Director: Hamilton Luske
Release Date: January 7, 1944
Rating: ★★★½
Review:
Monte (a pelican) and Video (or Viddy, a snipe) live on top of a lighthouse in Montevideo, Uruguay (hence their names).
Viddy tries to prevent Monte, who’s crazy about the practicing war planes nearby, from ‘sleep-flying’. Unfortunately to no avail…
‘The Pelican and the Snipe’ probably is the cutest cartoon relating to World War II. Told by Sterling Holloway, its story is simple and short, and about friendship instead of sex or violence. Typical in its South American setting, it was originally intended for ‘The Three Caballeros‘,released later that year.
‘ The Pelican and the Snipe’ marks Sterling Holloway’s debut as a voice over artist in a Disney short, after appearing in ‘Dumbo‘ (Mr. Stork, 1941) and ‘Bambi‘ (adult Flower, 1942). Holloway would become Disney’s most favorite voice actor, providing voices and voice overs for Disney cartoons up to the late 1970s. In fact, he will be most remembered as the voice of Winnie the Pooh (1966-1974).
Watch ‘The Pelican and the Snipe’ yourself and tell me what you think:
‘The Pelican and the Snipe’ is available on the DVD ‘Walt Disney Treasures: Disney Rarities’
Dr. Grob's Animation Review 
3 comments
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March 9, 2021 at 07:57
Kenny Mooney
My children remember a song about these two birds but it isn’t in the short. Is this something made up afterwards? I can’t find it anywhere.
Long ago and far away out on the coast of Uruguay there lived a couple of keepers of the lighthouse light monte the pelican and vidi the snipe
Now poor old monte used to fly in his sleep whenever he dove he took a dangerous leap
He dreamed he could do any daredevil dive but if it wasn’t for vidi he wouldn’t survive
So do your best to help a friend even when they’re unaware
It may be rough but in the end they’ll know you really care
Any clues? Email me. 😉
March 9, 2021 at 11:29
Gijs Grob
That might be from an episode of the television series “Sing Me a Story with Belle” (1995-1999). The Episode ‘Best Friends’ (airing date October 26, 1996) features footage of ‘The Pelican and the Snipe’.
December 29, 2022 at 16:04
Brian
This is 10000% real, I remember it too, super distinctly!! I can’t find it anywhere!