The Little House

This was a sweet little tale of sticking to what you believe in despite expiriencing setbacks. An ode to simplicity when some people hail progress for progress' sake told with the usual colourful Disney animation and the animators' admirable artistic skills bringing the little house to life and making the city seem massive and dangerous in contrast to the countryside being calm and peaceful.

There is so much to love about The Little House, though it might be a touch over-sentimental for some. There is no denying how wonderful the animation is, the backgrounds look so smooth and flow equally so and the colours are very rich. The animation on the house and the increase in size is very inventively done. Also great is the music, not surprising considering that if there is a component that is consistently good in the Disney shorts it is the music. It is beautifully orchestrated while not being syrupy, which it could easily have been, and it is certainly not without energy or driven rhythms either. The Little House's story is very simple but is an involving one and also one of Disney's most emotionally charged. Disney shorts have been known to make me cry, like with Mickey's Good Deed, The Old Mill and The Ugly Duckling and The Little House does that as well. Sterling Holloway's narration is remarkably sensitive and doesn't fall into the trap of explaining too much or being annoying, after hearing narrations in animation that start saying things that we can easily see on screen or are better off shown. The titular character is a sweet one and one that we do feel genuine sympathy for, it is always great to have a lead character to root for all the way and The Little House definitely has that. In conclusion, beautifully drawn, emotionally charged and sweet, one of my favourite Disney shorts of the 50s. 10/10 Bethany Cox

THE LITTLE HOUSE sits on a little hill, way out in the country. Even though filled with a loving family, she can't help but notice the relentless approach of the big city coming ever closer to her...

This cartoon is a charming adaptation of Virginia Lee Burton's 1942 Caldecott Medal winner. For the few minutes of its duration, the viewer feels deep interest in, and sympathy for, the little house - a tribute to the skill of the Disney artists in giving life to an inanimate object. The film benefits greatly from the expressive narration of Sterling Holloway.

This is a simple tale of a kind of endurance, a commitment to simplicity. A little house in the country has all that stereotypical charm. Newlyweds move in, raise a herd of brats (sorry, that's how they are portrayed), and then the house waits for new clients. In time, the march of time brings progress and urban sprawl, and soon this house is beset by monstrous building and people with little sensitivity. This a story that's been done lots of times, but it works quite well and makes one feel good.

Sterling Holloway, the original voice of Winne the Pooh, narrates this nice little tale. It's a story of a little house who was happy in the country but got lonely at nights. The house wondered what it would be like to have neighbors around her - she soon finds out when the city grew around her. The little house then misses her solitary country life and wonders if she will ever find that peace again.

Ultimately it's a film about the problems that comes with progress/industrialization.

8/10.