A Small One (animated classic)

[jlppr]

i was reading the review for the upcoming christmas carol dvd set and i have never seen this short in particular before. my hopes is that they eventually release it on a WDT disney rarities 2 set.

i'm thinking about buying the dvd but don't know if it'll be worth it since i already own the other three shorts on my WDT sets

[Siren]

The short is worth it. I use to have a whole website dedicated to that one short. The music is beautiful and the story is fantastic! Actually, when I one day open my own petting zoo and rescue, I plan to call it "Small One Stables and Rescue", and specialize in rescuing donkeys.

[Cordy_Biddle]

It is a beautiful piece. I used to have it on video, but I cleared out my VHS collection years ago - most went for fantastic prices on Ebay...

[pap64]

I've only seen this special once or twice in my lifetime, but I agree that the story is wonderful. It's Christmasy but without going overboard with the commercialism. It deals with faith without being preachy. It's magical without being fairy tale magical.

The most important thing is that this was Don Bluth's I believe first and last project at the studio. Afterwards he went on to do his own shorts and movies, and the rest is history.

[Siren]

I've only seen this special once or twice in my lifetime, but I agree that the story is wonderful. It's Christmasy but without going overboard with the commercialism. It deals with faith without being preachy. It's magical without being fairy tale magical.

The most important thing is that this was Don Bluth's I believe first and last project at the studio. Afterwards he went on to do his own shorts and movies, and the rest is history.

Absolutely agree! I'm not Christian and I LOVE this story...its transcended faiths. I actually bought the original book.....which is so very rare.....and expensive. I have a bunch of Small One memorabilia...which is all rare and usually expensive. The original story is beautiful and I really wish they would put it back in print. Charles Tazewell wrote it. He also wrote Littles Angel.

In the original book, it starts and ends in Mexico. A boy has a donkey who will not work. And he yells at it and calls it stupid and stubborn. A pastor stops his tantrum and tells him the story of Small One, at the end of the book, the pastor says something like, "So you see, donkeys are not stubborn. They are proud". I wish they kept the Mexico parts in...because of the "proud" line and nothing else, but it would have made the short too long I guess.

[slave2moonlight]

Sadly, the short IS edited in both its DVD releases. I own the old VHS and kept it because of this. What it is, is a change in the song lyrics to the merchants' song, sorta like the way they changed lyrics in Aladdin to make that more politically correct too. The old Disney Channel used to show the original version, and they started airing the newer version on the last few times it aired on the last days of oldschool Disney Channel. The unaltered version never made it to DVD. I would hope that the Treasures would one day have the unaltered version, though I know it's a post-Walt short, but they really should have some Treasures sets, or some other kind of line for post-Walt material (like a lot of the 80's TV stuff).

[jlppr]

after everything you all have said i think i've made up my mind. i have never seen tis short before but it does look good. i'm gonna get it. but hopefully it will be released in a WDT set in the future. if it does i will just pass this one to my niece

[PeterPanfan]

I've never seen it, but really want to. I think I'll be purchasing the new DVD just for this, and because Mickey's Christmas Carol is probably the best short they've come out with.

[Siren]

Sadly, the short IS edited in both its DVD releases. I own the old VHS and kept it because of this. What it is, is a change in the song lyrics to the merchants' song, sorta like the way they changed lyrics in Aladdin to make that more politically correct too. The old Disney Channel used to show the original version, and they started airing the newer version on the last few times it aired on the last days of oldschool Disney Channel. The unaltered version never made it to DVD. I would hope that the Treasures would one day have the unaltered version, though I know it's a post-Walt short, but they really should have some Treasures sets, or some other kind of line for post-Walt material (like a lot of the 80's TV stuff).

Yes, but the edit doesn't take away from the film. I have all the VHS releases, as well as the UK and USA DVD releases.

[slave2moonlight]

Yes, but the edit doesn't take away from the film. I have all the VHS releases, as well as the UK and USA DVD releases.

That's actually exactly what an edit does, ha. But I know what you're saying. Though, it's a matter of opinion, or maybe not. See, that line was a joke, though someone got offended or Disney was afraid someone would after the Aladdin situation, so the joke was removed and replaced with a non-joke. In other words, taken away from the film = one joke. It's not much, but still sad. I don't care for this kind of editing.

But, like I said, I know what you're saying. It doesn't take away from the overall strength/power of the film. It's a beautiful film and that's why I have it on DVD as well (the earlier holiday release), which was the only reason I bought that disc (since I own all the treasures sets, but it IS nice to have holiday shorts collected together).

