O'o: The Last Voice of Kauai - Animated Short Film 2022 

"That's the last male of the species, singing for a female who will never come. He's totally alone. And now, his voice is gone."

The saddest part about hearing this bird's song is that it's supposed to be a duet. There are pauses in the song where a female is supposed to respond. This bird is singing half a song, waiting for someone to complete it but there was no one left who could :(

Depressing facts about the last years of this species: -The last female and male pair of birds in this species were found and kept preserved on an island. However, two typhoons ravaged the island later on, killing the female. -The last recording of the male’s mating call was in 1987. -After the recording finished, the guy who recorded it replayed it after the male flew off to listen to it. Apparently, the male then flew back, thinking that the recording of his own call was a female. -When that last male died we not only lost this species, we lost an entire family of birds. This species was the last of its family of birds, meaning it couldnt even find any mates that looked even remotely like it, it was a mere remnant of its kind.

I wrote an 8 page essay and a 15 minute speech about this bird for my Environmental Science class this semester, spent 2 whole months researching the Kaua’i ō’ō’, I gave the speech earlier today and it got my professor and a good chunk of the class crying. Once I got home I finally decided to check this video out and I cried my fucking eyes out. Millions of years of this beautiful creature existing alongside us and it only left 35 years ago. Something I still can’t believe. Just shows how much we have to cherish the animals that live alongside us.

Singing for a female who doesn't respond and literally alone really breaks my heart.

Such a beautiful bird. Its haunting song did not deserve to be silenced for lifetimes to come.

This is the most saddest life of that male bird. He didn't even know that he was the last of his species. Which is why the future Hawaiian flag has the Kauai O'O bird on it.

“Hello? Anyone? I don’t want to be alone…” The Kauai O’o was an amazing bird, with a haunting yet beautiful call, and a terrible fate. Hopefully all those birds can sing their songs in heaven, where we can’t hurt them any more. There isn’t even much of a chance to revive them, as the Kauai O’o was the last of its family Mohoidae, meaning there are no close relatives at all to the Kuaui O’o. They are all gone. Mosquito and rat borne disease killed their populations, forcing them into the mountains. Human deforestation cause them to lose their homes. And from our mistakes, the Kauai O’os have joined the list of 900+ species that have been declared extinct. Never again will the world hear the wondrous song of the Kauai O’o, and we have lost so much for it. Let this terrible loss be a lesson, that you cannot replace what isn’t there, that extinction is a permanent; a fate no creature should be forced to. The Kauai O’o’s call is a duet, with pauses where another bird should respond. But now, it’s a song sung to a lost kind. A song that will never be whole again.

Such a beautiful voice that won’t ever be sung again in nature.

As a former Kauai resident, I always used to imagine the now extinct flora and fauna that used to thrive on the island when I was out in nature. The Hawaiian islands are incredible _now_ but 1,000 years ago they must’ve been absolutely mind boggling.

I genuinely believe that Charles Darwin would mourn this bird loss upon its death.

So sad 💔 just imagine being alone and nobody else with you and you start yelling and yelling and nobody responds because you are the only one left 💔💔

The last part was heartbreaking, singing trying to survive, and finally flying against the world (the one dominated by man), trying to "escape" the list of extinct species, to finally lose the battle and get caught by this "new world", disappearing in the flow of time... forever.

The last Kawaii o'o was the last of a species that was also the last of its taxonomic family Mohoidae, a grouping of species that split off 15-20 million years ago from their nearest living relatives. For instance, all Swallows and Martins make up one family that is about 22 million years old. Crows, Ravens, and Jays also make up one family that is about 17 million years old. The loss of biodiversity from the death of this o'o bird was greater than if all crows went extinct and if we were only left with blue jays in their stead.

frick... just had to have a "reflection confused for another bird" scene didn't they?! this film was really really well done. left me bawling, so good job.

