User reviews

That unique style of dialog tells you right away that this 34 minute animated treat is an "existential" short subject from the BBC, and quite mesmerizing. The first task of the reviewer is to categorize the film to assist potential viewers, but I am coming up blank. In my over 2000 reviews here, I have never encountered a single story that sets out to deliver so much ... and succeeds. It is an adventure, it is a drama, it is a fable, it is animation for kids, it is animation for adults, and it is also a morality tale. It is an unforgettable half hour. Recommended. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

In a world that is often dark, Charlie Mackesy's words and illustrations of The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, have served as moments of light. Beautiful in themselves, but more than that - they shine that light within ourselves to remember the good, the gentle, and the strength in kindness in our own lives and the world around us. The four much-loved characters stepped out of Charlie's imagination and into the world on Instagram, before finding a permanent home the best-selling book released in 2019. The TV adaptation, released on BBC One and iPlayer on Christmas Eve - and worldwide on Apple TV+ on Christmas Day - brings the friends to life. It's 35 minutes of exquisite, peaceful light, born to become a modern Christmas classic. "I'm lost," says the Boy, voiced in heartbreaking gentleness by Jude Coward Nichol. Two words that will have resonated with many at some stage in this post-pandemic weary world. Charlie's drawings touched something within during those dark days of lockdown. Their kindness, humour and hope reached through the page, bringing comfort and connection. Simply put, it's beautiful, whether you enjoy Charlie's drawings and wisdoms as inspiration, comfort, self-reflection, or purely for their charm. It's as if you have stepped into the book itself. Hug your horses extra tight, be kind to yourself, and to quote the Mole, "I'm glad we are all here". While the book has no linear plot, the film needed one. And so Charlie's words and wisdoms have been woven into a script, taking the characters on a journey through a dream-like snowy landscape to find "home", set to a soundtrack by Isobel Waller-Bridge. And that messaging of kindness and gentleness translates gracefully from page to screen. Charlie collaborated with Jon Croker on the adaptation, and is also named as co-director alongside Peter Baynton. That involvement by the author is perhaps behind why the feel is just so close to the book.

Maybe this kind of story is just what we all need on the second to last day of the year - to remind ourselves why we're here and who we truly are.

The boy, the mole, the fox and the horse is a sweet, touching story of lost souls who found each other and together they search for home. This little cartoon speaks with quotes almost exclusively and every single phrase and every word that comes out of the mouths of the four characters is something to think about.

Really, what is love? What is home? What is the meaning of it all and what does it take to be a human being? Those are only a handful of questions you'd definitely get answers to by the end of this half hour masterpiece. I know for sure that home is where the heart is, it's not the place, it's not even something material - it's the way you feel and the people around you who make you feel it.

The animation style is uncanny and even though it may not be a perfect 3D computer generated picture it serves the purpose of the movie splendidly - all those shapes and contours don't have to be perfect, they just have to be authentic and real, and that's what matters. The voice actors also have done a great job shaping the characters and making them real for us too.

If you ever ask me, who do I want to become when I grow up (or in my case, grow old) I would certainly answer: kind.

'The Boy, The Mole', The Fox and the Horse' (2022)

Opening thoughts: 'The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse' was one of my most anticipated viewings last Christmas, and was watched with very high expectations. Actually to be honest, it was one of the few new things airing on television last Christmas that was really looked forward to. Animation and Christmas have gelled together many times over the years, with a large number of classics. The book is also beautiful, very charming, thought provoking and emotional.

Fortunately, those high expectations were not only met, they were actually exceeded in the best possible way. It couldn't have been a more perfect adaptation of the book, with it being its equal in quality and containing everything that made the book so good. It is also absolutely magical on its own merits and to me it was one of the clear highlights of the festive season. Which is saying quite a lot, seeing as for me 2022 was not one of the best years when it came to festive television.

Good things: Everything. What immediately stood out was the animation, which is absolutely exquisite and really made me wish that traditional picture book like animation was seen and utilised more these days. Loved the colours and the fluidity of the character designs, and that the backgrounds were kept simple was a wise move and matched the simplicity of the storytelling perfectly. The music is very soothing and did appreciate that it wasn't used or featured constantly and that it didn't go for large orchestral scoring or busy rhythms and instead went for the gentle, intimate approach.

Moreover, the dialogue is adapted beautifully. Admittedly, there are a lot of quotes and phrases, like the book. To me though it didn't feel too talky or rambling, remarkable as both happens a lot when anything is heavy in dialogue or phrases. Luckily, the quality of the dialogue is extremely thoughtful and profound. Loved the storytelling, it is slight and it does not go at a fast pace, but the tone of the book is gentle and fast and furious pacing would not have worked or gelled with the dialogue.

A fantastic job is done with staying true to both the detail and spirit of the book, it is a very faithful adaptation, like the book coming to life, but it did not feel overly so. Never to me did it feel sluggish or draggy, which can happen with adaptations that follow their source material very closely. Every ounce of the charm is still intact, and my heart was still warmed and touched. Especially at the end, where tissues are necessary. All four lead characters are easy to root for, Mole being my favourite, and beautifully voiced. Very nice to see a more understated side to Idris Elba.

