The Scarecrows' Wedding

Betty O'Barley works hard as a lone scarecrow, but it's too much work for one. She's soon joined by Harry O'Hay, and as the two work side by side, they fall in love and plan to marry.

This truly was a gorgeous short. The BBC rarely fails when it comes to afternoon animation, and after the reflective King's Speech, this arrived as a surprisingly heartfelt delight.

The whole family loved it, young and old alike. It's super sweet, and watching the pair fall in love is utterly charming - although one does imagine the crows had a field day while Betty and Harry were off living it up.

Rob Brydon was perfect as Reginald Rake; at times I could almost see Uncle Bryn attempting to woo Betty.

What can you say? Visually delightful, genuinely heartwarming, and let's be honest - original content on the BBC is in short supply this year.

Sophie Okonedo has such a lovely speaking voice, although she essentially had money for old rope here.

8/10.

The Scarecrows' Wedding is the 13th Julia Donaldson animation made for the BBC. It really has become a staple for Christmas Day.

The story follows scarecrows Betty O'Barley (Jessie Buckley) and Harry O'Hay (Domhnall Gleeson) who fall in love and plan a perfect wedding.

However Harry ends up lost in a go slow thanks to a snail. This allows an alternative scarecrow Reginald Rake (Rob Brydon) to smoulder.

It is a simple story, the animation is nice but this is a kids story that lacks depth.

I recently watched *The Scarecrow's Wedding* and I have to say, I really enjoyed it! The story is charming and filled with heart. It's about two scarecrows who decide to tie the knot, and they go through quite the adventure to make their wedding dreams come true.

Visually, it's gorgeous. The animation is vibrant and really captures the whimsical feel of a rural setting. The characters are cute and relatable, especially the main scarecrows who have such a sweet bond. I found myself smiling a lot during their journey, and there are some genuinely funny moments that had me chuckling.

One thing I appreciated is the underlying messages about love and teamwork. It's great for kids but also has things that adults can enjoy and think about, too.

If I had to point out any downsides, it might be that some parts of the story felt a bit short especially the end, and if you're used to classic animated tales. But honestly, that didn't take away much from my overall experience.

In summary, *The Scarecrow's Wedding* is a delightful watch, perfect for families or anyone who enjoys a feel-good movie. I'd give it an 8 out of 10! Definitely worth checking out!