Animal Farm

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2:08

Animal Farm

Released Dec 29, 1954

1h 12m

Kids & Family

Fantasy

Animation

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

67%

Tomatometer

12 Reviews

66%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

In this animated film based on George Orwell's novel, animals on drunken Mr. Jones' (Maurice Denham) farm, led by prize hog Old Major (also Denham), gather to discuss their abuse. Old Major exhorts the animals to rebel. Boxer the horse, donkey Benjamin, pigs Snowball and Napoleon and the others agree, and when Old Major dies, they turn against Jones. But Napoleon secretly raises a group of puppies to do his bidding, and over time the efficiently run farm falters as Napoleon schemes to take over.

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Delmore Schwartz

The New Republic

It is a serious pity that one can only praise the film version of George Orwell's Animal Farm as a valuable beginning or experiment, and hardly more than that.

Jan 23, 2013

Full Review

Herman G. Weinberg

Film Culture

It is a fable, or allegory, in which human actions are presented in the guise of animal actions. But how can this convince any intelligent person who knows that animals don't act that way? Aesop was far cleverer.

Jun 7, 2022

Full Review

Tracey Petherick

Common Sense Media

Intense, compelling adaptation of Orwell's classic story.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 11, 2020

Full Review

Clyde Gilmour

Maclean's Magazine

This is the first feature-length animated cartoon to tackle an adult theme instead of the usual kindergarten slapstick. A British effort, it sometimes fails to compete with Hollywood's best technical standards.

Nov 7, 2019

Full Review

Virginia Graham

The Spectator

Even so, when only one figure in a crowd is animated the impression given is that of laziness or lack of funds rather than design.

Jun 19, 2018

Full Review

MFB Critics

Monthly Film Bulletin

If Animal Farm is a notable, rather than an exciting, experiment in cartoon making, it will doubtless influence future work in this field, both in this country and overseas.

Jan 24, 2018

Full Review

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Kornel P

A very good film with a clear moral message. I think the film is not suitable for young children.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/07/25

Full Review

Tonya K

This is a horrible adaptation of Orwell's work. It spits in the legacy of George Orwell.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

07/14/25

Full Review

Charles H

I'm in high school and we had to read the book I loved it and when I saw this it was amazing, great and I loved it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/26/25

Full Review

Liam D

Telling an very adult story in very childlike media is the best way of adapting one of the most famous stories in literature history

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/20/24

Full Review

Dionisis T

A real downfall compared to the book,not worth watching it

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

10/31/24

Full Review

Teddy B

This film retains the majority of the powerful allegory that George Orwell set out to illustrate but feels a bit bogged down by a stuffy pace and an extremely disappointing ending that weighs down the message of the novel by a tonne. The film does have a well-developed atmosphere, exceptional voice acting, and polished animation though.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/08/23

Full Review

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Joy Batchelor

Director

John Halas

Director

Maurice Denham

All Animals

Gordon Heath

Narrator

Roy Turk

Cinematographer

W. Traylor

Cinematographer

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Animal Farm: Trailer 1

2:08

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Synopsis

In this animated film based on George Orwell's novel, animals on drunken Mr. Jones' (Maurice Denham) farm, led by prize hog Old Major (also Denham), gather to discuss their abuse. Old Major exhorts the animals to rebel. Boxer the horse, donkey Benjamin, pigs Snowball and Napoleon and the others agree, and when Old Major dies, they turn against Jones. But Napoleon secretly raises a group of puppies to do his bidding, and over time the efficiently run farm falters as Napoleon schemes to take over.

Director: Joy Batchelor, John Halas
Producer: John Halas, Joy Batchelor
Screenwriter: Lothar Wolff, Philip Stapp, George Orwell, Borden Mace, John Halas, Joseph Bryan, Joy Batchelor
Distributor: BBC Enterprises Limited [gb], Universal Pictures, Louis de Rochemont Associates, Associate British-Pathe Ltd. [gb], Polygram, Blue Dolphin Film Distribution Ltd. [gb]
Production Co: Halas and Batchelor Cartoon Films [gb]
Genre: Kids & Family, Fantasy, Animation
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 29, 1954, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 20, 2011
Runtime: 1h 12m
Sound Mix: Mono

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