The Night the Animals Talked

Last updated
The Night the Animals Talked
Written byJan Hartman
Sam Rosen
Story by Peter Fernandez
Directed by Shamus Culhane
Starring Joe Silver--Ox
Pat Bright--Cow
Bob Kaliban--Goat
Frank Porella--Donkey
Ruth Franklin--Various Animals
Ardyth Kayser--Various Animals
Len Maxwell--Various Animals
Music by Jack Cortner
Country of originUnited States
Italy
Original languageEnglish
Production
Producers David Gerber
Sheldon Riss
Pablo Zavala
Roberto Gavioli
Gino Gavioli
Running time25 minutes
Original release
Network ABC
ReleaseDecember 9, 1970 (1970-12-09)

The Night the Animals Talked is an animated children's Christmas television special, first shown on ABC television on December 9, 1970. It was repeated four times on ABC, in 1971, 1972, 1973 and 1977. [1] The American/Italian co-production was based on a legend that all of the animals could talk at midnight, on the night that Jesus was born. [2]

Contents

Plot

The special focuses on an old Norwegian holiday legend regarding the Nativity of Jesus. The plot focuses on a simple stable, which suddenly is showered with light from the Star of Bethlehem. The animals stir in their sleep. When they awaken, they realize that they can communicate with each other. At first, the animals use the ability to disparage each other and to establish superiority over each other, especially over the two hogs who are not allowed into the stable. An ox, the apparent leader of the animals, is angered by such behavior, as it reveals that they are acting like humans. The animals realize the error of their ways, and attempt to make amends when word reaches them (through the donkey carrying Mary) that an expectant couple desperately needs shelter.

At first, the animals refuse to allow the humans into the manger, as they look down on them and their behavior. But, the animals relent, and Mary and Joseph are allowed into the stable for the night. That night, as Jesus is born, the animals are overwhelmed with love for each other—even the hogs are allowed into the stable for the first time to see the baby. Then, the animals come to the realization that they have been given the gift of speech to tell the world of the "miracle"—the birth of Christ. However, as they run through Bethlehem, each animal loses his gift. They return to the stable in silence—but with newfound respect and love for each other. The ox, the last one to lose his speech, is left to wonder if humanity will ever understand the miracle it has been given.

Production

The Night the Animals Talked was produced by Gino Gavioli and Roberto Gavioli's Gamma Film of Milan, Italy, and was directed by animation veteran Shamus Culhane. The story evolved from an MGM Records children's recording written by writer and voiceover artist Peter Fernandez. Although the copyright status of this film is uncertain, bootleg copies are common.

Themes

The special is known for approaching a variety of themes, such as segregation, racism, and vanity. The interactions of the animals spells out the problems of mankind, but they are seen through the vantage points of animals, in a manner similar to George Orwell's Animal Farm .

Music

The program featured songs from the well-known duo of lyricist Sammy Cahn and composer Jule Styne; their contributions to the special, "A Parable", "It's Great to Communicate", "The Greatest Miracle of All", "Let's Not Behave Like People" and "A Place Like This", remain mostly unknown to their fans.

Legacy

The cartoon has seen a revival mostly through the manufacture and circulation of bootleg copies of the program. The Night the Animals Talked was never officially released in any form on VHS or DVD. McGraw-Hill released a 16mm film print for educational use in schools in 1975.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christmas in Poland</span> Overview of the role of Christmas in Poland

Christmas in Poland is a major annual celebration, as in most countries of the Christian world. The observance of Christmas developed gradually over the centuries, beginning in ancient times; combining old Polish pagan customs with the religious ones introduced after the Christianization of Poland by the Catholic Church. Later influences include the mutual permeating of local traditions and various folk cultures. It is one of the most important religious holidays for Poles, who follow a somewhat strict traditional custom. Christmas trees are decorated and lit in family rooms on the day of Christmas Eve. Other trees are placed in most public areas and outside churches. Christmas in Poland is called "Boże Narodzenie", which translates to 'God's Birth'.

Animation in the United States in the television era was a period in the history of American animation that gradually started in the late 1950s with the decline of theatrical animated shorts and popularization of television animation, reached its peak during the 1970s, and ended around the late 1980s. This era is characterized by low budgets, limited animation, an emphasis on television over the theater, and the general perception of cartoons being primarily for children.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christmas Eve</span> Evening or entire day before Christmas Day

Christmas Eve is the evening or entire day before Christmas, the festival commemorating the birth of Jesus. Christmas Day is observed around the world, and Christmas Eve is widely observed as a full or partial holiday in anticipation of Christmas Day. Together, both days are considered one of the most culturally significant celebrations in Christendom and Western society.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nativity scene</span> Representation of the birth of Christianity

In the Christian tradition, a nativity scene is the special exhibition, particularly during the Christmas season, of art objects representing the birth of Jesus. While the term "nativity scene" may be used of any representation of the very common subject of the Nativity of Jesus in art, it has a more specialized sense referring to seasonal displays, in particular sets of individual sculptural figures and props that are arranged for display.

<i>Star Wars Holiday Special</i> 1978 American television special

The Star Wars Holiday Special is an American television special originally broadcast by CBS on November 17, 1978. It is set in the universe of the sci-fi-based Star Wars media franchise. Directed by Steve Binder, it was the first Star Wars spin-off film, set between the events of the original film and the then-unreleased sequel The Empire Strikes Back (1980). It stars the main cast of the original Star Wars and introduces the character of Boba Fett, who appeared in later films.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Observance of Christmas by country</span>

The observance of Christmas around the world varies by country. The day of Christmas, and in some cases the day before and the day after, are recognized by many national governments and cultures worldwide, including in areas where Christianity is a minority religion. In some non-Christian areas, periods of former colonial rule introduced the celebration ; in others, Christian minorities or foreign cultural influences have led populations to observe the holiday.

