Based on Orwell’s book, this is the only cartoon ever made about the beginnings of political consciousness and the corrupt ways of power. The animal fable is quite suitable for junior-high-age audiences (12-15) at a time when kids are becoming more aware of limits on themselves and the unfairness and injustices appertaining. (The film’s cartoon violence would also be less upsetting than to say 4 to 8 year-olds.)
The movie is faithful to the original except in the ending. SPOILER: It ends on a more positive and hopeful, less bleak note than Orwell intended. And, indeed, the whole enterprise would be more of a downer (belieing its cartoon exterior) without the power of the people taken into consideration and the fact that the corrupt often bring their own ruin upon themselves.
The film raises a lot of good, relevant political questions for a young audience (as Orwell intended). The DVD also gives information about the political allegory behind the book (again useful world political history for junior-high viewers).
Matyas Beiber’s music keeps the plot dramatic and there is also occasional humor inserted for children viewers. The animals are sympathetically presented (except for the pigs and dogs, of course). A BBC-style narrator is used for the main events while one man–Maurice Denham, amazingly voiced all the voices of the animals (shades of Mel Blanc)!
The 72-minute production might have been edited to 60 minutes or less, but, otherwise, there were no other possibilities for second-guess changes. Oh, and based on their experience, high-school kids and adults will get the political nuances and messages faster and more deeply than junior-high-viewers so they’re welcome to the film as well.