RIP Kauai O’o, you will forever be remembered

It’s weird to think that kauai birds only really went extinct due to the introduction of mosquitos and rats. The mosquitos carried diseases which quickly killed of much of the population, forcing them higher and higher up the mountains (this is still a huge problem with extant Hawaiian species, they are forced further up the mountains each year where the mosquitos can’t survive, but warming of the climate is allowing the mosquitos further up the mountain). It just shows how dangerous mosquitos can be, to humans and to many other animals

Beautiful animation, it shows how all that humans brought to Kaua'i was pestilence, death and destruction. I hope that people will realize how many amazing animals we are killing and start to care for this beautiful Earth.

3:10 The way he was fighting for his life and the fossils are in heaven watching him 😢

this bird always makes me cry and it's now an animation :'( extinction is the worst I love this piece so much

My brain translates its little chant to “please I don’t want to die alone” 😢

I’m crying so hard, the animation is wonderful and also the message and everything about it is so important.

REST IN PEACE THE LAST KAUAI I WISH YOU LIVE INTO THE BETTER WORLD FIND YOUR SOULMATE IN THERE ARRIVE INTO HEAVEN THANK YOU FOR YOUR BEAUTIFUL LOUD MELODY HOOMANS HEARING IT OUT WENT WELL I LOVE YOU THE LAST KAUAI !! 😓💕🌹🌱🙏✨

It was the last surviving member of the Mohoidae, which had originated over 15-20 million years previously during the Miocene, with the Kauaʻi ʻōʻō's extinction marking the only extinction of an entire avian family in modern times

This was beautifully made. Mahalo. One of our Bay Area Hula Teachers wrote an Oli(chant) for the anniversary of the overturning of the Hawaiian kingdom using the manu O'o as the center of it.. Rayleen Lancaster wrote "Au Hea Wale Ana 'Oe" Where are you? The O'o is looking for a mate. Back then, the scientists had recorded the O'o's song and played it. The last bird came to find where the call was coming from. He came each year for a few years and after that never came again. Kumu Rayleen said that we are now the only voice for the manu O'o and we must speak for him. Her Oli was gorgeous and her halau danced it. Not a dry eye in the auditorium in Oakland. The O'o was a large bird with yellow feathers under it's wings and legs. These feathers were plucked w/o hurting the bird and it was released to regrow its yellow feathers. Only royalty was presented with hats and capes with the precious yellow feathers in them. Ma Poina, manu O'o.

I really want scientists to bring them back! 🥺😭🥺

Cant believe we lost an entire group of birds like this. The Kaua'i O'o was the last O'o.

I wasn't expecting to cry this much when I clicked on the video. Well done, truly.

A hauntingly true recording, reimagined and retold. Animation has the power to tell a story to the world, the medium to translate the hardships of others into human language and expression, and the magic to move us.

Its incredible how a sweet lovely voice can be so hauntingly sad. Hearing it normaly with more bird sounds and responding calls it sounds so sweet and happy but hearing it alone in complete silence is heartbreaking. You know he is singing alone, being the last one, when he dies the sound dies with him forever. Listening it while you know this, is an otherwordly haunting experience... He has no one to sing to, and maybe he feels it, maybe he doesnt but he is still singing.. He doesnt want to give up... Im just writing but i still cannot describe what im feeling. The complete emptiness, anxiety and hopelessness in the singing is like a sad piano solo written from heart. You know this is not a happy or normal call. You can hear it.

I never knew a beautiful singing from a beautiful bird can be this haunting. 😢

After Jim Jacobi recorded the final half of this bird's song, he played it back to hear what he'd gotten. To his surprise, the bird flew back to the sound of his own voice. At that point, the bird probably wasn't looking for a female to mate. He probably was just looking for a familiar face and voice.

