Looney Tunes Season 1940 Episode 2 The Early Worm Gets the Bird

The animated sitcom Looney Tunes has been a cherished favorite of viewers young and old for decades now. In its heyday during the 20th century, the show churned out dozens of episodes featuring beloved characters like Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Porky Pig. The second episode of the 1940 season, entitled The Early Worm Gets the Bird, is a classic example of the wacky, slapstick humor that made Looney Tunes so beloved.

The episode starts off with a worm named Early who has just woken up. Early is a diligent little creature who is excited to start the day and get to work. His enthusiasm is infectious as he sings a little tune to himself while wriggling along the ground. However, his joy is short-lived when he realizes that a particularly persistent bird is hot on his trail.

Early tries to outsmart the bird by slipping through small crevices, but the bird is too quick for him. The bird relentlessly chases Early around the garden, snatching at him with its beak. Early is clearly outmatched, so he decides to take shelter inside an apple.

Unfortunately for Early, the apple turns out to be the bird's favorite food. In a hilarious turn of events, the bird devours the apple in one giant bite, swallowing Early along with it. Early's comical cries for help echo from inside the bird's belly, much to the bird's delight.

The bird decides to flaunt its success to its friends, so it flies off to the local birdhouse. There, it brags about how it outsmarted Early and got a delicious meal in the process. The other birds are impressed by the bird's cunning, so they decide to throw it a party in celebration.

As the party gets started, Early suddenly emerges from the bird's mouth, much to everyone's surprise. The other birds are flabbergasted by Early's sudden reappearance, but Early himself is undaunted. He realizes that the bird has eaten so much that it can barely move, so he takes advantage of the situation to exact his revenge.

What follows is a hilarious game of cat and mouse as Early and the bird try to outsmart each other. Early manages to evade the bird's clutches by bouncing around on a toothpick, zipping through the air on a kite, and using an umbrella to slow his descent. The bird, meanwhile, stumbles after Early in a food-induced daze.

The episode reaches a climax when Early manages to trap the bird in a jar. The other birds congratulate Early on his victory, and they all turn on the captive bird. However, Early is magnanimous in victory. He realizes that the bird was just trying to survive, like he himself was, so he decides to set it free.

The two characters end the episode on friendly terms, with Early waving goodbye to the bird as it flies off into the distance. The episode ends on a happy note, emphasizing the importance of kindness and cooperation.

Overall, The Early Worm Gets the Bird is a classic Looney Tunes episode that perfectly captures the show's zany humor and irreverent spirit. It's a testament to the enduring power of cartoons to entertain and delight audiences of all ages.