George Orwell's Animal Farm: The Graphic Novel

by Christina Dumalasova (Adapter), Katerina Horakova (Adapter), Jakub Politzer (Illustrator)

“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”

When the downtrodden animals of Manor Farm overthrow their master Mr Jones and take over the farm themselves, they imagine it is the beginning of a life of freedom and equality. But gradually a cunning, ruthless elite among them – masterminded by the pigs Napoleon and Snowball – starts to take control.

Soon the other animals discover that they are not all as equal as they thought and find themselves hopelessly ensnared as one form of tyranny is replaced with another. Orwell's chilling “fairy story” is a timeless and devastating satire of idealism betrayed by power and corruption.

This powerfully and beautifully drawn graphic novel adaptation is destined to become the classic illustrated edition of this celebrated work.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Classics, Comics, Fiction, Graphic Novels Manga

144 pages, Paperback

Published November 6, 2025

Reviews

[Laura❄️📚 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher Gemini Book group for providing this book for review purposes via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I’m not the biggest graphic novel reader but I have been known to read the occasional one that takes my interest. I loved Animal Farm as such a classic, it’s not an easy read but it’s gripping nevertheless so I thought I’d take a peak at the graphic novel. I loved the illustrations as it was really beautifully illustrated and very easy to follow, the fact that it was mostly black and white really helps sets the tone. This is a mostly a faithful adaption of the novel however as some reviews have stated it’s quite condensed but I still enjoyed it. This was a quick and easy read, perfect for lazy days.

[❀ Tia ❀ · Rating 3 out of 5]

| ARC REVIEW |

George Orwell's Animal Farm is one of those books that seems to be on everyone's radar; this story takes pride of place on many people's "must read classics" shelves.

I read this story last year and very much enjoyed the politically satirical retelling of the Russian Revolution and Stalinism. So when I saw this graphic novel version of the well-known classic, I just had to read it!

With this being a graphic novel, I did feel that some of the valuable backstory from the original version was lost, which occasionally led to some jarring transitions throughout the story. However the horror and tension I felt Orwell's version evoked was fantastically portrayed in this adaption too.

The black and white illustrations did a remarkable job at depicting the true horror and dystopianistic themes of this story. I also thought the occasional pops of red in the illustrations served as a great way of reflecting the anger, violence, injustice and totalitarianism weaved throughout this story.

I would say that some of the illustrations (like the story itself) are rather dark and unsettling, so in my opinion would be more suited for teens and upwards, as opposed to for children. However, I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is looking to explore Orwell's work in an accessible format but otherwise may be intimidated by the original novella.

Thank you to NetGalley, Jakub Politzer, Christina Dumalasova, Katerina Horakova, and Gemini Books Group for gifting this eBook in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. All opinions are my own.

❀ Tia ❀

[cyd⭐️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

when I saw one of my friends had read this
𝑴𝒊𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒆'𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 ♡
I just had to come back and check it out!
and I actually really liked it! I took me no more than an hour to read and look at all of the stunning art!

it was such a vivid picture of the real book!
but however I did feel like some of the most important parts of the book were left out (which I won't say, due to spoilers, but I wish they had added more.)
but overall I really loved how beautiful the drawings were! and now I'm left hoping that since its a Graphic Novel, it will be more easily accessible for anyone who doesn't have time to read the actual classic!

(4/5)⭐️🐷

[minnie. [semi hiatus] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley, Jakub Politzer, Christina Dumalasova, Katerina Horakova, and Gemini Books for the E-ARC!

This was a wonderful graphic novel adaptation of George Orwell’s Animal Farm, a political satire about the Russian Revolution and Stalinism. While I have not read the original novel and have no prior knowledge, I still really enjoyed this read. The author and illustrator did an amazing job at portraying the tension in the story, and the artwork was severe and dark, matching the mood. The drawings gave life to the horror in the tale, and now I am very interested in reading the novel version! I liked reading about how the animals rebelled against humans, only for the humans to be replaced by the pigs. The animals were made to question their beliefs and what they thought they knew. I often struggle with classics, but the graphic novel version of the book really helped me get interested in the plot. Another thing I loved about the art was that the entire book was in black and white, using red only at pivotal and important parts.

