This film is part of Rentals

Animal Farm
Sixty years young, this British cartoon of George Orwell’s political ‘fairy story’ is still the most abiding adaptation of this powerful, cautionary tale for all ages.
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1954 72 mins
Director: Joy Batchelor
Overview
Britain’s first animated feature film remains a powerful, cautionary tale 60 years on. What would happen if the animals took over the farm? With the farmer gone the pigs take control. All animals are equal, but are some more equal than others? George Orwell’s novella is famous as a political allegory, but it only works as such because it is also an engaging story. John Halas and Joy Batchelor's accessible animation style brings it to life beautifully.
In recent years the story of the film’s part funding by the CIA as part of an occasionally subtle anti-Soviet propaganda scheme has come to the surface, adding a certain notoriety to the film. The decision to replace Orwell’s original bleak ending with a more upbeat cycle of revolution is as controversial now as it was when the film was released. What is less clear is John and Joy’s knowledge of the arrangement between their production associate, March of Time producer Louis de Rochement, and his ultimate employer, the American secret service. But as Halas & Batchelor had been producing propaganda shorts for the British government since 1942 it is likely that they would have not have found the situation as disquieting as it sounds today.

Related
Animation & Artists Moving Image

Chicken Run Chicken Run
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2000 84 mins Director: Peter Lord
Mel Gibson’s Rocky the rooster helps the chickens escape from fascistic farmers in Aardman Animations first foray into feature films.

Belle Belle
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2021 122 mins Director: Mamoru Hosoda
High-school student Suzu finds her voice in an incredible virtual world that allows everyday people to become extraordinary.

Flee Flee
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2021 83 mins Director: Jonas Poher Rasmussen
Winner of the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize for Documentary at Sundance Film Festival, Flee is a testament to friendship, family and acceptance.

Behindert Behindert
Documentary 1974 98 mins Director: Stephen Dwoskin
The account of a close, personal relationship as experienced by a disabled man.

Trying to Kiss the Moon Trying to Kiss the Moon
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1994 96 mins Director: Stephen Dwoskin
Autobiographical film by the veteran disabled experimental filmmaker, Steve Dwoskin.

Tehran Taboo Tehran Taboo
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2016 96 mins Director: Ali Soozandeh
In this gorgeously animated drama, the lives of several strong-willed women and a young musician intersect in contemporary Iran.
Animated Britain

Paddington Paddington
Children's 2014 95 mins Director: Paul King
Unexpectedly beautiful and bewitching return for the marmalade-loving bear with a sense of adventure.

Chicken Run Chicken Run
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2000 84 mins Director: Peter Lord
Mel Gibson’s Rocky the rooster helps the chickens escape from fascistic farmers in Aardman Animations first foray into feature films.

Shaun the Sheep Movie Shaun the Sheep Movie
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2014 85 mins Director: Richard Starzak
Aardman returns with another delightful animation for young and old, telling the story of Shaun’s adventures in the big city after Farmer is led astray.

Men of Merit (a Lantern Lecture) Men of Merit (a Lantern Lecture)
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1948 4 mins
Vibrant, progressive animation contrasts with some outdated attitudes in this Electricity Council cartoon on energy usage

Paddington 2 Paddington 2
Children's 2017 103 mins Director: Paul King
Britain’s favourite bear returns for another adventure. Porridge rather than marmalade looks set to be Paddington's new staple after he's framed for a robbery, unless the Brown family can help solve the mystery.

When the Wind Blows When the Wind Blows
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1986 84 mins Director: Jimmy Teru Murakami
A middle-aged couple prepare for nuclear war in this humorous and macabre cautionary tale, adapted by Raymond Briggs (The Snowman) from his best-selling book.
Featuring Maurice Denham

Blanche Fury Blanche Fury
Period drama 1947 94 mins Director: Marc Allégret
Valerie Hobson stars as the scheming governess with designs on taking over the Fury estate, in this atmospheric Gothic melodrama

Countess Dracula Countess Dracula
Horror 1970 94 mins Director: Peter Sasdy
An ageing countess finds that if she bathes in the blood of virgins her youth is restored.

Recluse Recluse
Crime 1979 29 mins Director: Bob Bentley
Based on the true story of a tragic murder and suicide that took place on the Luxton farm in Devon in the 1970s.
New

Arcadia Arcadia
Documentary 2017 79 mins Director: Paul Wright
A folk horror wrapped up in an archive film, set to a soundtrack by Adrian Utley (Portishead) and Will Gregory (Goldfrapp).

Chicken Run Chicken Run
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2000 84 mins Director: Peter Lord
Mel Gibson’s Rocky the rooster helps the chickens escape from fascistic farmers in Aardman Animations first foray into feature films.

Playground [Un Monde] Playground [Un Monde]
Drama 2021 72 mins Director: Laura Wandel
The harsh world of playground politics is seen through the eyes of a seven-year-old girl in a gripping debut from Belgian writer-director Laura Wandel.

Luzzu Luzzu
Drama 2021 95 mins Director: Alex Camilleri
Writer-director Alex Camilleri’s powerful neorealist drama is a rare home-grown Maltese production.

Boys on Film 22: Love to Love You Boys on Film 22: Love to Love You
Anthology 2022 144 mins Director: Oliver Mason
The latest in Peccadillo’s critically acclaimed series features a fresh and exciting selection of the very best contemporary gay short films.

Between Two Worlds [Ouistreham] Between Two Worlds [Ouistreham]
Drama 2021 106 mins Director: Emmanuel Carrère
Juliette Binoche plays an undercover reporter investigating the conditions faced by France’s working women in this insightful, involving drama.