Sitting Ducks is a lithograph created by Michael Bedard

Michael Bedard

Michael Bedard is a Canadian novelist. He was born and raised in Ontario, Canada . He graduated from the University of Toronto in 1971 with a BA in philosophy and English. He began writing when his former high school teacher showed him works of Emily Dickinson and T.S Eliot and became a fan of...

 in the late 1970s. It depicts a literal interpretation of the idiom

Idiom

Idiom is an expression, word, or phrase that has a figurative meaning that is comprehended in regard to a common use of that expression that is separate from the literal meaning or definition of the words of which it is made...

 "sitting duck". Three ducks are relaxing in the sun on white chairs by the poolside

Swimming pool

A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool...

, one looks up and notices two bullet

Bullet

A bullet is a projectile propelled by a firearm, sling, or air gun. Bullets do not normally contain explosives, but damage the intended target by impact and penetration...

 holes in the wall.

Bedard then went on to create an entire series of "Sitting Ducks" related lithographs, which culminated in a children's book and a cartoon series

Sitting Ducks (TV series)

Sitting Ducks is a children's animated television series based on an iconic lithograph and the 1998 children's book, Sitting Ducks, created by Michael Bedard...

.

Book

Bedard's 1998 book, Sitting Ducks (ISBN 0-399-22847-0) has the plot that alligators hatch ducks in a "duck factory", then send them to Ducktown, where the ducks live an idyllic life, encouraged by billboards to fatten up. The alligators presumably eat the ducks once they are fat. One duck is befriended by an alligator, who lets him know that if only the Ducktown residents wouldn't get fat, they could fly away and avoid being eaten.

Cartoon

In 2001 Sitting Ducks was produced by Creative Capers Entertainment

Creative Capers Entertainment

Creative Capers Entertainment is an animation studio founded by Terry and Sue Shakespeare and David Molina in 1989. Based in Montrose, California, it specializes flash and hand-drawn animation in various feature films, television series, commercials, and CD-ROM and video games...

 and Kristlin/Elliott Digital. It ran for two seasons and during that time spawned merchandise such as toys, clothing, books, as well as a video game.

The show takes place in a town called Ducktown and focuses on a duck

Duck

Duck is the common name for a large number of species in the Anatidae family of birds, which also includes swans and geese. The ducks are divided among several subfamilies in the Anatidae family; they do not represent a monophyletic group but a form taxon, since swans and geese are not considered...

 named Bill, and his best friend Aldo, a huge alligator

Alligator

An alligator is a crocodilian in the genus Alligator of the family Alligatoridae. There are two extant alligator species: the American alligator and the Chinese alligator ....

 from the neighboring town of Swampwood. Seeing as how ducks are favorite snacks of the alligators there, Bill and Aldo's friendship is rather unusual. The pair usually end up in various situations and adventures.

The show lasted 2 seasons, airing 26 episodes. Reruns are still aired on Qubo

Qubo

Qubo is a multi-platform children's television specialty channel endeavor operated as a joint venture between ION Media Networks, NBCUniversal, Nelvana, Scholastic Corporation, and Classic Media...

.