Morris Goes To School 1989

Morris the moose, Will Ryan voices a cheerful, curious creature who spends a sunny day wandering the countryside. He happily treads along until a shiny penny catches his eye, and he tucks it away with his growing trove of coins. With that small treasure in mind, he decides to head into town to buy something special.

In town, Morris makes a misstep and wanders into a fish market, proudly announcing that he wants candy. The market’s cashier explains that this is a fish market, not a candy shop, and quickly notices Morris can’t read. The cashier points him toward the candy store, setting Morris on a new path.

At the candy store, the candyman reveals another gap in Morris’s skills: he can only count to four. The friendly shopkeeper helps him grab some sweets, then guides him to the local school, Wiseman Elementary School, so Morris can learn more about the world around him.

There, the candyman introduces Morris to the teacher, Miss Fine, who is first seen reading Spring from Frog and Toad Are Friends to her students. Morris takes a seat with the rest of the class and begins to explore the basics of learning. As they go through the alphabet, the letter B brings to mind a stinging bee, while the letter C reminds him of his love for the sea. Miss Fine encourages Morris to raise his hand (or, in his case, his hoof) when he wants to speak, teaching him how to participate without interrupting.

A humorous stumble follows when Morris needs to use the bathroom and accidentally enters the girls’ room, a mix-up born from his reading difficulties. Later, during spelling time, he feels a pang of frustration that they didn’t spell the word “moose.” Miss Fine asks if any student can spell it, and when several try and err, she spells “moose” the right way to reinforce the correct spelling.

When it’s time for lunch and recess, Morris soon finds joy in the schoolyard—playing ball and jumping rope with the other kids. In art class, they try fingerpainting, while Miss Fine takes the opportunity to explain the grammar behind the phrase “this is fun,” turning a simple activity into a small lesson on language and meaning.

The day continues with a counting activity, and Miss Fine demonstrates that Morris can count all the way to 12 using his antlers, turning his physical feature into a counting tool. Music time follows, and the students sing a catchy number called “Feed Your Brain.” After that, they engage in make-believe, letting their imaginations roam.

When school finally ends, Morris celebrates his first day by buying gumdrops from the candy store—this time able to read and count for himself. He eagerly shares everything he learned that day with the candyman, recounting both the skills he picked up and the moments that helped him grow.

The film’s cast also includes Diane Michelle, who contributes to the storytelling and brings additional warmth to the scenes. The story remains a gentle, hopeful look at a day in the life of Morris as he discovers reading, counting, and the basics of classroom life, all celebrated with a soft, friendly tone that fits nicely into What’s After the Movie’s catalog of tales.