A Masterpiece!

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Disney films and shorts were a huge part of my childhood, and many are still hold dear to my heart. As someone who was introduced to it very recently, 'John Henry' will never go down as one of their greatest achievements but it is a long way from being one of their very few duds.There is not really that much at all wrong with 'John Henry'. To be honest though some of the animation was also not to my taste, was not a fan either of the (clearly intended) unfinished look to some of the drawing especially the constant coming and going pencil lines. The animation is certainly not without its meticulous detail and vibrant colours though, and while it hearkens back to the style of something like 'Paul Bunyon' it is a little more appealing, while lacking finesse the character designs are noticeably less blocky.However, the music, adopting a soulful spiritual tone, is outstanding, sung with real passion and exuberance. If there is anything about 'John Henry' that can be greatly admired especially, it is how it clearly knew what it was trying to do and who to aim it at, and succeed totally at these aims. It was very brave to have a darker tone to the story, with the tackling of heavier themes, in a period where Disney noticeably took less risks than in their "Renaissance" period from 'The Little Mermaid' to 'Tarzan', and it is dealt with touchingly and never feels tonally muddled or distastefully dark nor does it feel preachy.'John Henry' is very nicely written, with heart and sensitivity, and the characters while not complex are likable and relatable to the audience. The voice acting is strong.In summary, interesting and touching if unusual. Some of the animation was not to my taste but everything else works. 8/10 Bethany Cox

The traditional story of John Henry is brought to life in this very unusual Disney short. I like some of the unusual qualities...one in particular I didn't. The quilt-like look and colors were great--and really eye-catching. I also liked the nice spiritual style of the music which dominates the film. What I wasn't so fond of was the unfinished look that the animators deliberately used--with pencil marks appearing and disappearing throughout the film--like they forgot to erase them. Stylish? Perhaps...but I thought it made an otherwise good film look unfinished. As for the story, it's pretty much the familiar folk tale--about an ex-slave named John Henry who does battle against a steam-powered machine and wins...at a big cost. Worth seeing but it just missed the mark.

This is another amazing animation from Disney. The unfinished look the cartoon has is very appealing, and the character design is very Disney. John Henry is a man who was once a slave, until the Emancipation Proclamation freed him and his love, who immediately get married. They go to strike it out and John Henry famously works on the railroad to get his wife and himself some land so they can be independent. The short is fairly emotional and tackles some heavier themes for Disney (slavery, death), but does it nicely, in such a way that I could see young children be able to watch it without a qualm from parents. The music is very flavorful, being in the style of black gospel singers or backup singers. I could listen to this music for a while and not get tired of it. It's nice and fun for the kiddies to see, with some good messages about determination.

Considering this was just a project to keep animators occupied, it is a pretty darn impressive film. Disney's take on the tall tale is nothing new, but the style and look of this short is fantastic. The characters were made to look like animation before "clean-up" which is very interesting to watch, and also a brave move on Disney's part! Great backgrounds, too. Let's hope the Mouse takes more chances like this one!