Banjo the Woodpile Cat, a short film based on a kitten who lived under a woodpile on Don's farm when he was young, was the fist feature produced by Don Bluth, Gary Goldman and John Pomeroy.  The work on it was done from Don Bluth's house (mainly his garage).   The film was intended more as a learning exercise for the group of artists who contributed work to the feature than as a feature in its own right.  Work, beginning with gathering production equipment began in 1972, John Pomeroy joined Don and Gary in 1973 and production commenced on Banjo from 1975.

The film begins in 1944 with Banjo pulling himself and his sisters off a chicken coop and into some snow to see if cats really land on their feet.  His father is angry, and sends Banjo out for a stick to be beaten with!  Banjo looks for a stick while thinking about running away from home.   Suddenly he hears the driver of a feed truck talking about the good times to be had in Salt Lake City.  Banjo smiles,  swipes his left paw victoriously, grabs hold of a rope attached to the truck, and pulls himself on as the truck begins to move.   Banjo looks back at the farm, the image bouncing up and down with the motion of the truck as "Banjo the woodpile cat is good as he can be..." is sung in the background.

Banjo makes it to the city and enjoys all the sights and things to do, but it starts to rain and Banjo finds that he is lost and has nowhere to go.   Banjo takes shelter in an alley, where he hears Crazy Legs (voiced by Scatman Crothers, who also played the voice of Hong Kong Phooey) singing.  Crazy Legs offers to help Banjo get home, but first he'll show Banjo some of the city's good times.

Crazy Legs takes Banjo to a night club with three cat singers (Zasu, Melina and Cleo) are on stage.  When the song is over Zasu meets Crazy Legs and Banjo, telling Banjo that he should go back home, but Banjo can't get home without the feed truck...