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))
98 Reviews
A Classic Book that needs more attention and Apple nailed the short film and the animation is phenomenal
moviesfilmsreviewsinc26 December 2022
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.
Home is where the heart is
jamesjustice-9230 December 2022
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 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.
Beautiful Book > Beautiful Film
LordBarrold24 December 2022
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.
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.
Spellbinding.
Sleepin_Dragon24 December 2022
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.
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.
Lovely
JethrotheMutant24 December 2022
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.
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.
Absolutely magical
TheLittleSongbird19 January 2024
'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.
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.
Beautiful but massively over-eggs the therapy speak
sarahcalver30 December 2022
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.
Swept Away
srife1026 December 2022
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.
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.
Beautiful story of friendship and kindness
Makkers126 December 2022
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.
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.
Beautifully animated but joltingly bad dialogue
fatalbertsaysheyhey5 January 2023
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.
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.
A tour de force
bobbymartini-869-47347124 December 2022
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.
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.
Beautiful animation, not so good script
constelaciondelyra8 January 2023
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.
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.
Platitudes galore
matzucker4 January 2023
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.
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.
Wonderful and poignant
lyndsay202026 December 2022
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.
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.
Beautifully made film
considerthebirds24 December 2022
Warning: Spoilers
This film is so beautifully made, thoughtful and lovely, it compliments the book very well, it's the sort of immersive seemingly childlike film, which has profound things to say to anyone of every age.
I think this is one of those films, like the snowman, that could easily become part of a family tradition viewing each Christmas. It has moments of gentle humour, deep questioning, it's not got a complex story, but it allows each person to engage with the story. A stand out moment for me was when the mole spoke about listening less to fears, more to dreams.
If you love the book I don't think you'll be disappointed. If you don't know the book, it won't matter, just enjoy.
I think this is one of those films, like the snowman, that could easily become part of a family tradition viewing each Christmas. It has moments of gentle humour, deep questioning, it's not got a complex story, but it allows each person to engage with the story. A stand out moment for me was when the mole spoke about listening less to fears, more to dreams.
If you love the book I don't think you'll be disappointed. If you don't know the book, it won't matter, just enjoy.
What a beautiful story
urttb24 December 2022
Warning: Spoilers
There's a lovely, deeply important core philosophy running throughout this animation. A boy and four animals go on a journey together - sharing their thoughts, feelings, hopes and fears. On the way they learn and grow from spending time with each other.
There's excellent voice acting luscious soundtrack and superb animation, which brings the whole thing together. This is set to be a Christmas classic along with the likes of The Snowman.
The only thing - and it'll be the parent within me - I did spend a bit too much time worrying about the young boy's core temperature!
Joking aside - everyone young and old will enjoy watching this.
There's excellent voice acting luscious soundtrack and superb animation, which brings the whole thing together. This is set to be a Christmas classic along with the likes of The Snowman.
The only thing - and it'll be the parent within me - I did spend a bit too much time worrying about the young boy's core temperature!
Joking aside - everyone young and old will enjoy watching this.
Beautiful and essential
jdsrhvv20 February 2023
Beautifully animated and scored. A delight through and through.
I am surprised at the reviews that describe the language as cliche or droll. Nearly every line in this short film is ESSENTIAL for children to hear (over and over to reinforce) given the everyday dialogue of most television and cinema and the divided and conflicted state of the world today.
My wife dedicates her career to the development of young children's minds and this film will be high on her recommended viewing list.
Moving cinema that is full of full of love and hope. Thank you Charlie for your creation and Apple TV for bringing this wonderful book to life!
I am surprised at the reviews that describe the language as cliche or droll. Nearly every line in this short film is ESSENTIAL for children to hear (over and over to reinforce) given the everyday dialogue of most television and cinema and the divided and conflicted state of the world today.
My wife dedicates her career to the development of young children's minds and this film will be high on her recommended viewing list.
Moving cinema that is full of full of love and hope. Thank you Charlie for your creation and Apple TV for bringing this wonderful book to life!
"If at first you don't succeed, have some cake."
classicsoncall24 February 2023
Warning: Spoilers
I've never been big on feature length animated films, but when I had the opportunity to see all five contenders for this year's Best Animated Shorts Oscar, I thought why not. Of all the ones offered I thought that this one was the most likely winner. Quite easily the longest at thirty two minutes, the story comes across as a bit too preachy for my taste, and is saturated with feel good expletives about being kind and 'being glad we're all here'. A little bit too cutesy too. I probably come across as a curmudgeon with my comments, but this is not the type of animated cartoon that appeals to me. At least the artistic style of the picture makes it a much stronger effort than the others in this category.
This picture is a contender for a 2023 Oscar in the category of Best Animated Film Shorts. I was lucky enough to catch it along with the other four contenders for this year's Academy Award at the Paramount Theater in Middletown, New York. If not for this limited showing, I don't know how else I would have been able to see it. So, Congratulations to the Paramount for making it available to enthusiastic cinema fans like me.
