Animal Farm (1954)

Load of rubbish!!

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

Animal Farm by George Orwell, is one of my favorite novels of all time. It's brilliant allegory of the rise of the Soviet Union is expressed greatly in it. This movie does a fairly good job of that. The animation is great. The voice acting is great, and the story is great. But as with many film adaptations, the book is better. One thing I don't like about the movie is it's alternative ending, which has Benjamin (Maurice Denham) staging another revolution against Napoleon (Denham). In Orwell's book it just shows the animals looking back and forth at the pigs and humans, being unable to determine which is which. Can I recommend this movie. Yes, but only if you've read the book first, as the book is undoubtedly better.

for a viewer from East Europe, it is not exactly only a good adaptation. it is not just a cartoon. but support for memories. and a warning. the book of George Orwell is always a must re-read. but the movie - piece from the Cold War is little more important than only animation film. convincing, in clothes of children movie, it represents in large measure a bitter parable who has new nuances, special force, more perspectives about the dark frame of dictatorship. in its case, the message is more important than artistic virtues. because it remains a powerful warning. not a decent/admirable adaptation, not an old film. but an useful tool for discover and understand the past and, maybe, for transform the future as better script.

At first I wasn't sure if I should read George Orwell's controversial novel, because my sister studied it in school and she didn't like it much. But I had read it and I find it excellent; so is this film. As in the original novel, the story follows a farm animal revolution which at first was successful until Napoleon the corruptive Berkshire boar took matters in his own "trotters."I find this film from England's Halas and Batchelor Cartoon Films really well-done and I don't consider is "Disney-ish" as some think with the dark, violent content that's in it. Also I really must commemorate on the one-man performance by Maurice Denham, the Mel Blanc of British radio. So overall, I love this beautifully animated film. Though I would advise you folks not to show the film to your children around 7 to 10 years old.

Saw this ages ago on video and have never forgotten it. It's an animated film about animals taking over a farm. They're supposed to all be equal to each other...but the pigs slowly change things and start taking over.I had read the novel before I saw the movie so I know they changed the ending. I heard it was because of the CIA but considering it's a British movie that's unlikely. Let's face it--the book is VERY depressing and this was done in 1954. A faithful ending would have been too depressing. The fate of the horse in this one bothered me...and I saw it as an adult! But the animation is excellent and the message still comes through. NOT for small children but junior high on up should see it.