Closing thoughts: In summary, magical. One of the easiest 10/10s given out in a long time.

10/10.

A beautiful experience - I nearly cried.

The animation was first class and the dialogue was very moving.

The characters voices were so suited to each other. I would watch this and would re watch this particularly with my grand sons who unfortunately live far far away.

The mole is obsessed with CAKE and is to me just like 'The Wind in the Willows'.

To me this is a faithful rendering of the book and has brought great pleasure in these troubled times. It is good that such joy is brought by the skill of the author and the animators.

I look forward to seeing this again and again in my remaining years.

I received the book a few years ago when I was in a bad place mentally. It is a beautiful collection of art and wise words so to see it brought to the screen intrigued me (although I wasn't sure how it would translate).

I needn't have worried. Everything about it was pretty much perfect. The gentle voices, music, animation and script joined up to make a wonderful Christmas family watch - although I suspect this will be become an all year round favourite.

There have been a lot of BBC broadcasted children's book adaptations in recent years (no more so than the Julia Donaldson books each Christmas) and whilst that is great for fans of the books I would stand this alone as more than just a book to TV job. This is suitable for kids, adults, and everything in between!

I'd put this on the same level as the classic 'The Snowman' - Thank you Charlie Mackesy.

A young boy searches for home, along the way he encounters a brave and friendly mole, a hungry and ill tempered fox, and a wise horse.

This truly was a beautiful thirty minutes, a real story of hope and optimism, it's a short film that will have a definite appeal to all viewers, young and old, there is truly something for everyone to take away from it. A definite relevance for anyone to take away from it.

It's good fun, it's adventurous, it's truly heart warming, there are many things you can take away from it, I just found it so beautifully moving, so very sweet, just lovely viewing for this time of year. Truly that good, I watched it twice.

The animation fitted perfectly, a simplicity and lack of complication that just worked, as did the soft, accompanying music. The BBC hasn't been shy with promoting it, and the lovely images have accompanied its program introductions.

Great to hear so many instantly recognisable stars, I just loved Tom Hollander's mole.

Every year we get an animated short, this is up there with the best of them, it's absolutely marvellous, 10/10.

Like many of you I bought the book a while book, captivated by the impressive art. The art and calligraphy is signature to the book. It made the leap into animation effortlessly and captured the essence of the message contained in the book with such warmth and humanity that it made me emotional.

The story centres around a boy who is inexplicably lost in a beautiful snowy landscape. It is a metaphor I guess as we as humans can find ourselves to be lost in many different ways.

The friends that come to his aid help each other. They do not judge and lean on each other for guidance and support.

The 30 minute animation is timeless and will become a feature for Christmas scheduling for years to come. The simple beautiful story is pan generational and global.

A gorgeous production, and if it had only been silent and/or set to music (eg The Snowman) I would have utterly fallen in love with it. But the script is truly dreadful: every line is a contrived, cloying piece of therapy-speak. I'm all for an artfully written, subtle life lesson but this lays it on far too thick: we learn it's important to 'be kind' and that 'we are enough', among a hundred other maxims. I was braced to be told I must 'live my truth', though fortunately it didn't get that far. Maybe I'm a dreadful cynic, but rather than feeling enlightened and cheered I found the overall effect relentless preachy. Shame.

I was absolutely swept up by this beautifully told story and the innocence of its characters. I was anxiously awaiting the unfolding of the lovely, sensitive animation as it depicts this sweet boy's journey. His animal friends highlight his travels and are his steadfast allies and guardians as he tries to find his way home. I felt as if I were transported back to the wonder and innocence of my childhood as I watched this story unfold.

The animation is so beautiful in the way that it portrays the world and the characters in it. It allows the viewer to take a look back at life and recall a more simple and innocent time. It allows us to view the world through the eyes of a child and just how beautiful and quiet that world can be.

I love the style of water-coloured paint in this animation with the characters lines not conforming quite correctly as though they've been sketched out.

This film has a strong start with a humourous beginning minute but quickly falls off a cliff. As the boy tries to find his way home he comes across the titular animals each adroitly voiced by top talent. However the story (such as it is) seems to be strictly in service of delivering insipid and disjointed platitudes that have only the most tortured relevance to the scene at hand. Wonderfully styled but utterly banal -as though one hired Van Gogh to paint the words "Live, Laugh, Love" above your couch.

If you're familiar with the book then this short animated movie needs no introduction.

Produced by titans J. J. Abrams and Woody Harrelson this coloured, animated version of Charles Mackesy's book is a tour de force of animation, voice acting and storytelling.

A tale of loneliness, despair, and longing, if this film doesn't tug at your heart strings then I don't know what will.

We're living in difficult times and I don't know anyone that hasn't suffered from some sort of mental health problem in recent times. Watching this just might help you. I believe this could be the new Snowman and will be a regular fixture on TVs for years to come.