This picture is a contender for a 2023 Oscar in the category of Best Animated Film Shorts. I was lucky enough to catch it along with the other four contenders for this year's Academy Award at the Paramount Theater in Middletown, New York. If not for this limited showing, I don't know how else I would have been able to see it. So, Congratulations to the Paramount for making it available to enthusiastic cinema fans like me.
Something about the mole
y-4078416 March 2023
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.
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.
You Are Loved And Important
olcare5 June 2023
Warning: Spoilers
First of all, there is a very emotional and sweet short film that does many things well but also lacks in some aspects.
Let me start with the lacking aspect, which is the screenplay. In the screenplay, nothing really happens to our characters. It would have been a masterpiece if they had embellished the important emotional dialogues with a few events. Unfortunately, it feels like the screenplay consists solely of dialogues aimed at delivering a message, and this is the major flaw. Some reviewers have given the film low ratings like 4, 5, or 6 because of this, but I think they are definitely being unfair. The film excels at what it does well.
The music, drawings, voice acting, and animation were all adorable and touching. Especially the atmosphere was very poignant. Just for this reason, I believe it deserves a 7 out of 10 because these aspects were truly valuable.
The underlying message about home was beautiful. I won't list all the lovely dialogues, but there were some really cute ones. It would have been great if they had added 1 or 2 events within the 10 minutes of the story, unrelated to the main message, so that some of the messages wouldn't have felt unresolved.
Love, being loved, friendship, and the concept of home are the most important parts of our lives, whether we realize it or not. Most of the bad things in the world are caused by homelessness (in an abstract sense) and lack of love. I wish everyone could learn to be loved and to love, just like Fox and Boy in the film. I also understand Horse's discomfort from feeling jealous. I wish this feeling didn't exist either, and I wish everyone could be as fun as Mole and complement each other. Hopefully, one day it will happen...
Let me start with the lacking aspect, which is the screenplay. In the screenplay, nothing really happens to our characters. It would have been a masterpiece if they had embellished the important emotional dialogues with a few events. Unfortunately, it feels like the screenplay consists solely of dialogues aimed at delivering a message, and this is the major flaw. Some reviewers have given the film low ratings like 4, 5, or 6 because of this, but I think they are definitely being unfair. The film excels at what it does well.
The music, drawings, voice acting, and animation were all adorable and touching. Especially the atmosphere was very poignant. Just for this reason, I believe it deserves a 7 out of 10 because these aspects were truly valuable.
The underlying message about home was beautiful. I won't list all the lovely dialogues, but there were some really cute ones. It would have been great if they had added 1 or 2 events within the 10 minutes of the story, unrelated to the main message, so that some of the messages wouldn't have felt unresolved.
Love, being loved, friendship, and the concept of home are the most important parts of our lives, whether we realize it or not. Most of the bad things in the world are caused by homelessness (in an abstract sense) and lack of love. I wish everyone could learn to be loved and to love, just like Fox and Boy in the film. I also understand Horse's discomfort from feeling jealous. I wish this feeling didn't exist either, and I wish everyone could be as fun as Mole and complement each other. Hopefully, one day it will happen...
Utterly beautiful and enchanting.
neilbowers24 December 2022
Warning: Spoilers
This was the perfect animated film for Christmas Eve afternoon A story of kindness, friendship, courage and hope for viewers of all ages.
A boy is lost in the snowy woods comes across the mole (voiced by Tom Hollander) who is obsessed with cake and they strike up a friendship.
While they're up a tree surveying the area for the boys lost house, they encounter a hungry fox (voiced by Idris Elba) prowling around the tree. The fox decides that it is better to leave them be and he wonders into the woods. You hear a yelp and the mole and boy head towards the noise to find the fox is entraped in a snare. With this teeth I can eat you snarls the fox. With my teeth I can release you the mole retorts and releases the fox.
The boy and the mole continue their journey. As they continue the mole ends up in a river seemingly on the verge of drowning. The fox repays the mole by saving him from drowning. I think you could hear a collective sigh of relief from across the UK after that.
They continue their journey and discover the fox has been following "Do you think he's following us?" "I do hope so" says the mole. "Maybe he feels lost to" the mole " replies "Well I think everyone feels a bit lost sometimes, I know I do" so, so true that bit really struck a chord with me.
As they continue, they come across a horse voiced by (Gabriel Byrne) and all 4 strike up a friendship although at first the fox is still a little bit distant and hasn't let himself get too involved.
It truly is a beautiful story especially as the horse shelters everyone from a storm. "When the big things feel out of contol, focus on what you love right under your nose" which is such a lovely message. It brought a tear to my eye.
"Oh, no! Where are the lights, I can't see them anymore" The boy is seemingly despondant and all but given up on finding his home. It's here where Idris Elba adds gravitas to the fox by saying my favourite line of the whole film. "You know sometimes your mind plays tricks on you. It can tell you you're no good, that it's all hopeless. But, I have discovered this you are loved, and important, and you bring to this world things that no-one else can. So hold on." and allows the boy to give him a hug.
This is such an important message for absolutely anyone and by the end of this I was a wreck. It really hit home with me as well.
We discover the horse could fly but, had stopped using his wings because it made the other horses feel jealous of his abilities. Suddenly they're up in the air soaring over the countryside looking from upon high for the boys village.
