.jpg){kind=link}
29 December 1954 (New York City)7 January 1955 (London)
Animal Farm is a 1954 adult animated film, it was directed by both John Halas and Joy Batchelor. It was produced by Halas and Batchelor and funded in part by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). It was based on the 1945 novel of the same name by George Orwell which satirizes the Russian Revolution, it retells the story of the farm animals had dominated Manor Farm into Animal Farm, as they battle against humankind for their peaceful survival, to unite their culture, by obeying their policy that animals are created equal. However the pigs, led by Napoleon, decline in following their own rules after dethroning the dominion (that being fellow pig Snowball) to exchanging the humans’ shadows, by turning back against other fellow animals. It was the first British animated feature, and one of the first adult animated feature films. Although the film was considered a financial failure and took 15 years to generate a profit, it quickly became a staple in classrooms across the United Kingdom and the United States.
Although the film was given a 'U' rating (suitable for all ages) by the British Board of Film Classification, it is often debated to be an animated film for family audiences, on account of some very lighthearted scenes, or one that is suited more to adults only, on account of its dark subject matter and political themes (the likes of which were unprecedented in Western animation at the time).
The film rights for a film adaptation of Animal Farm were bought from Orwell's widow after she was approached by agents working for the Office of Policy Coordination (OPC), a branch of the CIA that dealt with the use of culture to combat communism.
Maurice Denham provided the voice for all the animals in the film.
Storyline[]
A successful farmyard revolution by the resident animals vs. the farmer goes horribly wrong as the victors create a new tyranny among themselves.
Sound Effects Used[]
- BBC Records, Crashes - Glass Crash (Heard only in the ending)
- Cinesound Wood Crash Sound (debut?; Heard faintly in the ending.)
- EMI, Farmyard Effects - Cock-Crow, Hens, Guinea Fowl & Bantams
- EMI, Farmyard Effects - Cows, Calves & Heifers
- Hollywoodedge, Funny Sgl Chicken CRT011001