Lambert the Sheepish Lion (1951)
Lambert the Sheepish Lion Review
Lambert the Sheepish Lion is a 1951 animated short film produced by Disney. It’s a very sweet flick.
A mix-up by Mr. Stork finds a little lion cub in the care of a gentle flock of sheep. But when a hungry wolf begins to stalk the herd, Lambert needs to find the courage to protect his mother. This movie was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film and deservedly so as it’s such a stellar short. The animation is reliably polished and the highlight is the witty, wholesome narration done by the great Sterling Holloway. I loved his character Mr. Stork that returned here for the first time after his debut in ‘Dumbo’. This was an unexpected reference to one of their classics that I ate up.
The titular hero is endearing and his story is perfect for children of all ages. You really need to cast aside those logical questions when watching this movie, questions such as what the lion has been eating all these years and whether he would eventually attack the sheep themselves. This is a cartoon for kids after all, so it’s best to take it as such. The ending is expected, but very moving. The flick is far from ambitious, but its storybook quality made it a charmer.
