Before he quit Disney and formed his own company, Don Bluth did a lot for some of their animated films in the 70s, from being a character animator on Robin Hood, to being a directing animator on The Rescuers and even being the animation director on Pete's Dragon. However, one very notable project he directed was a half-hour short film called "The Small One". Although not as well known as other holiday specials, it is worthy to watch during this time of year for its pleasant retelling of an old donkey who is need of a new home.
Set near Nazareth, the story focuses on a young boy who must give away his cherished old donkey named Small One, except nobody at the market really wants him. With all that said, what really makes this special sweet is the relationship between the boy and Small One, as one can tell how much the boy cares for the old animal and doesn't want to give him away to just anyone. It's during several scenes where the townsfolk pester and berate the scrawny donkey where we sympathize the most with the boy in such a difficult situation. Now being that this is a spiritual special, it becomes clear how it will conclude from the subtext alone, but the religious aspect does not take away from the film's overall heart.
Being that this was directed by Bluth, it's no surprise that the animation is well handled. The animators give the proper facial features for Small One to make us endear him, and the occasional pretty effect and dark atmosphere are a nice bonus. The only complaints with the animation is how obvious the boy looks like Mowgli from The Jungle Book and that the auctioneer looks like one of the Italian chefs from Lady & the Tramp, but that can be blamed more on the budget. In addition, the musical numbers help compliment the film's tone. "Small One" helps establish the emotional feel of the film, "Friendly Face" is very moving given the somber context of its scene, and the Merchant's song is quite amusing and full of energy.
Needless to say, there is just enough heart and sweetness in The Small One to make it a holiday special worth seeing. Sure, Disney usually shies away from religious subject matter like this one, hence why it's somewhat obscure nowadays, but it's still a pleasant treat worth viewing for the emotional core that Bluth was known for in his best work. So if you're either a big fan of Disney, Bluth or Christmas specials related to the nativity, then definitely give this one a look. Remember, just because a special tackles a religious subject does not mean it can't be handled with respect, subtlety and tension to detail.
