Short but no less educational for it is The War Game (Revelation Films, £12.99). With animation reminiscent of The Snowman and 1980s nuclear-war film When The Wind Blows, this production covers similar ground of conflict and history. Set in 1914 at the outbreak of the First World War, The War Game follows the lives of a football team from peacetime through signing up for army and transportation to the trenches on Christmas Eve.

The atmosphere builds as British and German soldiers decide to lay down their weapons and hop into No-Man’s Land for an impromptu game of football. Like most works about this conflict, the film highlights the transformation from tranquil village life to brutal warfare and the consequent loss of innocence. The DVD features interviews with the author of the original short story that inspired the film, and an exclusive look into the animation process.

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