Besides the art, I think the story told in Animal Farm, no matter the format, is and will always be relevant, regardless of time or political state. The story revolves around how a revolution intended to create an equal society is corrupted, and develops into a totalitarian dictatorship, reflecting how leaders use propaganda and fear to control masses.

Overall, I would totally recommend this graphic novel to those who previously enjoyed the novel, or want to read the novel but wanted a shorter version!

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

Animal Farm: The Graphic Novel is a three colour pallet graphic novel of the famous book by George Orwells Animal Farm. I loved the use of only black, white, and red throughout the illustrations and felt it gave the right vibe to the book/story.
I've always loved the message this book conveys to the reader, and with the state of the world and those in power running it today, I feel this is a very important reminder to refresh upon.
The book is easy to follow and understand, and the illustrations were perfectly done to get across the message within the story.
This is well worth the read and would make a great addition to any bookshelf.

[Angie Miale · Rating 4 out of 5]

A stunningly drawn and contemplative adaptation of a timely and important classic.

This is a fantastic addition to graphic novels based on source material. The drawings of the animals are intriguing and draw the eye towards what becomes distorted about their message over the cautionary tale. The choice to use black and white with certain things with splashes of red is a good use of symbolism to the dangers of capitalism. The animals, like their historical communist counterparts, inherently understand the evils of capitalism. And also like the communists, they fail at being able to offer a lasting alternative.

I would recommend this adaptation, particularly to those that are fans of Animal Farm. It should not be used as a substitute but instead as a companion. I would have liked to see Napoleon as looking more different than Snowball- in the novel he is explicitly stated as being a Berkshire boar, with grey skin. I also usually visualized the pigs looking more and more human. It is shocking at the conclusion to seeing how far off the original message the group becomes. The art is simply fascinating.

This is really well done and a great Christmas gift for the classic literature lover in your life.

Thanks to NetGalley and Gemini books for the ARC. Book to be published November 5, 2025.

[Caitlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC

I have never read Animal Farm (and I didn't really know what it was about prior to reading this graphic novel) so this was my first experience with the story. As a graphic novel, I loved how gritty and violent the art style was, and it's super consistent the whole way through. I think this was a great choice for adaptation to a graphic novel and it really sent home the metaphors.

The animals of Manor Farm are downtrodden and mistreated, so when the pigs decide it's time to stand up and rebel, they revel in the chance to free their lives of human oppression. The pigs have been victorious and led the animals to freedom, but some of their farm-mates notice old patterns creeping in again. This story is all about the dangers of unchecked power and corruption.

The pacing was really great, as the reader I had enough time in each "stage" of the pigs' takeover if you will to understand why the other animals were so willing to follow them. There was just no emotional impact or shock factor for me. I didn't feel an urgency to find out how it was going to end or connect with any of the characters.

This has definitely made me want to pick up the original novel though!

[Tahls · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this so much. The illustrations fit the vibes perfectly, and it was so endearing to see the animals brought to life after reading the book last year.

I think Animal Farm is one of the most anger-inducing books I’ve read, and the visuals only heightened that for me, particularly the animals' emotional expressions.

I’d HIGHLY recommend this for those who've read and enjoyed Animal Farm or who haven’t but want to know the guts of the story in this type of format. However, I would suggest reading the novel first, as I believe I wouldn’t have appreciated this as much without it—especially the character details and relationships.

Thank you to NetGalley & Gemini Books Group for the digital ARC!

[James DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who grew up with George Orwell's Animal Farm, I've always been keen to see how adaptations handle the material. I can say without hesitation that Christina Dumalasova's graphic novel version is an extremely solid take that hits all the right nostalgic and narrative beats.

If you love the original novella, you are absolutely going to enjoy this graphic novel. It manages to capture the essence and profound political tragedy of Orwell's classic story.

