I remember watching this on Cartoon Network's Toon Heads program about Christmas, and as a kid, I was only attached to the little squirrels and other animals instead of the serious message the short was portraying (as it was released in a year when Britain and France would declare war on Nazi Germany after they invaded Poland, starting what would be known as World War II). This cartoon is basically an old-time anti-war propaganda that had a good message, but sadly, one that would do no good, as America entered the war after the Pearl Harbor attacks by Japan (who at the era, were allied with Nazi Germany).
Set in a world where animals only exist, Christmas has come, and after hearing the song the short is named after sung by their grandfather, two squirrel kids asked what the men the song mentions. Here, Grandpa Squirrel tells them a story about how in their world, there are no more men, as he talks about the war where they went extinct.
Yeah, it was very dark for a cartoon themed around Christmas, as it shows scenes of what happened during the first World War (including the gear the soldiers wore, the weapons they used, and the tanks they drove) as well as the destruction that resulted from such battles. As some of the animators are veterans of World War I (and would go on to make World War II propaganda cartoons), adding some realism to the flashback. However, it ends on a good note, and the animals learn a lesson about why war was bad.
The voice acting, although only Grandpa Squirrel has the most lines, were perfect, and the short has a good rendition of Come, All Ye Faithful and Silent Night.
Set in a world where animals only exist, Christmas has come, and after hearing the song the short is named after sung by their grandfather, two squirrel kids asked what the men the song mentions. Here, Grandpa Squirrel tells them a story about how in their world, there are no more men, as he talks about the war where they went extinct.
Yeah, it was very dark for a cartoon themed around Christmas, as it shows scenes of what happened during the first World War (including the gear the soldiers wore, the weapons they used, and the tanks they drove) as well as the destruction that resulted from such battles. As some of the animators are veterans of World War I (and would go on to make World War II propaganda cartoons), adding some realism to the flashback. However, it ends on a good note, and the animals learn a lesson about why war was bad.
The voice acting, although only Grandpa Squirrel has the most lines, were perfect, and the short has a good rendition of Come, All Ye Faithful and Silent Night.