The Night the Animals Talked

I saw this as a child when it was first shown in 1970, and was so moved I cried...and when I found it on the USA Network in 1998 I watched it again, to see if my five-year-old tears held up--and sure enough, it choked me up again.

Not the greatest of animation...but the storyline and climax will hook you in, and never let you go. A forgotten Christmas classic that deserved much more than its single 1970 showing on network TV--search for it during the holidays...it's worth it.

The first time I saw this movie, I Had just gave birth to my first daughter. This movie was so inspirational that it brought tears to my eyes. I enjoyed this movie so much, I want my children and grandchildren to see it with me. It breaks my heart that this movie is not seen any more. I am in my late fifties, and I still would like to see this movie again. It may bring tears to my eyes, but they are tears of joy. With all the trouble around us we need more movies like The Night The Animals Talked. I have been searching for this movie for a very long time, if any one knows where I can find this movie, Please let us know. I looked at the family line-up for 25 days of Christmas, and again no movie of The Night The Animals Talked. This movie, The Night The Animals Talked is a great movie at Christmas time as well as anytime of the year. We need more movies like The Night The Animals Talked, to be seen on television. and DVD's or video, so more children could understand the great joy that it inspires.

It's a shame this movie is so unrecognized as a Christmas classic. It's a wonderful story.

Well, as the above commentor said, the animation is not the best, and that most certainly is true. But still, I think the tone and message of this little film is great.

If you can track this special down, give it a try. It would be great for some Christian elementary school classes, that might want try something different during the holiday season.

I would classify this special as a "B" movie. The A's being the ones that got popular and constantly repeated. This means that this isn't bad, but wasn't given the chance to catch on. It's a pity the networks didn't replay this a few more times when it came out.

The scene when the animals lose their one night gift is particulary poignant, and it does stick in the mind.

I hope it comes out on DVD in the next few years, along with a few other Christmas seventies cartoons that seem to be forgotten these days.

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.