What makes this adaptation successful is that the art mostly captures the atmosphere and emotional weight of the story just right. The character designs and farm setting feel appropriate, pulling you into the narrative that charts the animals' hopeful revolution and eventual, crushing betrayal.

My only minor reservation is related to the famous spoiler of an ending. While still impactful in the narrative sense, the visual depiction of the final scenes involving the animals leaned a little more toward "goofy" than I would have preferred. However, this is a small complaint in an otherwise excellent presentation.

This graphic novel is well worth the read for both Animal Farm veterans and newcomers alike. It is a powerful, visually compelling retelling of an amazing and timeless story.

4 out of 5 stars.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC. I really enjoyed it. Animal Farm: The Graphic Novel is incredibly well done, especially when it comes to the illustrations. The artwork is striking, expressive, and honestly does a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to conveying mood, power shifts, and emotion. It made the story very easy to follow, even during moments that can feel dense or symbolic in the original novel.

As a graphic novel, this adaptation is much more accessible and fast-moving, which I appreciated. That said, because of the format, not everything from Orwell’s original work is fully conveyed. Some nuance, inner thoughts, and political depth are understandably trimmed down or left out, which may stand out more to readers already familiar with the novel.

Still, as an adaptation, it works really well. It captures the core message and tone of Animal Farm while presenting it in a visually compelling and approachable way. This would be a great option for readers new to the story or anyone looking to revisit it through a different medium.

[Haylee Perry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Because Animal Farm is one of my all-time favorite books, I knew I was either going to really love or really hate this graphic novel. Unfortunately, it fell short for me. It’s not all bad, but I would not recommend it to anyone who has not read Animal Farm before or anyone older than maybe…14? It read much younger than the original, which can and should be read at a young age (I teach it in 6th grade), but is also great for adults. This adaptation…not so much. The younger audience, like my students, struggles with the allegory and metaphors in the original book, and this graphic novel lays it all out for you. There is really no guessing what the pigs are up to, who the bad guy is supposed to be, etc. That takes a crucial part of the book out for us English teachers who are trying to teach a higher level of analysis to our students. But it does make it more accessible and easier to follow along!

This adaptation also really speeds through some of the plot but doesn’t include some crucial parts of the plot as well. Snowball is in it for approximately 2 seconds and we don’t really get to see him as a leader. Old Benjamin is barely relevant and we don’t get to hear his weird aphorisms (the iconic “None of you has ever seen a dead donkey” quote is not included!). I had a hard time deciphering which characters were saying what because animals like cows, smaller pigs, ducks/geese, the cat, etc. were given larger speaking roles than in the book while Clover and Muriel weren’t major characters. Mr. Whymper was also not included at all. I understand the need for some changes, but again, this is my favorite book, so I couldn’t help but notice.

I will say some of the illustrations were really cool, and I especially LOVED the illustration for the penultimate page where we see the best ending quote in literature: “The animals outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, but already it was impossible to say which was which.” This picture is precisely how I’ve always imagined it to look when I think about that quote and read it each year.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Nikolaj · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, thank you to NetGalley for providing the digital copy of this in exchange for an unbiased review.

This is an excellent and all too relevant story that I think will always be relevant in some way, no matter the time or political context. This graphic novel rendition of Orwell's Animal Farm is beautifully and vividly illustrated. The style and spare black, white, and red color choice really lend themselves to the story and give it the gritty, dark feel it has. The use of red to highlight the political leanings, actions, and events is subtle, but such a fantastic choice. It adds life to the story and the characters and emphasizes the emotions this story is meant to make readers feel.

Illustration aside, the layout and formatting are also well done, giving a good flow to the story - even without the words, the flow makes the story progression very clear and natural, save for a few sections, in which less important parts of the story were skipped through. We do lose a bit of the historical and political context that the original text has, much like if this were a movie rendition of the text. What we lose isn't essential, but it is important if you want the full picture.