I'm giving it more points because of the beautiful animation, which is lovely, and the beautiful message. However, the script is weak and lacks cohesion and context. It seems that they wanted to produce a traditional style tale and truffle it with pearls of wisdom. But the problem is that those philosophical quotes that everyone delivers at the first occasion are 90% of the dialogue....and that doesn't allow for a cohesive story.

I get that tales are simple, but the story has to be clear and we need to know why things happen. In this case is all very poetic but vague and confusing and with too many quotes in it...Less cliché sentences and more story would have given a better result in my opinion.

The art style of this short is gorgeous, no doubt. And I will grant that this is made for children. But the story and dialogue are just a collection of clichés and platitudes so superficial that it's cringe-inducing. Given the paucity of content, 10-12 minutes would've been enough. As is, it's not just shallow, but it also drags.

I feel bad for crapping on a certainly well-intentioned and sincere film, but come on, have at least one original thought in your narrative. Even if children are the target audience, there needn't be such a saccharine sentimentality to every minute. The maudlin piano score doesn't help in this regard.

For me who is a female living in China,the mole refers to eldership because he really moves slowly like an old person. And even if his words imply he is coward,he still acts like a valiant when he rolls across the hill or when he steps into the trap to save the fox.

That's how the chinese elderships live:they bury their sincere heart and always say that they are getting tired of the life. But deeply inside,they are still hoping to enjoy the life just like the youngsters.

The culture in our society dosen't motivate elder one to keep going further. In fact,age discrimination is everywhere. People believe that a person should do particular things in particular age. For example,when you are 22 years old,you should garaduate from college and go get a good job;when you are 30 years old,you should raise a family and you should have at least one child;when you are 35 years old,you should ether be a successful person or a looser waiting to be fired.

And when you are older than 40,on one will expect any thing good on you. You can never change your life or your job at that age,because that costs a huge sacrifice. And even if you want to do that,you may still not succeed,because there is no new place for you in the society,unless you want to do the hard labor job such as cleaning the street.

That invisible chain teriifies people,force them to take a regular role in their life.

As I am getting older in age,I hope I will always remenber this mole,and be brave to be myself.

So thrilled that the film was emotionally spell-binding, and lived up to the promise of the book. The messages are profound, but there is no sloppiness, just delightful illustrations brought to life. The choice of voice cast was interesting and really worked.

There have been some enjoyable films this year (exciting, dramatic and funny) and this is going to be added to the classics which become essential viewing as each year comes to an end.

I'm adding The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, to a list that includes titles such as It's a Wonderful life, The Snowman, White Christmas, Love Actually, The Holiday and The Grinch.

When ' Sight and Sound ' put their list of one hundred films together this should have been in my humble opinion the Number One choice, nut then they probably had not had a preview of it. Maybe in ten years time it will reach that elevated height of critical acclaim, and we will all know why. A boy, a mole, a fox and a horse all journey together in the most beautiful animation I have ever seen. No spoilers but the journey is full of so called simple wisdom, and above all love even for our enemies. As it happens the fox is not the enemy we fear, but a being in our universal family of love. A film that lasts such a short time; such a short journey of time and yet it takes us so far. To a place that we should be and should strive to reach. The Number One of the future.

Imagine if you will, you ask ChatGPT to write a parable about a boy lost in the snow, looking for a permanent home, who meets a mole, a fox, and a horse along the way. And you ask ChatGPT to write it as if every line was taken from a Hallmark card, and each scene uses a completely literal aphorism. Then you get this little attempt at pandering to an audience.

I'm not kidding -- I fed the premise into ChatGPT and it reproduced two lines from the script, exactly!

The animation was lovely, but ended up being a bit monotonous, and that's the only thing I can recommend about it. We did see it back to back with the other four Oscar nominees, and had a range of viewers from kids to near-seniors, and while the consensus on the best one differed, the consensus on this one did not.

I realize this is based on a children's book, but the better children's literature is propelled by a story, not by epigrams and attempts at koans. There was a six year old in front of us at the theater who said, about 2/3 of the way through, "this is dumb! Why isn't he cold? What does he eat?" and the rest of the audience hooted appreciatively. Scriptwriters of the world, take note: if your intended audience is kids, talking down to them is the worst way to get your message across.

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse (2022) follows a group of unlikely friend as they go on a journey to find home. This short film is an absolute delight! It's got a brilliant message and some incredibly loveable characters that make this a good watch for all the family.

This short has a very unique look to it, and the animation is so cute! It's very minimalistic but pulls it off well, and it works well alongside the tone of the story. It also feels very true to the book in this respect.

The film has some good sound design, and the score is very upbeat and fitting when used. For the most part, the movie is very quiet and allows us to focus purely on the characters and their interactions.

The characters are all very loveable and the dialogue is so thought provoking! The friendships between the characters are beautiful and incredibly sweet too. The dialogue is so wholesome, and so well written, whilst also being easy to digest. It a really good message behind it, and this is reflected through the dialogue and characters.

Lastly, the pacing is slow and steady whilst also being super engaging and fun to watch. It's simple yet incredibly effective with so many emotional moments that resulted in me crying throughout almost all of the duration! Last of all, the ending is very feel good!