In 1954, a revolutionary animated feature hit screens across the world. George Orwell's ANIMAL FARM told the story of animals staging a coup, taking over the land from their tyrannical master Farmer Jones and discovering the pitfalls of social order. Led by Snowball and Napoleon, the two most intelligent pigs on Manor Farm; the animals set out to create a life of equality, harmony and prosperity. Life runs smoothly at first but gradually Napoleon sees the chance to seize power above and beyond the others. He orchestrates the removal of the altruistic Snowball and assumes control of the farm. "Pig rule" is established with the animals finding themselves exploited once again. They dimly remember under the revolution that "all animals are equal"...though some obviously more so than others...
Originally published in 1945 as a metaphor for events Orwell observed in his lifetime, ANIMAL FARM reflected the uprising in Russia prior to the Stalin era and leading up to World War 2. The film examines the corruption of revolutionary ideas - the downfall of utopian agendas.
Adapted for the screen by husband and wife animation house Halas & Batchelor, ANIMAL FARM enjoyed massive worldwide success, becoming an iconic film on the merits of its thematical social commentary as well as its unique style of European influenced (yet still very British) style of animation.
ANIMAL FARM, the very first British feature-length animated film to be distributed worldwide, is still to this day shrouded in controversy. Legend has it the CIA obtained the rights to the film after George Orwell's death, changing the ending dramatically from his book and covertly funding the production as anti-communist propaganda (Orwell's widow allegedly requested a meeting with her screen idol Clarke Gable as part of the deal!). Even today the film evokes strong divided reactions.
Fifty five years since the release of Animal Farm, new masters have been obtained with thousands of dust particles removed from the original print. Siren Visual presents ANIMAL FARM packed with bonus features:
*DOWN ON ANIMAL FARM - BBC TV's Tony Robinson (Blackadder) tells the story of Halas & Batchelor and how Animal Farm was made.
*Image gallery
*Original animation storyboard including conceptual character and preliminary sketches
*Commentary by writer, broadcaster and film historian Brian Sibley
*Critical reviews
*Newspaper articles
*Booklet with liner notes
