets The Bird

The Merrie Melodies cartoon The Early Worm Gets the Bird was produced in 1938 and released in 1940 under the direction of Tex Avery. The saying "The early bird gets the worm" inspired the name.

The Blackbird family's house is where the story begins. Three birds are seen asking. The three birds fall asleep after their Mammy bids them goodnight. However at that point, one of the birds awakens and peruses "Whoever wants it most will get it". He tells his brother the story when he wakes him up, but he doesn't care. Mammy then, at that point, sees the youngsters are not sleeping, so she comes in and tosses the book through the window. She then tells them about the bird-eating fox. Even though the birds go to sleep, one of them still wants the worm. The following morning he escapes to get the worm. The worm then peruses the book, and chooses to search for the "morning person". They both run away from one another after discovering one another. He pursues him after the bird realizes that was the worm. The fox appears and holds up two signs in the style of Elmer Fudd and Bugs Bunny. One reads, "As if you didn't know," while the other reads, "The Villain." After that, the fox pursues the bird, which eventually comes to a stop. He then tells the bird about the fox, unaware that the fox is a fox. He is taken captive once he realizes the fox is right there. He is saved, though, by the worm. The bird then, at that point, gets back. Mammy then enters and inquires about the three birds' breakfast preferences. The third responds that he doesn't want worms, but two of them say worms. The worm appears, declares that he does not, covers his mouth, and then releases his iris.