Short animated family film

The Small One (1978): Cast & Plot

Name: The Small One
Genre: Animation, Family
Released: 1978-12-16
Duration: 26 min
Cast: Gordon Jump, Hal Smith, Olan Soule, William Woodson, Joe Higgins

The Small One is a 1978 short animated family film directed by Don Bluth, starring Gordon Jump as Joseph (voice), Hal Smith and Olan Soule. It runs 26 minutes.

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Read the plot summary

Released: December 16, 1978
Runtime: 26 min
Director: Don Bluth
Genres: Animation , Family
Original language: English
Studio: Walt Disney Productions
After the credits: No No extra scene

The story

What Is The Small One About?

The premise of The Small One without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

When his father orders him to sell the old mule Small One, a Hebrew boy travels from his village in the ancient Holy Land to the Jerusalem market. After finding no buyers, he meets a kind man named Joseph, who purchases the donkey and uses it to carry his pregnant wife Mary to Bethlehem.

The Small One Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags

christmas
auction
auctioneer
horse auction
nativity story
runt
market
star of bethlehem
stable
bible
religion
2d animation

+38 more

hand drawn animation
anger
don bluth
mockery
crying
horse
father son relationship
roman soldier
loneliness
singing
christianity
joseph of nazareth character
coin
money
boy
pet
knife
decision
nazareth israel
title same as book
three word title
miracle
city
cartoon donkey
friend
best friend
human animal relationship
pet donkey
christian
ancient israel
christian film
rage
red with anger
reference to jesus christ
reference to the virgin mary
opening logo
opening credits
song during opening credits

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Cast & crew

The Small One Cast & Characters

Gordon Jump leads the cast as Joseph (voice), with Hal Smith as Auctioneer (voice) and Olan Soule as Father (voice). Directed by Don Bluth; 6 actors are credited in all.

Director Don Bluth

Gordon Jump as Joseph (voice)
Hal Smith as Auctioneer (voice)
Olan Soule as Father (voice)
William Woodson as Tanner (voice)

Also Starring in The Small One

· 2 more

Joe Higgins Guard (voice)
Sean Marshall Boy (voice)

From the director

More from Don Bluth

More films directed by Don Bluth, best-rated first: The Secret of NIMH, The Land Before Time, Anastasia and Titan A.E..

Full filmography

Plot

The Small One Plot Summary

What happens in The Small One from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 9 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In the serene countryside near Nazareth, in the kingdom of Herod, a young boy and his father share a modest life caring for four donkeys. Among them is Small One, an aging and frail donkey who can no longer carry the heavy loads of firewood the boy’s father typically gathers. Despite his old age and weakened state, the boy shows kindness and concern for Small One, carefully loading him with the smallest sticks and helping him along.

Full summary

The whole story of The Small One, scene by scene

Read the full summary

Timeline of events

Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Small One?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

Question 1: not answered
Question 2: not answered
Question 3: not answered
Question 4: not answered
Question 5: not answered
Question 6: not answered
Question 7: not answered
Question 8: not answered
Question 9: not answered
Question 10: not answered

What is the main reason for selling Small One?

Seen The Small One?

Movies Like The Small One

Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Little Brown Burro, Silent Night: The Story of the First Christmas and The Story of Christmas.