The Enchanted Square

This is a Raggedy Ann film where she ends up in the arms of a pretty little blind girl. They go to a place called Enchanted Square where there are so many things that she can sense without her eyes. This could be maudlin, but it works very well and has a soft landing. Nice animation for this period.

This is a true masterpiece of storytelling, one that has lasted me over 45 years when I saw it as a child. I hope to see it again as I have not seen it since then but have fond memories of its heartwarming power. In many ways I believe it has influenced my life's work in deep and meaningful ways. I'm a video producer who has devoted the past 25 years to creating videos the encourage people and uplift them. I wish we could have a network devoted to these treasures for new generations to be touched by. If anyone knows of other classic cartoons like this one I would like to know so that we could start a classic cartoon club and have home screenings to ensure that new generations get to see the artistry and storytelling from the past.

This cartoon deserves more than 10 stars, but 10 is the highest this website allows. I had seen the cartoon on YouTube, and discovered that it was part of the 600 Giant Cartoon DVD collection I had purchased some time ago. No matter how many times you watch this cartoon, it will still bring a tear to your eye. It does to me just thinking about it. This cartoon is in a class by itself, and I believe everyone should see it. This cartoon ends with one of the best lines I've ever heard in any movie, cartoon short, or TV show: "There's some that sees with the eyes in their head; and there's some that sees with the eyes in their heart. And that's the Lord's own truth." I would love to have seen this done as live-action, although I think it would have been too powerful. It's powerful enough as a cartoon.

Some of Fleischer's lesser-known works are equally heartfelt. Like someone else had said, the Fleischers were better known for their character-driven cartoons, like Betty Boop, Little Lulu, and Popeye, all of whom had funny and wacky adventures, all good for a laugh or two. The lesser-known cartoons are the ones that tend to stick with you for a long time, and have a more heartfelt message to them. They're lesser-known only for the titles. If you go to any forum or question/answer site, you will find many asking "what was that cartoon with the blind girl and the doll" or "what was that cartoon with the brother and sister who were poor and dreamed of eating ice cream and popcorn", with a few people being able to provide the correct answer.

'The Enchanted Square' is one of those animated shorts like most of the other shorts from Famous Studios that has sadly gotten the s**t end of the stick (most of the non Popeye shorts produced by Fleischer & Famous Studios that were released by Paramont Studios got sold to various film distribution firms in the mid to late 1950's in 16mm to television stations,and subsequently got lost in a black hole in space in the late 1960's,making them extremely hard to find,although badly scratched prints have turned up on cheaply produced VHS video copies years later). This is one of the few Raggedy Ann shorts that Famous Studios produced. The story concerns a Raggedy Ann doll,found in the trash & found by a kind policeman (voiced by Jackson Beck),and is given to the mother of a little blind girl. When Ann comes to life (in the girl's fantasy),and points out to the girl about how she can see more than she can with eyes. This is a beautifully illustrated & animated short that is a depart from the usual laugh filled shorts (i.e. Popeye,Little Lulu,etc)that Famous was known for. Pity that these long lost shorts aren't available for a generation that could appreciate early cell animation.

A little blind girl is given an abandoned doll (who just happens to be Raggedy Ann) by a kind-hearted policeman. Through Raggedy Ann the girl's imagination comes splendidly alive in this wonderful forgotten Famous Studios cartoon that is filled with vibrant scenes, touching characters, a good score and grand direction. This cartoon is highly recommended for animation buffs of all ages and especially families looking for good entertainment. The policeman may have been played by radio and cartoon actor/announcer Jackson Beck (Bluto of the Popeye series). Available in the Public Domain in very good quality. Find it if you can, it's a gem!