That said, this rendition is a solid 4 stars for me because of the illustration, flow, and wise choices made in what to keep and what to cut from the original story, leaving us with the essentials. To anyone unfamiliar with Animal Farm and the politics it contextualizes, this would be a fantastic starting point to understanding history. What this graphic novel lacks in context, it makes up for in the mood and intensity of the art, conveying the same feeling we get from the original text without being a multi hour-long commitment of reading the full text.

Highly recommend this one for everyone high school and up.

[Pastelsparkles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Jakub Politzer, Christina Dumalasova, Katerina Horakova, and Gemini Books Group for gifting this eBook in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. All opinions are my own.

I read Animal Farm for the first time just last year and I really enjoyed it. For how short the book is, it very simply portrays the sociopolitical climate around the Russian Revolution and subsequent political events. I loved the way that the animals would be made to question their beliefs and watch their values warped by those in charge.

I thought that a graphic novel would make for a great entry point for those who might struggle with the traditional format of the book. And I think that for the most part, this graphic novel delivers that.

I really loved the dramatic black and white illustrations with pops of red to emphasise the gruesome nature of some of the plot points and I thought that the way the pigs were drawn was particularly striking. I didn't necessarily find the Boxer plot to be as emotional as I did in the book but I still thought the shocking nature of the imagery was well portrayed.

Everything was more or less how I'd pictured it in my head, which was very satisfying for me.
But with this being a graphic novel, I did feel that some of the valuable backstory from the original version was lost, which occasionally led to some jarring transitions throughout the story.

I would definitely recommend it to those who are still finding a rhythm with their reading and want a good entry point to an important story.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This graphic novel adaptation of Animal Farm from Gemini Publishing is a strong reimagining of Orwell’s timeless allegory. Rendered mostly in monochrome with striking streaks, puddles, and splashes of red, the art cleverly underscores the story’s tension and violence without overdoing it. It’s not the prettiest adaptation you’ll see all year, but it’s effective at capturing the tone and message of the original.

What stands out most is its accessibility—it’s a great entry point for readers who might find the original text intimidating, especially students encountering Animal Farm for the first time in English literature class. The amusing caricatures and clear storytelling make it easier to connect the dots to Orwell’s complex and clever themes.

And as always, it’s rewarding to revisit this classic allegory. Beyond its Soviet roots, Animal Farm endures as a universal warning about the corruption of power, the manipulation of truth, and the fragility of idealism. Even the noblest movements can decay when authority goes unchecked …and discovers whiskey.

Well done to the creative team—whose surnames, if I’m not mistaken, hint at roots in the former Eastern Bloc—bringing relatability and perspective to this enduring work. And thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Fun read.

[andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you to NetGalley and Gemini Books Group for the advanced digital copy of this graphic novel.

this one is out November 6th, 2025.

--

i feel like i can't really review this graphic novel for the story since, uh, it's been around for a while. this is your traditional graphic novelization of an already pubbed work. it takes no liberties, it just seeks to animate the already-existing content.

i really love animal farm and reread it in preparation of reading this graphic novel.

first and foremost: i love the art. i love that it was black and white, carefully highlighted with red, particularly on the face of napoleon the pig. i thought it was an artful, meaningful choice, meant to illustrate the bleakness of being part of the proletariat. there's a panel at the end of this graphic novel of animals looking in on pigs standing on two legs and dressed in human clothes that i want tattooed on me, even. the art was that great.

the only reason this earned four stars instead of five is that i feel like it would have better served the content had the graphic novel been simply... longer. yes, we get the bones of animal farm, but the briefness of the graphic novel took away some of the oomph that exists within the full novella. that's really my only criticism. otherwise, a great, succinct retelling with beautiful, purposeful visuals.

[labibliofille · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm super conflicted about this graphic novel adaptation of Animal Farm.

Things I love:
- The accessibility of such an important novel.
- Bringing the story to life through the art.

Things I didn't love:
- The grey-scale art with only pops of red detracts from some specific colors outright mentioned in the novel. The biggest one would be the green flag/banner.
- The text bubbles feel like a drastic artistic difference with the art style and it was distracting.
- The story is definitely abridged and I'm unsure that it would be a good representation for people who haven't read the novel prior.

