Thanks for the memories!

Far from Perfect, Far from Terrible

Don't Believe the Hype

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

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.

I have watched this movie once as a kid,some where between 1973 and 1974. I would like to see it again but it seem to have faded away from the Christmas television list. Most of the other old time favorites are still on television during the Christmas season, but what ever happened to "The Night the Animals Talk." I have only seem it once and would like to someday see it again. I really enjoyed watching it in the seventies and most definitely would like to see it on television again. Why do we allow good things to slip away? "The Grench who stole Christmas" has been around for years and it also is one of my favorites. Another one of my favorite is, " A Christmas story." These movies I feel are classics and should alway be around for our kids,kids to view. "The Night the Animals Talk" was a movie that would leave one wishing that they would have talked long enough to finish the message. But as I remember they stop talking right before the animal could get it out that a miracle had happened. I feel this is one of the best Christmas movie and it hasn't gotten the props required to make it a house hold Christmas viewing. This movie ends making one wanting to see it again, hoping the animal could get the message out.Anthony

**SPOILERS AHEAD**I have not seen this cartoon in far too many years, and that is a shame. While I agree that in the United States Christmas has become a secular nation-wide holiday to be shared by Christian, Jew, Muslim, Pagan, Hindu, Atheist, etc., and while I enjoy the spirit of generosity and playfulness it inspires across religious lines, it seems fitting that the occasional Christmas special actually deal with the Christian origins of that holiday."The Night the Animals Talked" is a cartoon depiction of the legend that, on the day Jesus Christ was to be born, the animals suddenly found themselves with the power of speech! The animals immediately pick up human foibles along with speech in the best tradition of Aesop's Fables and Orwell's _Animal_Farm_, and what results is a surprisingly honest look at the strengths and foolishness of human nature.I have not seen this cartoon since I was a kid, yet I will always remember that sequence when the animals run around trying desperately to tell people about the miracle happening in their midst only to be ignored into silence as they lose their one day of speech. The gentle critique of human nature in that moment has stayed with me my entire life.

This may be pathetic, but twenty-five years after the last broadcast of this cartoon, my brother and I still 'baaaa' at each other like goats every Christmas Eve.This truly beautiful piece of holiday animation combines two of the most cherished genres in the world: namely (and no offense to non-Christians), Christmas and talking animals. And it mixes these two genres in a touching, intelligent way.It's the story of one night when all the animals in a stable discover that they can speak. With this "gift" comes conflict, provoked mostly by the arrival of two (soon to be three) unwanted guests to their stable. Each animal has a differing and fitting personality and a differing stance on whether to allow the guests to stay. The eventual resolution is not only heart-warming, but, dare I say...haunting.You will never forget this.