The Night the Animals Talked (1970)

I thought I had already reviewed this childhood memory. Certain I had.Standout characters were the gentle dog, the wise ox and the discriminated pigs.Most of the animals, the cow, the goat, they were hateful and hostile, reflective of the times.They didn't want to share their manger with humans. They didn't want to share their manger with the pigs. Pigs were disgusting.It seems the pigs spent much of the cartoon trying to peer over the gate to see what was happening with the humans and the birth.After the birth, the animals opinions softened.The pigs, still struggling to see over the gate door, suddenly burst into the manger, afraid of how the other animals would react to them being there.The other animals turned to look at the pigs, then calmly stepped aside, so the pigs could see the baby Jesus as well. Slowly the pigs approached, and they too smiled happily.Now came the part where the animals decided they must tell humanity about the birth of Christ, and they took to the streets, yelling as loud as they could, and suddenly, one by one, each animal returned to his assuming voice.The dog began barking, the goat began baaing, the rooster began crowing.They all sadly made their way back to the manger.The ox, as quickly as possible with his lumbering self, sought to summarize the events, until he too began mooing.Effective cartoon. Deserving of the ten.

"The Night the Animals Talked" I remember it still.I like many comments posted here, thought this was an awesome show. I was very young "the one and only time" I saw it. Five? Six years of age? I always looked for it at X-mas time special ...and never saw it again.At 46 years of age, I still remember it. It definitely made an impression. Now that I know it it is still out there. I will be trying to find it. Obviously a good cartoon for young kids. From some of the comments I've seen posted. It is a good show for us old kids now too. I am looking forward to finding it and seeing it again and sharing with my family. I mean here I am, searching for it on the net. Obviously it made an impression. Helps to be an animal lover, but not necessary to enjoy this movie.

Well, as the above commentor said, the animation is not the best, and that most certainly is true. But still, I think the tone and message of this little film is great.If you can track this special down, give it a try. It would be great for some Christian elementary school classes, that might want try something different during the holiday season.I would classify this special as a "B" movie. The A's being the ones that got popular and constantly repeated. This means that this isn't bad, but wasn't given the chance to catch on. It's a pity the networks didn't replay this a few more times when it came out.The scene when the animals lose their one night gift is particulary poignant, and it does stick in the mind.I hope it comes out on DVD in the next few years, along with a few other Christmas seventies cartoons that seem to be forgotten these days.

It's a shame this movie is so unrecognized as a Christmas classic. It's a wonderful story.