One of my favorite possessions is a 50th anniversary copy of George Orwell’s 1945 novella, Animal Farm, with illustrations by Gonzo artist Ralph Steadman, whose chaotic, ink-splattered satirical style only enhances the masterpiece.

I was thinking of this book as I watched the first trailer of the new animated adaptation of Animal Farm, directed by Andy Serkis and distributed by the socially conservative Angel Studios. From what I could tell, a biting allegory about the Russian Revolution, Stalinism, and dangers of collectivism was now a dumbed-down, generic Disney-like romp with virtually nothing to do with the book. As critics have noted, the film is “audience-friendly,” a movie that “trades a dystopian tone for something a little more uplifting.”