This might just be my favorite animated short film of the year. The way the threats to endemic island species that people bring, from mosquito-borne disease to rats and cats that hunt small species to habitat destruction for development are conveyed so efficiently and evocatively through the animation is BRILLIANT! This is exactly what we need to have more depictions of in media to convince people to protect our ecosystems. The sound design and music are incredible; the film would not be half as effective without them, and the storytelling is clear, concise, and heart-breaking. My favorite creative choice is the build-up to the final death by flashing portraits of iconic extinct species over the years at an increasingly rapid pace (although I might be a bit biased on that front because it's got a thylacine in it, haha). By the way, I went back and watched all your other uploads and GOODNESS you've improved so much! I love your art style; the characters are expressive and yet realistic at the same time, and the backgrounds convey the richness of nature while not feeling overly detailed or impossible to animate. You've gotten much better at keeping animated forms consistent within shots, and also your ability to craft stories through visuals and voice-over has come a long way since Isolation. (The dialogue is a TAD on-the-nose in that one 0_0, although I appreciate the message.) In any case, I can't give this film enough praise, and you've earned my subscription!

I said I won't cry. I did On 2:14 I just broke down, and on the montage on 3:09 - 3:21 made me sob uncontrollably. I'm just in question how many more will we lose, especially endemic species.. Beautiful video, thank you for making it

Outside of the themes and powerful message, I just want to say that this is seriously Disney-grade animation, whoever made this is BEYOND talented!

This made me cry so hard, and btw This is one of the best animation I ever seen keep up the good work!:D

This is terrifying yet so beautiful, it's terrible how this is reality. The O'o calls going to only himself and thinking he's not alone. Great Job humans. Guys chill in the reply section Wait why are people still replying to this comment its like so old

I always cry whenever I hear his last song.

After the storm, the lone male bird wakes up. The storm has passed and the sun shone brightly. Looking towards the horizon, he sees a flock of birds headed towards him. Their wings and feathers of a familiar color. It's them. The Kauai. They've returned. He is greeted by all the other Kauai as they sing together. He finally found them. After years of searching, he finally finds ALL of them. His heart is overwhelmed with joy and relief knowing he will never be alone anymore. Back on Earth, a team of scientists recovers his lifeless body, preserving it and setting it among the other preserved Kauai and declaring his kind as extinct.

As a qoute once said, "We never truely value what we have until we have lost it"

I'm not crying, my eyes are just sweating.

O canto do Kauai o'o estará sempre em nossas memórias... 😔

Imagine being an Alien and hearing the last human on the earth screaming "wanna bang?"

this wanna make me cry because it was my favorite bird and always be😭

I'm crying. I wish so desperately I could have seen these beautiful birds for myself

😞😞 why are we destroying our home our fellow beings ourselves.... Such a wonderful creation 💙💙.

This brought me to literal tears

Now THIS is something scientists should try and bring back, not dinosaurs

I have never known or seen anything sadder than this. Please let us all be a voice for trees, habitat, and native animals protection, in this country and across the world.

I don’t know you but I ended up here. This was super sweet, reminds me of the pictures of the poor last thylacine sitting in its cage

Humanity has to care more about the home that we live in, and about all the other species that we're sharing our home with.

I am speechless. If only every human in the world would see this video...... .....

I just can't.... I'm cryiinggg 😭😭😭

Goodness... I never really cry by watching short films but this... This made me tear down compleatly... I became a bird lover like 2 years ago and i have been investigating alot about these creatures ever since And the fact that i wasn't even alive at the time the Kauai o'o got extinct, i felt very but very bad for the bird, not only that but i never got to witness such a melancolic yet beautiful call... Still, This is very well made and the emotions drawn really broke me, you have an amazing talent!

This is a masterpiece, It deserves way more views I've been crying for half an hour

EXTINCT BIRD 😭😭😭 HUMAN IS MONSTER

I literally cried just watching this I hope the scientist can rediscover it

Thank you for creating this beautiful film. As a remembrance of the beautiful Kauaʻi ʻōʻō,

The world looks beautiful while I hear this bird's music.

This is the most heart-shattering video I’ve ever watched.

3:09 After reading the description, now I want humanity to be on this list with the extinct species.

This just makes me wonder... why does time fly so fast? We are losing animals minute by minute, which breaks my heart. 💔

This is incredible brilliant as much as it is so sad, amazing work!!! Thanks for sharing it 🙏

I think this animation deserves more views its really really meaningful and sad at the same time.

