How the Birds Got Their Colours (1983)

This animated short illustrates and energises a story that’s been passed down through generations, revealing how birds got their brilliant colours. Told by Mary Albert of the Bardi language group in Western Australia and vividly narrated by actress Justine Saunders, it follows a parrot who helps an injured dove – sparking a magical burst of colour across every bird… except the crow. The animation by Pamela Lofts draws on artwork by children from St Mary’s School, Broome, giving it cross-generational appeal. How the Birds Got Their Colours showcases how culturally significant stories stay alive over time, brought to life by the imaginations of young and old.