The first ever British animation feature may have the look of the Disney films that saturate the genre, but this is far from kid's stuff.
It pretty much tells the story of George Orwell's anti-Stalin novel, but with a more uplifting ending. Possibly because it was partly funded by the CIA as anti-communist propaganda. Allegedly!
Sick of being mistreated by the owner, the animals of Manor Farm stage a revolution, kick him out and run things for themselves in the renamed Animal Farm. Under the guidance of Snowball the pig, the farm is run smoothly and a set of commandments are drawn up and emblazoned on the side of the barn. Snowball's leadership is overthrown by power hungry, work-shy Napoleon, who tricks the other animals to thinking Snowball is a traitor who has been conspiring with the old farmer. Slowly but surely the animals are repressed under Napoleonic rule and the commandments are amended as the pigs break them, eventually replacing them all with the maxim, "All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others." This is the last straw for the other animals and they overthrow the ever humanising pigs and their tyrannical leader.
It really does not hold back on the bloodshed. Even Snowball isn't killed in the book. It certainly must have shocked parents a plenty on it's release.
As the first British animated feature and as a piece of propaganda, I do see it's relevance in film history, but yet again I think this list is a little unsure of the criteria needed for a 'film to see before you die'. I was happy to see this and enjoyed it, but I don't think it really belongs here.
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