The Small One is a Christmas animated short film created by The Walt Disney Company, and was originally released to theaters in the United States on December 16, 1978, along with a re-release of Disney's 2nd animated film, Pinocchio. It started off as a children's book, by Charles Tazewell. Looking for an experimental plot to create into a cartoon, Disney came upon the story and brought it to vivid life. It was an experiment for the newer and younger animators, including Don Bluth.
The short is a story of a young boy, outside of Nazareth, who must part with his best friend, an old donkey named Small One. He brings it to market, but no one is in need of a "scrawny donkey", save for a tanner. And when things look bleak, Small One leads his friend back to the tanner's, ready to give his life. But new hope comes along, in the form of a gentle man, who buys Small One for his blessed wife.
A young boy must part with his beloved donkey, named "small one". When he takes him into town to sell him, the only people who want to buy him are cruel. When all hope seems lost and small one leads his master back to the tanners shop where he is willing to sacrifice his life. A miracle happens, and he is bought by Joseph to carry Mary to Bethlehem. Written by