Rereading Animal Farm through this graphic novel really was an interesting experience. There are wild parallels to a particular government and I didn't realize how truly similar some of the events/actions were to the novel until this reread. That was eye-opening and quite uncomfortable. (But I think it's good that it's uncomfortable, if that makes sense. It means the story is doing what it's supposed to.)

[Sarah Bennett · Rating 3 out of 5]

It has been a few years since my last read of Animal Farm, but I think this is a pretty good graphic novel adaptation of the original text. I absolutely loved the choice to illustrate in black and white with touches of red for emphasis. My biggest qualm is that the graphic novel is too short. While the book is not very long, the graphic novel felt like it was missing a lot. This works well as a companion to the original, but I think that reading it on its own without having ever read the novel would leave a reader a bit unsatisfied. However, I do think it is worthy to note how the allegory works well for its original purpose and, unfortunately, to reflect today’s world. The propaganda aspect felt exceptionally true to life these days. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

[AmesChicReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I already knew the story, but the graphic novel made Animal Farm way easier to get through and honestly more uncomfortable. Watching the manipulation happen instead of just reading it makes everything clearer and more frustrating in a good way. There were some key moments that were not included in here, so if you’ve never read the original, I’d recommend reading that first. The art is beautifully done and the choice to use 3 colors provided the impact I believe the illustrators intended. It really shows how power shifts and how things slowly fall apart. Quick read, bleak as hell, and still painfully relevant at this time.

[j. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.0 / 5.0 stars

i enjoyed george orwell’s animal farm and read it for the first time over a year ago. this graphic novel is a decent and simple adaption. in my opinion. that doesn’t mean it’s bad, i just mean that it’s simplified and digestable for all readers. the art and illustrations are incredible and are in a classic black and white, with an intentional use of red to highlight important details or strengthen pivotal moments. genius.

as previously mentioned, i do feel like this adaptation was simple and the pacing of the story was a bit choppy with some details missing. but this graphic novel still does a great job at including the crucial, important parts of the original story. even though i think it’s simple, at the same time, this could be an excellet introduction and starting point for anyone who finds classics, specifically the original animal farm, daunting.

special thanks to NetGalley and to Gemini Books Group for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this. I didn't expect to at first because the way the text was put on the pictures looked like it was just pasted on by a computer. However, as I got more into the graphic novel, I decided I really liked it. While I prefer the original text and imagining the events myself, I enjoyed seeing the artists' rendition put to life, so to speak. The black-and-white illustrations with a hint of red were excellent and brought out the seriousness of the story excellently.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the digital ARC of the book.

[ezra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Gemini Gift Books Limited for this ARC!

Rating: 3.5 Stars rounded up.

This book is a wonderful illustrated version of George Orwell’s classic work “Animal Farm”. The art style is pretty realistic, which creates a wonderful juxtaposition when it is used to illustrate scenes of talking animals and business-pigs.

I am not sure I would recommend this for your first time reading this work, but if you would not otherwise pick up a book, I think this is a wonderful alternative to have this story reach even more people. I’m not sure what the age recommendation on this is, but I do think this would also enable parents with older children to discuss the topic of capitalism… though I am not a parent, so what do I know?

My only issue is, and this is exclusively a criticism of the digital version because I do not have access to a physical copy, that the text is a bit hard to read in the format I have received from NetGalley – I do think this will be fixed by publication though, just be warned that the font is nonetheless on the smaller side.

If you have already read Animal Farm but want to re-experience it in a new way, or if you want to know the story but don’t think you will be able to read the book, this illustrated version does a wonderful job faithfully telling the story and enhancing it with perfect illustrations.

[Miky · Rating 3 out of 5]

A classic is a classic for a reason, and for today's political climate, I feel like George Orwell's Animal Farm is a must-read for everyone, no matter the format.

