The Hill Farm (1989)

A farming couple awaken each morning to the cacophony of sounds from their barn next door. It’s a routine they are used to as they let the sheep out, feed the chickens and then try to waken their sleepy giant shepherd on the hillside opposite. Eventually he does arrive and that’s just as well because there’s a peckish bear on the hunt for a woolly snack. Next day, things start to take turns for the more unusual. Firstly, a group of tourists arrive to camp nearby, then their water supply runs dry before finally a group of fox hunters turn up intent on killing everything the can point their guns at - including the bees! Luckily for everyone, the storm clouds are gathering and so perhaps that will clear the air, scare away the interlopers and refill the well? I really enjoyed this. Aside from taking a fun pop at those who visit the countryside, or who live there and abuse it, this is an amiable story with some simple, cheerily exaggerated, but first rate animation (especially of the storm) that shows a little of how relentless farming is and how fickle nature can be with those who work the land. At least nobody has any ironing to do!