They find the boys village and they say their tearful goodbyes. But the boy decides that home doesn't have to be a place it can anything including love.
The adaption from the book was fantastic. The animation was beautiful as well. Even the end credits were beautiful with the mole scurrying around trying to get to a cake.
I can see this being regular viewing over the festive period. Evening becoming as popular and well loved as The Snowman and The Snowman and the Snow Dog.
Thank you BBC for putting this on. Easily the best thing on TV over the Christmas period.
A boy is lost in the snowy woods comes across the mole (voiced by Tom Hollander) who is obsessed with cake and they strike up a friendship.
While they're up a tree surveying the area for the boys lost house, they encounter a hungry fox (voiced by Idris Elba) prowling around the tree. The fox decides that it is better to leave them be and he wonders into the woods. You hear a yelp and the mole and boy head towards the noise to find the fox is entraped in a snare. With this teeth I can eat you snarls the fox. With my teeth I can release you the mole retorts and releases the fox.
The boy and the mole continue their journey. As they continue the mole ends up in a river seemingly on the verge of drowning. The fox repays the mole by saving him from drowning. I think you could hear a collective sigh of relief from across the UK after that.
They continue their journey and discover the fox has been following "Do you think he's following us?" "I do hope so" says the mole. "Maybe he feels lost to" the mole " replies "Well I think everyone feels a bit lost sometimes, I know I do" so, so true that bit really struck a chord with me.
As they continue, they come across a horse voiced by (Gabriel Byrne) and all 4 strike up a friendship although at first the fox is still a little bit distant and hasn't let himself get too involved.
It truly is a beautiful story especially as the horse shelters everyone from a storm. "When the big things feel out of contol, focus on what you love right under your nose" which is such a lovely message. It brought a tear to my eye.
"Oh, no! Where are the lights, I can't see them anymore" The boy is seemingly despondant and all but given up on finding his home. It's here where Idris Elba adds gravitas to the fox by saying my favourite line of the whole film. "You know sometimes your mind plays tricks on you. It can tell you you're no good, that it's all hopeless. But, I have discovered this you are loved, and important, and you bring to this world things that no-one else can. So hold on." and allows the boy to give him a hug.
This is such an important message for absolutely anyone and by the end of this I was a wreck. It really hit home with me as well.
We discover the horse could fly but, had stopped using his wings because it made the other horses feel jealous of his abilities. Suddenly they're up in the air soaring over the countryside looking from upon high for the boys village.
They find the boys village and they say their tearful goodbyes. But the boy decides that home doesn't have to be a place it can anything including love.
The adaption from the book was fantastic. The animation was beautiful as well. Even the end credits were beautiful with the mole scurrying around trying to get to a cake.
I can see this being regular viewing over the festive period. Evening becoming as popular and well loved as The Snowman and The Snowman and the Snow Dog.
Thank you BBC for putting this on. Easily the best thing on TV over the Christmas period.
A lovely time with not enough depth to be anything more
lucaslw-9314530 April 2023
Warning: Spoilers
A beautiful work of animation and composition. Such a serene journey through a winter landscape. From a purely sensory perspective, this animated short is such a delicious treat, much like the cake of the Mole's dreams. The voice actors, each famous in their own right do wonderful jobs as well. In particular, the Mole and the Boy are so well voiced.
The main weakness this project has is that, beyond the superficial, the actual story only goes where others have gone before and neither inspires anything profound nor particularly touching. The half hour runtime is padded with non sequitur discussion, shallow platitudes, weak character development (which, admittedly, may be an unfair parameter to assign to a short like this), and a meandering journey. There are interesting moments. "Being Honest is Always Interesting" actually is a pretty nice sentiment. Something I can't quite classify as cliched against the backdrop of other generic lovey dovey rehashed messages. It captures the vibe and is very much a spiritual amalgam of Winnie the Pooh, Calvin & Hobbes, Paddington, but each one of those is quite focused in either the message they deliver or the plot they take viewers/readers on.
Overall, would recommend a watch just because this is very much still a work of animated art and music. But those two things will not make a 6/10 perfect, so overall rating, 7/10.
The main weakness this project has is that, beyond the superficial, the actual story only goes where others have gone before and neither inspires anything profound nor particularly touching. The half hour runtime is padded with non sequitur discussion, shallow platitudes, weak character development (which, admittedly, may be an unfair parameter to assign to a short like this), and a meandering journey. There are interesting moments. "Being Honest is Always Interesting" actually is a pretty nice sentiment. Something I can't quite classify as cliched against the backdrop of other generic lovey dovey rehashed messages. It captures the vibe and is very much a spiritual amalgam of Winnie the Pooh, Calvin & Hobbes, Paddington, but each one of those is quite focused in either the message they deliver or the plot they take viewers/readers on.
Overall, would recommend a watch just because this is very much still a work of animated art and music. But those two things will not make a 6/10 perfect, so overall rating, 7/10.
Gorgeous animation, simply terrible story
wall175 March 2023
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.
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 Number One Film
jromanbaker24 December 2022
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.
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