The Small One was the first film made with Don Bluth in charge.   He was the head of the production, second to the guys in charge of the Disney company of course.   The film is a Disney Christmas animated short, and tells of a boy's journey to find someone to buy his donkey, who has become too old and tired to work hard enough to earn his keep.   The way the story is told is quite clever, and it only becomes clear what story you're actually watching at the end.

The songs "The Small One" and "The Merchant's Song" were written by Don himself, as he wrote songs for "Banjo the Woodpile Cat".   This film, and the experience of making it, (along with "BANJO") I feel, probably had some bearing in who decided to leave with Don when he and Disney went their seperate ways.   Many of the names in the credits would go on to make NIMH and TAIL.

 

       

 

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