The Small One

<p><strong>Day 13:</strong> Part 2 of our Christmas donkey double feature takes a deep dive into Don Bluth’s last Disney project, “The Small One,” a short film released in front of the 1978 re-release of “Pinocchio.”</p> <h4>On This Episode</h4> <ol> <li><strong>Mike Westfall</strong> (<a href="https://twitter.com/fallwestmike">@fallwestmike</a>), a scrawny, undernourished little beast.</li> <li><strong>Lindy Kempe</strong> (<a href="(https://twitter.com/ieatvideogames)">@ieatvideogames</a>), a friendly face who’s gentle and true.</li> <li><strong>Brandon Medley</strong> (<a href="https://twitter.com/brandmed">@brandmed</a>) from <a href="https://blessedarethegeek.tumblr.com">Blessed are the Geek</a> and good enough to be in a king’s stable.</li> </ol> <hr /> <h4>Topics and Tangents</h4> <ol> <li>Like so many Disney movies, it’s based on a book — “<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Small_One_%28book%29">The Small One: A Story for Those Who Like Christmas and Small Donkeys</a>.”</li> <li>It’s directed by Don Bluth, so of course we get talking about “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRU0TaJq2eA">Dragon’s Lair</a>.”</li> <li>The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlSimzDnegA">“Land Before Time” toys from Pizza Hut</a>.</li> <li><a href="https://www.cartoonbrew.com/wardkimball/when-everyone-left-disney-101724.html">Mouse in Transition: When Everyone Left Disney</a>, Chapter 7 of Steve Hulett’s inside look at Disney Feature Animation deals with Don Bluth’s exit from the company after working on “The Small One.”</li> <li>The time <a href="http://www.traditionalanimation.com/2018/don-bluth-returns-to-walt-disney-animation-studios-after-40-years/">Don Bluth returned to Walt Disney Animation Studios after 40 years</a>.</li> <li>Assistant director Richard Rich went on to direct all 8 movies in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Swan_Princess_%28film_series%29">“Swan Princess” franchise</a>. I’m sorry to have just informed you that there are 8 Swan Princess movies.</li> <li><a hre