<i>Twas the Night Before Christmas</i> (1974 TV special) 1974 animated Christmas television special

'Twas the Night Before Christmas is a 1974 animated Christmas television special produced by Rankin/Bass Productions that features Clement Clarke Moore's famous 1823 poem A Visit from St. Nicholas, the opening line of which is the source of the title of this animated special. The special first originally aired on CBS on December 8, 1974, and the network aired it annually until 1994, when The Family Channel took over its syndication rights. AMC took over syndication rights for the special in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wigilia</span> Polish Christmas Eve vigil supper

Wigilia is the traditional Christmas Eve vigil supper in Poland, held on December 24. The term is often applied to the whole of Christmas Eve, extending further to Pasterka—midnight Mass, held in Roman Catholic churches all over Poland and in Polish communities worldwide at or before midnight. The custom is sometimes referred to as "wieczerza" or "wieczerza wigilijna", in Old Polish meaning evening repast, linked to the late church service, Vespers from the Latin.

<i>Maisy</i> 1999 British TV series or programme

Maisy is a British preschool animated children's television series based on the book series of the same name by Lucy Cousins. The series aired for one season of 26 episodes, with each episode being made up of four segments. It won the British Academy Children's Award for Pre-School Animation in 2000.

<i>Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey</i> 1977 Christmas TV special

Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey is a 1977 Japanese-American Christmas stop motion animated television special produced by Rankin/Bass Productions. It premiered on ABC on December 3, 1977. The story is based on the 1975 song of the same name, written by Gene Autry, Don Pfrimmer and Dave Burgess.

<i>Bugs Bunnys Looney Christmas Tales</i> 1979 American television special

Bugs Bunny's Looney Christmas Tales is a 1979 animated Christmas television special featuring Bugs Bunny and other Looney Tunes characters in three newly created cartoon shorts with seasonal themes. It premiered on CBS on November 27, 1979.

<i>The Little Drummer Boy</i> (TV special) 1968 Christmas TV special

The Little Drummer Boy is a stop motion television special produced by Rankin/Bass Productions, based on the song of the same name. It was first televised in Canada on December 19, 1968, on the CTV Television Network, followed four days later by its American nationwide release on NBC. A sequel was broadcast in 1976.

Ziggy's Gift is a 1982 American animated holiday television special based on the Ziggy comics. Directed by Richard Williams, the special first aired December 1, 1982, on ABC.

<i>Merry Madagascar</i> 2009 film directed by David Soren

Merry Madagascar is a Christmas special first broadcast on the NBC network on November 17, 2009, which starred the characters from the film series Madagascar, and takes place sometime between the first and second film. It is the second DreamWorks Animation Christmas special, after Shrek the Halls.

<i>Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas</i> 2011 animated TV special

Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas is a 2011 animated television special and part of the Ice Age franchise, produced by Blue Sky Studios and directed by Karen Disher. It premiered on November 24, 2011 on Fox in the United States and in the United Kingdom at Christmas on Channel 4 and E4 and it was released 2 days later to DVD and Blu-ray. This Christmas special takes place between Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs and Ice Age: Continental Drift.

<i>The Smurfs: A Christmas Carol</i> 2011 film by Troy Quane

The Smurfs: A Christmas Carol is a 2011 American animated short film based on The Smurfs comic book series created by the Belgian comics artist Peyo, and is an adaptation Charles Dickens's 1843 novella A Christmas Carol. The animated short was written by Todd Berger and directed by Troy Quane, and it stars the voices of George Lopez, Jack Angel, Melissa Sturm, Fred Armisen, Gary Basaraba, Anton Yelchin and Hank Azaria. The film was produced by Sony Pictures Animation with the animation by Sony Pictures Imageworks and Duck Studios. The Smurfs: A Christmas Carol was released on DVD on December 2, 2011, attached to The Smurfs film.

The Little Rascals' Christmas Special is an animated Christmas television special based on the Our Gang comedies of the 1920s-40s. The special was produced by King World Productions, and first aired December 3, 1979 on NBC. It is a spoof of the 1905 O. Henry short story The Gift of the Magi.

<i>The Star</i> (2017 film) 2017 American film

The Star is a 2017 American animated biblical comedy film produced by The Jim Henson Company. Sony Pictures Releasing was the distributor of the film and Timothy Reckart directed it. A screenplay written by Carlos Kotkin, and a story by Kotkin and Simon Moore, based on an original concept by Tom Sheridan. Inspired by the Nativity of Jesus, the film stars the voices of Steven Yeun, Gina Rodriguez, Zachary Levi, Keegan-Michael Key, Kelly Clarkson, Patricia Heaton, Kristin Chenoweth, Tracy Morgan, Tyler Perry, and Oprah Winfrey.

A Hanukkah film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on the celebration of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. Films in this style may incorporate the religious aspects of Hanukkah, such as lighting the menorah or the story of the Maccabees, along with cultural aspects of Hanukkah, such as spinning dreidels, or eating traditional foods such as latkes, sufganiyot, or gelt.

References

  1. Lenburg, Jeff (1999). The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons. Checkmark Books. p. 303. ISBN   0-8160-3831-7 . Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  2. Crump, William D. (2019). Happy Holidays—Animated! A Worldwide Encyclopedia of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year's Cartoons on Television and Film. McFarland & Co. p. 216. ISBN   9781476672939.