Freebird is a 2021 Canadian 2D animated short film written and directed by Michael Joseph McDonald and Joe Bluhm, and co-led by creative director Nicholas Herd.

[1] The plot follows Jon, a boy with Down syndrome, navigating the world with a loving mother, an absent father, and a life-long crush.

[2] The film is a joint production between Tonic DNA and L’Arche, featuring original music by Jordan Hart.

Jon's earliest years are marked by good and bad memories with his mother: chasing a butterfly, burying a dead goldfish, splashing dishwater, getting ready for bedtime, and etcetera.

After graduation, Jon removes Miranda's green wristband and twists it into a ring as a wedding proposal.

Jordan Hart composed the music for Freebird, the song "Freedom" was released on March 12, 2021.

[6][7] CBC’s Shauna Powers called it "groundbreaking" adding that it was "the first time we’re seeing Down syndrome celebrated so beautifully in animation.

"[8] Dan Sarto of Animation World Network described the short as "powerful" and "touching" stating that "the powerful film challenges the misconceptions surrounding Down Syndrome by asking the question, "Why does the world assume that a disabled life is not profoundly beautiful.

"[10] Amid Amidi of Cartoon Brew said the film depicts Down syndrome in a positive light as it "moved away from problematic notions of pity and fear"[11] and listed Freebird as a contender for the 2022 Oscars.

[12] Clayton Davis, the Film Awards Editor at Variety, chose Freebird as a "Top 5 contender" in his 2022 Oscar Prediction list.