The Little House

The Little House is a 1952 animated short based on the 1942 Caldecott Medal-winning children's book by Virginia Lee Burton.

Plot
The story centers on a house built at the top of a small hill, far out in the country, who is delighted when a newleywed couple choose her for a home. However, the house feels lonely at night and wonders what it might be like to have other houses to talk to, often gazing at the lights of the distant city (known as urban sprawl), which can grow even more closer.

Eventually two stately Victorian mansions are built on either side of the Little House. She is happy to have some neighbours at last, but is offended when the mansions look down on her for being inferior. One night, a fire breaks out and both of the mansions burn down. The Little House considers this a pity, even though they weren't very nice.

The cartoon then switches to the 20th century, and the Little House is shown to have had two tall tenement buildings built on either side of her. Sadly, her family moves away to escape all the noise that the residents in both buildings make, but the house reminds herself that come what may, she must stand her ground. Years pass, and the tenements get demolished to make way for three towering skyscrapers. By this time, the Little House has become battered and worn with age and has begun to long for her old life the small hill in the countryside.

One day, a wrecking crew comes, presumably to demolish her, but the Little House doesn't mind because she has come to consider herself "in the way" and "no good to anybody." She also resolves that she should be glad she has lived for as long as she did. However much to her delight, it turns out that they had come to move her out to the country and fix her up so that a new couple can come and live in her.

Home video releases
DVD
 * Walt Disney Treasures: Disney Rarities