A couple of months ago, I posted two, long, 25-minute videos made by a fellow named Mark Rober that I said (for my taste) were the two best Adorable Animal Videos I've seen.  The basic concept was that he wanted to see if he could build a convoluted, Rube Goldberg-like obstacle course that squirrels would have to go through, in order to keep them from eating food meant for birds.  (Though it's clear he was pretty much rooting for them.)

The first one is here.

And the second is here.

They are total joys.

And Mark Rober has now made a third.  This one is basically from the standpoint of "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em."  As he writes -- "I gave up on trying to battle my squirrels... but what if they battled each other?"

And so, here are:  The Backyard Squirrelymics 3.0  The Summer Games

Featuring your play-by-play announcers  and color analysts –

Mark Rober
Mr. Beast
…and Jimmy Kimmel

From the fine folks at The Dodo, here is a wonderful video from their Wild Hearts series.  It's about a man, Jim Abernathy, who has built up a relationship with a wild Tiger Shark  he's named Emma over 20 years, but during the pandemic he wasn't able to visit.  Then, finally, after a year the two were reunited.
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I've begun to find that videos with squirrels are among the most adorable.  Here's one from the fine folks at The Dodo about a rescue squirrel who asks his parents to adopt him. 

From the fine folks at The Dodo, this is a really funny, but mainly utterly adorable story about Oliver, the 14-year-old Wandering Golden Retriever.  He wanders to the neighbors every day, and pretty much waits to be let in and take over, but wanders all over, and in the end, always returns home.

Last week, I posted a 20-minute video here by Mark Rober about his efforts to defeat squirrels from taking food out of his backyard bird feeder (though it's clear he has such a deep love of squirrels he's hoping for them to win).  I said that it's probably my favorite Adorable Animal Video, even at 20 minutes.  The only reason I wasn't sure if it was my favorite is because, as I noted, a year later he made a second video about his new attempt to defeat squirrels.  And it might be even better.

This is that new video.  And it again is immersive, running 17 minutes.

Both videos are brilliant, but for slightly different reasons.  What gives "best" points to the first is the total whimsy and innocent charm of his initial attempt, combined with the lunatic intricacy of it all.  The second is full of the same whimsy and charm, but earns its "best" points by being more experienced now, learning from his past, and taking intricate to a new level, turning this video into an epic.

He calls it:  Backyard Squirrel Maze 2.0 – The Walnut Heist.

Once more, Rober has created a maniacal obstacle course.  The detail is hilarious and elaborate level is glorious.  Some truly laugh-out-loud funny stuff here.  And as before, his narration is absolutely wonderful, even more so, in fact, and what leaps out still is his great affection for these squirrels.

Rober has been able to make his efforts work for himself, and has begun an online course in what he calls "creative engineering."  So, there is a sort of two minutes of bonus material at the end showing the wild inventiveness his students have come up with.

So, sit back, have your popcorn and walnuts ready.  Here is -- Backyard Squirrel Maze 2.0 – The Walnut Heist.

I’m going to make a bold statement here.  This may be my favorite Adorable Animal Video that I’ve seen.  And given how many Adorable Animals Videos I've posted (not mention watched) that says a lot, most-especially given that it’s 20 minutes long.  Yes, 20 minutes.  This is no three-minute clip filled with well-earned "Awwws."  This, by comparison, is Citizen Kane.  A full 20 minutes.  But it flies by, and is wonderful, fascinating, funny, smart and (above all) joyfully done.  I almost didn't want to call it an "Adorable Animal Video," since that doesn't do it justice.  It's in a category all its own.  

And yes, I know that this is phenomenally high praise, since I don't like to overpraise things.  It's so high to live up to that standard.  But when you present an Adorable Animal Video that's 20 minutes long, sometimes you have to bring the descriptive adjectives and their friends out of your toolbox.  I'll just this:  I'm not saying everyone will love it as much as I do. Just that it's probably my favorite.  But I do think, at the very least, it's hard not to enjoy and admire it.  
 
It’s from a fellow named Mark Rober.  He notes that “Squirrels were stealing my bird seed so I solved the problem with mechanical engineering.”  But that’s like saying “Moby Dick” is about a guy who is mad at a big fish.
 
Among other things, Rober teaches a creative engineering course online.  And it shows here.
 
I should note that the only reason I say this “may be” my favorite Adorable Animal Video I’ve seen is not likely the reason you think.  It has nothing to do with other videos I’ve seen and love, or one's that I don’t necessarily remember at the moment.  While those are both possible, the actual reason is that Rober did a 2.0 version a year later – and it’s…great, maybe even funnier than this!  And this is…brilliant.  It has more charm and whimsy, while 2.0 is more epic.  So, personal taste.

(Not to worry, I'll be posting 2.0 soon...)

My favorite thing in his efforts is probably the “tourist trap.”  It’s – oh, you’ll see.  And to be clear, what makes the video maybe my favorite is not just what he’s doing, but how well this video is made.  His narration is absolutely wonderful, and what leaps out most as that it goes on, despite why he says he’s doing all this, is his great affection for these squirrels.