6 Most Inspiring Films For Animal Lovers

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In the Catholic tradition, the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, is celebrated each fall. Shortly before or after that day, many churches of various denominations hold special Blessing of the Animals ceremonies. The ceremonies honor St. Francis and his love of animals. The churches follow in the footsteps of the beloved saint by acknowledging the infinite value and preciousness of all of God’s creatures great and small.

And those creatures can have a life-changing impact on our lives. Their unconditional love can not only bring us joy, it can help us to be more loving to and appreciative of others. Their ability to overlook our faults and forgive us for our mistakes can help us to forgive others. The bond they share with us can even provide therapy and assistance to people with a wide variety of issues and medical conditions. And their ability to learn to use their gifts to serve and protect communities is nothing short of amazing.

Considering the powerful connection many of us experience with animals, it’s no wonder that films featuring them can touch our hearts and have an enduring impact on our lives. They can inspire audiences for generations and move us in a variety of positive ways. But many of these films can enrich our faith as well. Even independent and mainstream secular films sometimes reflect Christian values. Here are six such films, from as early as 1944 through 2016, that have inspired many and should continue to do so for a long time to come.

Babe

Universal Pictures

The 1995 film about a lovable pig (voiced by Christine Cavanaugh) was filmed in Australia and based on the children’s novel “Babe: The Gallant Pig” by Dick King-Smith. In the film, which does have a few frightening scenes, Babe is won by a farmer at a fair, and the piglet bonds with Fly, one of the farmer’s prized border collies. Viewing Fly as a mother figure, Babe learns from her and hopes to become a “sheep pig.” To the dismay of the farmer’s wife and the barnyard animals, the farmer has the same hope for the pig. When both of his dogs become injured, the farmer enters Babe in a sheep herding competition.

As the film’s protagonist, Babe is filled with love for his fellow barnyard animals and for the farmer. Because of his love for his neighbors, he comforts, encourages and tries to protect them. He and the farmer also demonstrate faith that the pig is called to a higher purpose than what society says is his lot in life. Like many people who follow Jesus, Babe and the farmer endure ridicule. But, ultimately, Babe’s goodness and faith triumph.

National Velvet

Metro Gold Mayer

Like “Babe,” the 1944 film “National Velvet” was based on a children’s novel. The adaptation of Enid Bagnold’s novel of the same title features Elizabeth Taylor in her first starring role as 12-year-old Velvet Brown. The girl prays for God to bring her horses and make her the best rider in England. When she meets a young wanderer, who used to be a jockey, and a wild horse, the meeting fuels her dreams. With help from Velvet’s parents, the wanderer is given housing and a job at the family’s butcher shop. He helps Velvet and Pie, the horse, prepare for Pie’s entry into England’s prestigious Grand National racing event.

Jesus asks us to treat everyone with dignity, respect and kindness. And that’s how Velvet and her family treat the former jockey. Although he intends to steal from them, their kindness and Velvet’s belief in him wins him over. Jesus also teaches us that with God’s grace, we can accomplish great things. Velvet’s dreams seem impossible for a child and a horse with no racing experience. But through faith, hope, love and dedication, God makes her dreams come true.

Dolphin Tale

Alcon Entertainment

While this 2011 film wasn’t based on a book, it was inspired by the true story of Winter, a dolphin at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium in Clearwater, Fla. In the film, a lonely boy named Sawyer (played by Nathan Gamble) finds a severely injured dolphin on a beach. He helps the dolphin to be rescued. When he discovers that the dolphin’s tail was amputated, he goes the extra mile to find people who can make an innovative prosthetic tail for the dolphin.

When Jesus walked among us, He could have miraculously changed the world entirely by himself. Instead, He chose to recruit disciples to help bring the Good News to the world. He humbled himself and showed us that we need each other to achieve great things. In the film, the boy recruits others to help him to help the dolphin to survive and thrive. He also demonstrates how far love and faith can take someone, while the film shows how what the world perceives as our weaknesses can become our strengths.

A Street Cat Named Bob

Stage 6 Films

This 2016 British independent film is based on the book “A Street Cat Named Bob: And How He Saved My Life” by James Bowen. The film, starring Luke Treadaway, recounts the true story of how a talented but homeless London street performer, who almost died from a drug overdose, was able to overcome his heroin addiction with the help of a “street cat” who wandered into his life at the perfect time. The bond he forges with the cat is so strong that it also helps him to earn a living, make new friends, reconnect with his dad and maintain an apartment.

Even though it’s not a Christian film, “A Street Cat Named Bob” beautifully reflects many Christian principles. Through the love that James and his cat have for each other, they both make sacrifices for each other, and they each save the other’s life. The film shows how vital it is to love our neighbors, feed the hungry, shelter the homeless and tend to the sick. It’s filled with the power of forgiveness and how not judging others can help them to experience the life that God wants them to live.

Benji

Netflix

A classic independent animal film that wasn’t based on a book or a true story is the original 1974 version of “Benji.” In it, a sweet, intelligent homeless dog routinely visits his human friends, who give him food and lots of love. Two of his friends are children who have tried unsuccessfully to get their dad’s permission to adopt the dog. But when the kids are kidnapped, Benji does everything he can to rescue them.

Because Benji is the star of the film, he takes on human traits. Even though he’s a canine, what we feel for him and what we see him do can be translated to our relationships with others. The love and kindness that people give to Benji inspires us to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless and, above all, to love our neighbors. Benji’s love for the children and trust in them and his friends is so strong that he doesn’t hesitate to risk his life to save them. The film shows people a perfect example of unconditional love.

Dr. Dolittle 3

Another animal film that isn’t based on a book or a true story is Dr. Dolittle 3. In the family film, Maya Dolittle (played by Kyla Pratt), the daughter of Dr. Dolittle, inherited her dad’s ability to talk to the animals and is struggling with fitting in with her peers. To help her daughter, Maya’s mom sends her to a dude ranch. Although she’s reluctant to go, she ends up using her gift to help other kids and to save the ranch.

The film shows how important it is to embrace the gifts that God has given us. Maya sees that what she originally thought of as a curse is actually a blessing. She learns how her gift can help other people, as well as other animals. She also takes the time to encourage other kids. She helps them build their confidence and recognize their own gifts that they’ve been blessed with. The film also shows how working together for a great cause can make dreams come true.