I just don't want anyone to forget that it has been edited, because I think that sucks, and what happens is (as in Luke's review) people start to think it's just a b.s. rumor, which it's not.

[musicradio77]

I'm not getting this one, no way! "Mickey's Christmas Carol" is on the Walt Disney Animation Collection series of DVD that has this, along with "Mickey's Christmas Carol", "Pluto's Christmas Tree" (which was from "Classic Holiday Stories") and "Santa's Workshop", a Silly Symphony from 1934.

I remember seeing "The Small One" since I was a baby along with the reissue of "Pinocchio".

As I would say, both "The Small One" and a reissue of "Pinocchio" both came out the same year, it was 1978. This was the only Disney short made by Don Bluth, and it was his last Disney film until he left, but he did not return until 1980 where he did an animated sequence in the film "Xanadu" with the song "Don't Walk Away" by ELO. And then by 1984, he did his first post-Disney animated film "The Secret of NIMH", and then "An American Tail" and the lists goes on.

[slave2moonlight]

Are you saying Disney did the animation for Xanadu?

[Matt]

I have the first DVD release with this on it, so no need to rebuy it again.

[Cordy_Biddle]

Are you saying Disney did the animation for Xanadu?

I'm pretty sure Disney wasn't involved in the animated sequence for "Xanadu". BTW: don't you think that Bluth's animated Kira from "Xanadu" could pass as Thumbelina's hot older sister?

[pap64]

Are you saying Disney did the animation for Xanadu?

If I am not mistaken everything Bluth did post Disney was done at his studio. He did Banjo The Woodpile Cat, Dragon's Lair and NIHM, among others, in his studio.

So it's likely that he animated the Xanadu segment as well.

[Siren]

Yes, but the edit doesn't take away from the film. I have all the VHS releases, as well as the UK and USA DVD releases.

That's actually exactly what an edit does, ha. But I know what you're saying. Though, it's a matter of opinion, or maybe not. See, that line was a joke, though someone got offended or Disney was afraid someone would after the Aladdin situation, so the joke was removed and replaced with a non-joke. In other words, taken away from the film = one joke. It's not much, but still sad. I don't care for this kind of editing.

But, like I said, I know what you're saying. It doesn't take away from the overall strength/power of the film. It's a beautiful film and that's why I have it on DVD as well (the earlier holiday release), which was the only reason I bought that disc (since I own all the treasures sets, but it IS nice to have holiday shorts collected together).

I just don't want anyone to forget that it has been edited, because I think that sucks, and what happens is (as in Luke's review) people start to think it's just a b.s. rumor, which it's not.

I completely agree. And oddly enough...I believe Bluth IS Jewish, so the whole non-existent controversy was stupid to begin with. Not to mention, pretty much every one in that short was probably Jewish, so the deal made over one line was stupid. And the fact they made the star look less like a cross was also stupid...Anyone who doesn't realize its religious significance must be deaf, dumb, and blind.

But like we both said, neither edit takes away from the film overall, its just annoying and pointless.

[slave2moonlight]

Are you saying Disney did the animation for Xanadu?

I'm pretty sure Disney wasn't involved in the animated sequence for "Xanadu". BTW: don't you think that Bluth's animated Kira from "Xanadu" could pass as Thumbelina's hot older sister?

Ha, agreed, and I didn't think Disney had anything to do with it either. That other post confused me though.

[akhenaten]

i dont get it..what was edited out of small one?

and btw im sure many would want to grab this WDAC volume for the UNMATTED xmas carol n small one. we all love full animation artwork dont we?

[Cordy_Biddle]

I'm pretty sure Disney wasn't involved in the animated sequence for "Xanadu". BTW: don't you think that Bluth's animated Kira from "Xanadu" could pass as Thumbelina's hot older sister?

Ha, agreed, and I didn't think Disney had anything to do with it either. That other post confused me though.

Thumbelina and her "hot older sister"!

[Siren]

i dont get it..what was edited out of small one?

In the Merchant's Song...they original said "we steal a cheat if we must"....When it was released to DVD, Disney decided to avoid any future controversy to edit it to "we work a little hard if we must". The reason for this is because the men are believed to be Jewish and they didn't want to seem prejudice. Even though I believe nearly everyone in the movie is Jewish.

And the other part is the end with the north star. Originally it was animated to look very much like a cross. So as not to seem "too religious" they did a slight change, though its barely noticeable...still looks like a bright star that resembles a cross.

Both changes are pointless.