Animal Farm 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 1954 BFI British Film Institute John Halas Joy Batchelor George Orwell

This is a pre-sale item scheduled for release on November 23, 2026. 

Since this is a pre-order, it must be checked out on its own and cannot be combined with other orders. Orders will ship on or around the release date, pending receipt of the product from our distributor.

A landmark piece of British cinema history is presented here newly restored in 4K by the BFI!

Introducing BFI's 4K Ultra HD (Region Free) Limited Edition release for 1954's Animal Farm, Britain’s first animated feature that was an adaptation of George Orwell’s classic political allegory, Animal Farm.

Fed up with cruel Farmer Jones, a group of revolutionary animals take over control of Manor Farm and set out to create a utopian society. But soon, conflict and corruption begin to brew.

Directed and produced by award-winning animation legends John Halas & Joy Batchelor, the film was sold to the public as a distinctly British production. But unbeknownst to the film’s crew, Animal Farm was covertly part-funded by the CIA, a fact which only came to light four decades after the film’s release and has defined much of its legacy since. Forming part of the CIA’s anti-Soviet propaganda, the ending of the film was famously changed from Orwell’s pessimistic original to a more upbeat, revolutionary one, a choice which proved controversial with critics.

Limited Edition Features:

• Limited edition including a double-sided poster, a set of four postcards and rigid-board slipcase
• 60-page book featuring new essays on Animal Far by Jez Stewart, Vivien Halas, Professor Paul Wells, Kevin Le Gendre, and Charlie Brigden, and writing on the short films by Ros Cranston, Katy McGahan, Charlie Brigden, and Ellen Cheshire. Also includes rarely seen material from the archives of animator Arthur Humberstone and Halas & Batchelor

Features:

• Restored from the original 35mm Successive Frame negative in 4K and presented on UHD in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
• Vintage audio commentary by writer and broadcaster Brian Sibley
• Newly recorded audio commentary by animation scholar Sam Summers
• Animal Farm line tests (6 mins): rare surviving line tests from Animal Farm, offering a glimpse of the film’s animation in progress as drawings are checked for movement, timing and continuity before final production
• Inside the Archive: Halas and Batchelor and Animal Farm (2026, 14 mins)
• Clapperboard (extracts) (1980, 38 mins): a selection of extracts from Clapperboard: The Halas & Batchelor Story a three-part celebration of the work of Halas & Batchelor which aired in 1980 for their 40th anniversary. John Halas talks to Chris Kelly about their history so far, discussing several key films, all of which are included on this release
• An Animated Utopia: The Life and Achievement of John Halas (2012, 67 mins): Paul Well's documentary essay is a profile of the life of work of John Halas. Made for his centenary, it features interviews with many of the people who worked with Halas and clips from his films
• Ode to Joy (2014, 4 mins): Martin Pickles' celebration of the life and work of Joy Batchelor. Made to mark the centenary of her birth
• Halas & Batchelor: Short Films (1942-1967, 88 mins): a collection of short films selected especially for this release. Filling the Gap, Dustbin Parade, Cold Comfort, Six Little Jungle Boys, Your Very Good Health, Robinson Charley, The Magic Canvas, The Owl and the Pussycat, Midsummer Nightmare, The Cultured Ape, Automania 2000, and The Question
• Newly created English descriptive subtitles

Technical Specs:

• Year: 1954
• Language: English
• Runtime: 72
• Aspect Ratio: NA
• Subtitles: English (optional)