AllMovie

An amalgam of fairy tales penned by Jewish author Isaac Bashevis Singer, this charming animated musical tale is set in Chelm, a mythical Polish hamlet populated by fools. Chelm became so after one of God's cherubs -- charged by Yaweh to sprinkle foolishness throughout his newly created earth to temper the intelligence and wisdom distributed by other small angels -- clumsily dumps all of the idiot dust on the tiny town. The stuff is potent, and no wisdom or even common sense can be found amongst its residents. One day, orphan Aaron is sent there to be raised by his Uncle Schlemiel and Aunt Sarah. Aaron brings with him his wise, bespectacled goat Zlateh. As the only sources of intelligent life in town, it is up to them to save the people from the wicked machinations of a sorcerer seeking to steal the Book of Marvels from the town hall so he can release a destructive golem, a hideous monster made of clay, to ruin Chelm. Featuring detailed background work and only average animation, the story's appeal is for very young children, though some may not understand some of the Yiddish words used throughout. The songs were penned by Sheldon Harnick (Fiddler on the Roof) and Michel Legrand (Yentl).