John Henry

Over the next few days, I will be looking at a list of shorts that I saw on NetFlix that was released on “Walt Disney Animation Studios Short Films Collection.” The first short I will look at is the 2000 short, “John Henry,” which was also released on “Disney’s American Legends” DVD.

Kirby C. Holt noted in her review, “It's no wonder that Walt Disney, a true American, would take to such stories for his animated films. As is witness in a lot of his projects, Walt had a true sense of Americana, and he delighted in being able to retell these stories to new audiences.” That dedication continues to this day, as you could see in their first short in the Short Films Collection DVD, “John Henry.”

John Henry was a former slave whose great strength made him one of the African-American role models from way back in the slave time. Carrying a sledge hammer that was made from the chains he was tied up in, he was a one-man railroad ream that “could move mountains.” He really has his work cut out for him when he goes up against a mechanical power hammer that threatens to steam him of his land.

Holt credited, “This short is a beautiful throw-back to classic traditional animation, with it's inspired use of a patchwork quilt framing device and a stirring gospel music score.”

I really think this short is inspiring and you should check it out either as part of the Short Films Collection or if you can find the short online and just watch it by itself. You will really like how well it was animated and how powerfully they told the story for little kids.

Check in tomorrow to see the next short I will look at in “Disney Month 2020.”