The Small One (1978)
The Small One Review
The Small One is a 1978 Disney animated short film directed by Don Bluth. It’s an undeniable classic.
The film follows a Judean boy who, after his father tells him that his favorite donkey is too old to work for them any longer, takes the creature to the town to find a proper buyer for him. When he fails, Joseph appears to take the donkey and his wife to Bethlehem. That ending signifies the film as a traditional holiday favorite that for once utilizes on the Christian nativity story properly without any forced outcome or didacticism.
I absolutely loved this film. I found it to be incredibly emotional, especially in that gorgeous, truly inspired ending. The animation is terrific with excellent background work and good character designs, though the boy obviously has a rehashed Mowgli design. I did also like the score, and the soundtrack. Yes, the film is somewhat of a musical, and it actually succeeds in all of its songs, especially in that first very endearing one. I also liked how the father was firm, but still understanding. The only problem here is the pacing as the structure in the middle act was troublesome and too episodic, but still most of those scenes worked, and the attention to detail and realism are to be appreciated.
The Small One is a Don Bluth/Disney classic that benefits from gorgeous animation, a great soundtrack, endearing characters and such a heartwarming ending. It’s a timeless classic with a lot of heart.