I feel so bad for the bird especially the reflection part i hope to see this bird in heaven

We as a species, are truly the worst things to ever walk this planet... This bird may be gone along with the list of extinct animals, but think of it like this... How many more animals have went extinct because of us but we've not recorded it? They say things like griffins, dragons, unicorns, and other mythical creatures existed, and perhaps they have, but we will never know, only say they were mythical fantasy creatures rather than actual animals, because the only history we have of them is word of the mouth, and descriptions can be misconstrued orally. We will never know the full amount of damage and destruction we've truly wrecked on every other living thing on this planet, the majestic, mighty, beautiful, and maybe even terrifying lives we have crushed, silenced, and wiped out, snuffed out, all because of us. We are worse than even the most lethal of parasites. We are not animals. We are a disease infecting this planet.

I hope we could bioengineer this species back one day.

Wow... This was very sad and I almost cried, I got sad when all the extinct animals started flashing up... Life does really flash before your eyes... A moment of silence... Ok that's good, I would like to talk about how well the bird poses/stances are, as in 2:07, the flapping and feet position is awesome and 3:04 be looking like an anime intro and I love the way the wings fold and leg position, very good art style too

Thank you so much especially to the creators of this video. For explaining the repercussions of humans lifestyle in such a nuanced way!

Thank you for making this! :)

This is one of my favorite animations on this platform

Yo ! I'm glad that I found this channel, I was searching something more from animations about Kauaʻi ʻōʻō and found this video and "Vanished Voices: a farewell to the O'o". Gonna say it's very beautiful and I cried (again). It's sad that I didn't have even a chance to see them because they all were extinct years after I was born :( Also I'm really shocked that you guys don't have much subs because the animation and basically everything in this video were great 🖤💛

If Thanos wasn't fictional, i'd be okay with getting snapped out of existence.

We have lost many sweet voices and beautiful birds😢😢

I just wanted to say this was very moving. Thank you

You did an amazing animation. I started crying when it was losing hope of finding a partner Good luck with your studies

الإنسان أكثر المخلوقات خطورة على الطبيعة...... مدمر لكل شيء فقط لارضاء مصالحه الشخصية 🍂🥀مع كل الأسف 🇮🇶

Birds can feel loneliness

As a senior thesis project, this truly deserves an A

I’ve collected myself now, but I had a Serious cry. I’m at a loss for words. I was going to say something about birds and islands and the work New Zealand is doing to create predator-free habitats for their native bird species but a shroud has fallen over my mind. This saddens and angers me. We can do better. Thank you for the short film.

I understand that it's saddening and thank you for showing this to all of us...

This bird had more character development than most big movie protagonist.

The male sing to attract female ones. The pauses in between were for the female Kauai to join in the duet. They mated for life.

That sound gives so much sadness. It's on a with the picture of that last lion species, the one lone male walking on a snowy path, probably looking for it's kind.

man i thought it had a good ending like go to heaven and see other Kauai O'os

What a beautiful creature with an equally beautiful song. A song we have silenced.

Now this is the very definition of an unfinished symphony

I don’t think I’ve ever been so sad, this hurts 😢💔

The animation is actually great, this deserve more view than it is currently

I got this recommended after watching one video about this bird but I didn't expect to see an animation of it. It's really sad to see this and especially knowing this could happen someday to anyone but amazing job in animating this and telling the story, I liked it.

The voice of a bird no matter what bird it is absolutely beautiful and I will still remember the voice of a O'o:

This definitely broke my heart tears came out and the part where I cried a lot was the death where portraits of extinct species were shown and the Kaua'i ōō will start crying and die this animation is beautiful and leaves a message too cute, I love you You won my subscription and my like.

Those who want them back 👇

Such a dark yet beautiful story, the animation is very well done and impressive! ❤

This is so beautiful and well done. I love the animations of other native species. This made me cry ugly tears dude.

I couldn’t stop crying.. 😭😭😭

i already knew about the Kauai O'o, but this just made me pretty much sob.

After sapta sagaradaache ello side B 🖐️

This so heartbreaking and beautiful. It really hurts and makes me wonder why humanity is so incredibly destructive..

Literally it's amazing 🥺🥺🥺🥺