On the threshold of Christmas 2024, the moving animated short The Small One (The Little One) from 1978 resurfaces as an emotional reminder of the true essence of this celebration: the birth of the Child Jesus.
The Little One It is an animation produced by Walt Disney Productions and directed by Don Bluth, a renowned filmmaker and artist who created other animation classics such as Anastasia, A brave little mouse o The land before time.
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This short, based on a story by Charles Tazewell, tells the moving story of a boy and his little donkey who live on the outskirts of Nazareth. This little donkey, nicknamed “Little One,” is considered too old and weak to perform any useful task in the village. Faced with the difficult decision of getting rid of him, the boy embarks on a trip with his four-legged friend to the city in search of a buyer who will give him a silver coin in exchange.
Although the film seems to be just a story of friendship between a boy and his donkey, it offers a deeper reflection on the real meaning of Christmas. As the boy and the donkey face hardships on their journey, parallels with the biblical story of Jesus’ birth are revealed.
The figure of the little donkey, apparently insignificant and despised for its smallness, allows us to remember the humility with which Jesus came into the world.
Along their path, they encounter characters who, in some way, symbolize sin in humanity, while others symbolize the importance of compassion and charity. These elements connect the animated story to the fundamental values of the Catholic faith.
This story becomes truly moving when a kind man approaches the boy and asks if Little One is available for sale, as he needs a donkey to take his wife and unborn child to Bethlehem.
The man turns out to be Saint Joseph, who assures the boy that he will take care of his faithful companion and offers him the silver coin he needed in exchange. The boy accepts, tenderly says goodbye to Little One and watches in amazement as the couple, accompanied by the little donkey, begins their journey under the star of Bethlehem.
Diego Lopez Marina
I was born in 1991. I have a degree in Communication Sciences. Since 2015 I have worked as a digital journalist. I started my career at the Peruvian newspaper El Comercio. In 2016, I started as an editor at ACI Prensa and I have worked as a web editor since 2018. Starting in 2024, I write the newsletter for social media. I specialize in Catholic news focused on the defense of life and family, international politics, technology, popular culture and the Vatican.