Animals United

A fire breaks out at a circus. Children get the animals out. The animals are returned to their own countries. From that day on they count the children as friends. Time passes. Alois the lion is reading a newspaper. The item is about a peace conference held by humans. It was the three hundred and sixty fifth of them, and again nothing came of it. Wars go on and so does hunger. The animals decide to gather. They call a conference of their own, meaning to push people towards a lasting peace for the sake of their children. The story comes from Erich Kästner’s 1949 book, written just after the war. It is counted as the first German feature length animated film in colour. Georg Thomalla and Rosemarie Fendel are among the voices in the ninety three minute film, a German production Curt Linda finished in 1969.