Academy Award-Winning Animated Short ‘War Is Over!’ Co-Written and Produced by Sean Ono Lennon Available to Stream on YouTube

The Academy Award and Annie Award-winning animated short film, “WAR IS OVER! Inspired By The Music of John & Yoko,” is now available to watch for free exclusively on the Official John Lennon Channel on YouTube, marking its global streaming debut.

Watch “WAR IS OVER!” here

The film is set in an alternate WWI reality where, as a senseless war rages on, two soldiers on opposite sides of the conflict play a game of chess. A heroic carrier pigeon delivers the soldiers’ chess moves over the battlefield as the fighting escalates, meanwhile neither soldier knows his opponent as the game and the war builds to its climatic final move. Whoever wins the game, the film powerfully illustrates that one thing is for certain: there are no winners in war.

“WAR IS OVER!” was co-written by Sean Ono Lennon and 20-year Pixar alumni – writer, director, and animator – Dave Mullins (“Up,” “Soul,” “Incredibles 2,” “Cars 2”), directed by Mullins, produced by Brad Booker (“Iron Giant,” “The Book of Life,” “Rumble”), and executive produced by Sean Ono Lennon and Yoko Ono Lennon, with a score composed by 15-time Oscar®-nominee, Thomas Newman.

“WAR IS OVER!” is a co-production of Lenono Music and ElectroLeague with animation produced by Peter Jackson’s Wētā FX using Epic Games’ Unreal Engine.

“Being able to share this film freely with a global audience for the first time feels very meaningful to me,” said Sean Ono Lennon. “My parents always believed that art, even in its simplest form, could help change the world and move us toward love and compassion. The message of peace at the heart of this film feels more vital than ever. I’m very grateful to YouTube for partnering with us to make the film accessible to everyone. It feels especially fitting to release it now, as the holidays begin, as ‘Happy Xmas (War Is Over)’ has always been a reminder of hope and humanity at this time of year. Making “WAR IS OVER!” available to all truly honors that ethos: our shared belief in John & Yoko’s timeless anthem, "War is over if you want it!”

WARCHILD
Accompanying the film is a donations mechanism to support the charity WARCHILD. Donations link here.

*Helen Pattinson, CEO of War Child UK* says: “I want to thank Sean Ono Lennon, Yoko Ono, Dave Mullins, Brad Booker, Thomas Newman, the John Lennon Estate and all the brilliant people who have come together to create this powerful film. It is an incredibly moving piece of art that shines a light on the tragic consequences of war, which remain all too real in the world today. Their creativity and compassion, as well as that of John and Yoko, continues to help us tell the stories of hundreds-of-millions of children whose lives are being torn apart by conflict, many of whom are currently facing the added dangers of bitter cold, hunger and displacement. Right now, as temperatures drop in places like Gaza, Afghanistan and Ukraine, families are struggling to stay warm and keep their children safe. Every donation helps us to deliver lifesaving support, from safe spaces and specialist psychological care, to emergency support for essentials like heating fuel and food. This winter, it is not the thought that counts, but action. Together, we can give children the protection, warmth and hope that they deserve.”

HAPPY XMAS 7” SINGLE

Happy Xmas (War Is Over)’ / ‘Listen, The Snow Is Falling’ is being released on 7” evergreen vinyl as a replica of the original 1971 release by John Lennon and Yoko Ono / Plastic Ono Band with the Harlem Community Choir, with Ultimate Mixes of the tracks Produced by Sean Ono Lennon and Mixed and Engineered by Paul Hicks and Sam Gannon. Find out more here.

Also available as part of a Classic Holiday Singles Box Set here.

HAPPY XMAS 12” SINGLE

To celebrate the release of the film, these two tracks plus Thomas Newman’s soundtrack of the WAR IS OVER! film are being released as a Limited Edition 12” Zoetrope Vinyl, designed by Drew Tetz using excerpts from the film.
These three tracks will also be available on Downloads and Streaming.
Find out more here.

PENGUIN CHILDREN’S BOOK

The WAR IS OVER! film has also been adapted into a picture book with illustrations by the film’s character designer Max Narciso. A carrier pigeon named Julia delivers messages to the battlefield, but she also has a secret mission. Even though the Red Jackets and the Great Coats are at war, Julia helps the soldiers on both sides play a special game to bring each other some joy during the holiday season.

Inspired by one of the most important songs of the twentieth century and the film that carried on its legacy, “WAR IS OVER!” is a stirring reminder of the human connection that binds us all, even during the most divisive times.

“WAR IS OVER!” is available now from Viking Children’s Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers.

Find out more here.