When I read the original story, it was a gut-wrenching experience. When I read this graphic novel, I was reminded of that experience, and it somehow hit a bit closer to home considering the state of the world right now.

Now, let's talk about this graphic novel. The art is absolutely stunning. The intentional use of red was such a smart move from Jakub, having the entire novel in black and white while also adding red during the pivotal moments and on some small but important details also helps in sending the message from the pages to the reader. I do feel like the story was a bit rushed, some of the backstory was missing, and we ended up with some transitions that were not as harmonious as I expected them to be. However, the graphic novel does a great job at presenting the important parts of Orwell's work, and I do believe that it's a great starting point for anyone who finds the original novel a bit intimidating, it would work great as an introduction for teens into Orwell's work.

Thank you, NetGalley and Gemini Books Group, for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Gemini Books Group, Gemini Gift Books Limited, George Orwell, Jakub Politzer (Illustrator), Christina Dumalasova (adapter), and Katerina Horakova (adapter) for the opportunity to read the graphic novel adaptation of Animal Farm.

This is the graphic novel adaptation of George Orwell's literary classic, Animal Farm. The story follows the animals who rebel against the humans to have better lives. There seven rules the animals must follow on the farm, as "All animals are equal. But some animals are more equal than others." Sound familiar? Through the form of a beast fable., the plot explores political revolution and rise to power.

The artwork itself it an interesting testament to the political elements the novel explores. It is drawn in a black and white coloring with realistic human and animals. There are red tones here and there to highlight aspects such as blood, or even further, to make subtle hints at Communism through the thoughtful care of the shading.

This graphic novel adaptation really makes the beast fable come to life and could be an excellent way to approach the allegory with a literary eye in an alternative medium. There is a lot to say about power and equality, and it is well worth the read, especially for more philosophical thinkers who will really take the time the art deserves to explore every aspect of the tale being told.

[Sonja Charters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Animal Farm has always been one of my favourite classic reads - ever since studying it at school.

 

Obviously, it's the message that is important - but I was always drawn to it by the fact that it was all about animals - and back then, I loved that the animals take over the farm.

 

I don't know if this is where my love of pigs came from - it really shouldn't have! - but even now, I do still love pigs!

 

If you don't know this book - where have you been!?.....but,

 

Here, the pigs, being the cleverest of the animals, take over the running of the farm after evicting Mr Jones, knowing that they can have a better life without humans making them work all day for little food.

As things progress, we see that the pigs crave more and more power and end up no better than the humans!

That's a very, very short version, but I'm sure we all know the story really!

 

This adaptation was amazing!

The story was really well transferred to this type of book and it contained all the important detail as originally intended.

It was easy to read and well laid out on the page.

 

But what made this special, was the illustrations which captured the essence of the story so wonderfully!

I loved the use of red in some of the images to indicate conflict, pain, shock and of course injury too.

This really stood out and made an impact.

 

I obviously devoured this the second I downloaded it and know that I'll come back to this time and time again.

I'll also definitely be buying it, to join my ever growing collection of different editions on my classics shelves.

 

I absolutely loved this so much and know that it will be a great way to give many more people access to such a wonderful story.

 

 

 

 
 

[Bargain Sleuth Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Gemini Gift Books for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Did you have to read Orwell in school? I didn’t for some reason, although I do remember being an 11-year-old in 1984 and asking the librarian for a copy. I thought I had read Animal Farm when I was a young adult, but apparently not because this graphic novel really turned out to be a revelation. With reluctant readers in my home, I’m always looking for graphic novels that make classic books more accessible.

I’m not going to rehash the plot of Animal Farm other than to say that I thought this was, in some ways, darker than 1984. I need to talk about the illustrations. The black and white drawings add to the starkness of the farm, with touches of red when there is violence or anger. I thought that was a brilliant move and thought the vivid illustrations added to the darkness of the story

Animal Farm’s plot and subtext are quite relevant in the United States today. The motives of Napoleon and the political satire of the book might go over younger reader’s heads. I think that if the graphic novel version is introduced in middle school alongside the full text version, children will be able to use their critical thinking skills to suss out the context.

