At times it gets a bit silly for my tastes (namely, the flying round the garden) but for the most part it is fairly entertaining slapstick that grows and grows until it reaches a surprisingly dark ending.

McLaren's surrealist slant doesn't actually afford Neighbours with that which might make it worthwhile, the short's indolent parody of neighbourly disagreement really only sparking to life by the time sheer ridiculousness is embraced in the destruction of each other's families. Besides that, McLaren has the unfortunate reality of having had his thunder stolen since by Svankmajer and Brakhage.

just hoping folks don't think I'm voting for that flotsam from 1982.

It somehow reminds me of my English teacher who used to say: "Good fences make good neighbours."

Ingenious.

It's an okay short. If the 'plot' is a little simple for my tastes, it probably pioneered all sorts of stuff - at least it inspired a whole world of stop motion youtube amateur efforts, on which site you may also find and watch this one. 8 minutes long - and it has a special message in your language!

This goes from whimsical to dark LIKE THAT *fingersnap

I like my stop-motion surreal, just like my coffee.

The animation technique is fascinating, as is the Cold War allegory storyline. Norman McLaren was a genius.

I don't know what they call this technique of "animating" human actors, but it's clearly influential. You can see echoes of this in A Hard Day's Night and Jan Svankmajer and most hilariously in "Mr. Show". I'm not a big fan of this style, but it was amusing and I didn't expect it to get so dark.

Nice short.

Its message may be blatantly obvious from beginning to end, but it's a good message and a creative little short.

One of those universal human stories that everyone ought to know. Funny and sad

Two neighbors, same aspirations, same needs, same greed. An idea perfectly explored, master of the craft short.

Why isn't McLaren worshiped?

A mildly fun, simple-minded sermon on loving thy neighbour, expertly executed in pixilation.

I loved the baby tossing in this short film ;)

Perfectly captures the destruction of mankind.