The Coyote's Lament

This is one of my VERY favorite Disney films, even if it is just a TV compilation. To the coyote characters of Bent-Tail and pup Bent-Tail Jr., is added Grandpappy Coyote, who's really Bent Sr. in his old age. He and Jr. impart many lessons/myths of the wild to Junior's own pup, through re-showings of their classic sheep-stealing capers in such vintage cartoons as "The Legend Of Coyote Rock" and others.

Bent-Tail Jr. also tells his son (in newly animated sequences) about the species' overall role in the balance of nature and their part in Native American folklore.

This is a great show for viewers (such as myself) with a weakness for wild dogs of any sort depicted in animation….I'd instantly choose to rent out "Storks," "Zootopia" or "Rock Dog" just because of the wolves, for instance. For coyotes, the present film stands very close to the top.

And despite the despair evoked in the title song, one needn't feel too sorry for the coyote being exterminated: they proliferate more widely now than ever before. Like crabs, they're nature's little scavengers; they'll eat virtually anything. Special kudos to this cartoon's director, Charles August Nichols, for writing the title song.

Wups, and I nearly forgot—Pluto also stars in this program.