[remis.library · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read “Animal Farm” many moons ago. When I saw this graphic novel was up for request on NetGalley, I immediately knew I had to grab it. It is definitely getting more spotlight due to the current state of the US.

This graphic novel brought back similar feelings I had while reading the original novel. To my surprise, this graphic novel made me feel emotion that I didn’t know I could feel from a graphic novel (surprise, I don’t read graphic novels very often). The scene with Boxer, in particular, brought tears to my eyes. Even in the original story, Boxer was always my favorite animal. I felt that same emotion with both copies.

I expected some points to be left out, since this is a graphic novel. However, I felt like some of the panels didn’t flow very well. There were so many time jumps, it was almost jarring. At some points, I had to flip back to make sure I don’t miss a panel— or ten. I feel like this graphic novel could included more to make everything flow better.

I feel like this graphic novel would be great for late teens and new adult (since some scenes are quite too graphic for younger audiences in my opinion).

[Jack Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Gemini Books Group for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

"George Orwell's Animal Farm: The Graphic Novel" tells the story of Orwell's classic in a much more condensed form, alongside stunning and yet grotesque drawings - which absolutely suits the theme of the story.

If you've never read Animal Farm - and if you haven't I implore you to do so! - it tells the story of a rebellion that takes place at Manor Farm. The animals, under the guidance of the pigs, overthrow the humans and rename their home 'Animal Farm'. They install a communist regime, stating that: "All Animals Are Equal" and that they must never act in a way that resembles 'human'.

It's a story that has the moral of "Absolute power corrupts absolutely" and how people, or creatures, in power struggle to hold onto that power.

This graphic novel edition is perfect if you are a reader that prefers images to go with your reading or if you want to have a shorter version of Animal Farm!

Thanks again to NetGalley and Gemini Books Group for providing me with this advanced copy of this text!

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

[**Alma** · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Gemini Books Group for an advanced copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily. 

I first read Animal Farm as a teenager and I didn't quite grasp just how important this book is. What I remembered poignantly was the horse, Boxer. How my heart broke for him.

But now? At my age and with all that's going on? This hurts even more. It's scary how easy it was to convince the animals that what was happening was for their own good. That they started to doubt the very things they saw with their own eyes. That in the end, they were complicit in their own demise. The full circle from Manor Farm to Animal Farm and back to Manor Farm made me furious. This is why it's so important to stop and observe, analyze, don't obey willingly. Ultimately, this story was about corrupt power and greed, blind faith, and injustice. It mirrors a lot of current events and it's a damn shame.

The visuals were alarming. The black and white color scheme highlighted by the occasional splash of violent red was striking in its simplicity. Man to pig, pig to man. Terrifying and so so relevant.

5/5 stars

[Suki J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Gemini Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars.

I've somehow got to my forties having never read Animal Farm, so I went into this graphic novel adaptation with no prior knowledge of the book, other than what has permeated into popular culture over the years.
I thought it was fantastic. Animals taking over a farm in the spirit of equality and discovering that power corrupts is such a hard-hitting allegory and one that I think everyone should read. I loved the illustrations, with the stark use of black, white and red reflecting the grim situation.
I'd heard the line 'All animals are created equal, but some animals are more equal than others' before, but seeing it illustrated in the context of this story was powerful.
A brilliant and bleak read.

[Iris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Animal Farm! I'm not going to review the book itself here - which you should read - but just want to heartily recommend the graphic novel as well. The drawings carry the story well, and I enjoy the way the color red, as the only pop of color among the otherwise black-and-white illustrations, is used to highlight violence, the human touch, blood. I wish the important animals had been drawn with more individuality, so telling them apart without the use of names would have been easier, and I think the well-known powerful quotes could have been more impactful had they been highlighted visually in any way ("some animals are more equal than others" should NOT just be another sentence on the page). But overall the adapters did a wonderful job of translating the story into expressive images.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing a digital copy of this book for review consideration.