The Selfish Giant

If you ever saw it as a kid on Canadian television around Christmas time, you'll remember this movie fondly (without a doubt, as much a favourite of mine as The Grinch, Rudolph and Frosty). A very creative and artistic interpretation (hey, Canadians routinely win Academy Awards(TM) for Best Animated Short for a reason) of a very sweet story. As a kid, I never understood or even noticed the religious symbolism but when I recently found, printed and read the story to my own young children I realized the ending was pretty blatant, and thus explained why I hadn't seen this holiday favourite on T.V. in many, many years. I suppose the Christian networks play this on regular rotation during Christmas time (if not -- they should) and I would propose that someone do a less literal version so that it would be appropriate for secular television again. A real tear-jerker, BTW.

A well known story. seductive animation. and the perfect clothes for a noble message. short, ideal adaptation for "The Selfish Giant". in few scenes almost better than the original tale. for the sweetness of drawing, for the delicacy of details, for the atmosphere, for gentle manner to translate in lovely - convincing images a seductive universe. a film who you fell. scene by scene. more than a good animation. as a lovely memory. defining yourself.

I too like many others who have posted here, watched this every holiday season here in Canada along with "The Happy Prince" and the Richard Chamberlain-narrated "The Little Mermaid" - all were produced by Potterton Productions with Reader's Digest Canada.

I have met Gerald Potterton and asked him about these animated shorts and it doesn't look like they will ever be coming out on DVD anytime soon. Because of legal issues when Reader's Digest film division closed down, the rights to these shorts have become forever lost.

It's a crying shame, the testament to the beauty of this animated feature is that even after not having watched it in over 25 years, I was still able to remember the story, the songs and the wonderful characters. Certain scenes stayed with me for years. At one point, I wasn't sure if it had all been real or not but after talking to friends here, I was glad to see that many others here had also watched it during the holidays.

As a child, the religious symbolism was lost on me but not the moral of the tale, the story of selflessness as ultimately being a good. It's a much needed reminder for children today and unfortunate that today's animated features shy away from such topics and fail to meet the quality of this charming little feature. Do yourself a favour and try finding a VHS copy either through ebay or Amazon, you won't regret it and nor will members of your family. This one is a keeper.

If this adaptation of the Selfish Giant is the Readers Digest Version from the seventies, and has narration by Paul Hect, I cannot endorse this video enough.

I've had the good fortune to loan it out to a Christian English Teacher at a Christian School who used it for a junior high class. I'm so glad that I was able to spread this great fairy tale around.

Hopefully, the owners of this adaptation will rerelease it on DVD, and perhaps it gain a bit more exposure in the Christian community.

A powerful story, with an ending I really didn't expect when I first saw it as a child. And somehow it stays with me. That, and the Reader's Digest version of The Little Mermaid has far more dramatic punch than say current Disney films. And I'm a Disney fan.

I wish I could get a few more copies to donate to a few friends of mine. This truly is a classic, but sadly probably won't gain the audience that a Disney film would get.

Sincerely,

JThree

Oscar Wilde wrote several fairy tales and they all tended to be bittersweet, and filled with a longing for a genuine, and all-encompassing love. To know something about Wilde's history is to know a little about where that love longing came from. The Selfish Giant is one of the finest stories he ever wrote and the creators of this short film gave it loving treatment. It's like a beautiful storybook magically come to life, and enhanced with truly haunting, memorable music and thoughtful lyrics. The animation/art direction is simple, subdued and effective, and clearly a lot of care was put into making this project beautiful in a simple way that doesn't overshadow the story. Too bad more projects aren't created with this kind of sincerity.

The Selfish Giant owns a garden where the local children like to play in his absence. When he returns home and sees the children in his garden he builds a wall to keep them out. The garden, lacking the love of the children, goes to sleep. The elements of winter, personified in beautiful, mischievous (but never evil) characters, decide this garden would be a perfect place for them to live year round. The giant is forced to confront the reality that he has built a wall that keeps love not only out of his garden, but out of his heart. However, he proves that redemption of one's character, though it may take hard work, is not impossible and never too late. The ending is overtly Christian in tone, offering salvation as a reward for those who are willing or able to serve others for a greater good, but even without the religious overtones the simple message works, is deeply effective and emotional.

What never ceases to intrigue me is that few people ever acknowledge the fact that such a sensitive, beautiful and morally rich story for children and adults was created by an unrepentant homosexual. It makes me wonder if the people who believe the Selfish Giant went to heaven believe Oscar Wilde went to hell.