Oblio and the Point

Topics covered in this document:

• Introduction
• Triangle Toss
• Oblio's Adventures
• Comments

Introduction

In a 1971 animated film, The Point, Harry Nilsson tells the enchanting story of Oblio, who was the first and only child born in the land of Point with a round head. All the other children and adults had points on the tops of their heads.

To help Oblio better fit in, his mother made a pointed cap for him to wear. Still, everyone knew he didn't have a point. Nonetheless, he was well-liked by everyone ... except, unfortunately, by the son of the evil Count.

A popular game among the children in the land of Point was triangle toss. To play, one child tossed a triangle into the air while another child tried to catch it over the point on their head. Of course, this made it nearly impossible for round-headed Oblio to play. But everyone made a special exception to the rules for him. Oblio was allowed to carry his dog, Arrow, on his back or shoulders ... and Arrow caught the triangle for Oblio.

Triangle Toss

One day, the evil Count's son challenged Oblio to a game of triangle toss. As you might guess, with the help of Arrow, Oblio won the match, which made the Count's son very angry. To punish Oblio, the Count had him and Arrow banished to the Pointless Forest. Now it was well known among the people that no one from the land of Point had ever gone into the forest and returned to tell about it.

Once in the forest, Oblio and Arrow discover that even in the Pointless Forest, everything still has a point. The pine and fir trees are pointed at the top. And the leaves have points on them as well. There's even a man who points in all directions ... but he is quick to point out to Oblio that a "point in every direction is the same as having no point at all."

Oblio's Adventures

Oblio and Arrow continue their journey through the Pointless Forest, following signs that point the way to their destination. After following the trail for a while, the pair of adventurers find themselves back home, right where they started. When the townspeople see the two return, they crowd around them, asking what it's like in the Pointless Forest.

After Oblio finishes his tale of adventure, he admits that since everything in the world seems to have a point, then he should have one too. Someone from the crowd yells, "He's got a point there!" Whereupon the Count snatches Oblio's hat from his head and -- surprise! -- reveals Oblio's new point. At that moment, all the points in the land melt away except, of course, for the point atop the Count's head.

Finally, Oblio is just like everyone else. And now, the evil Count is the one who's odd.

Comments

Although this story is presented in the form of a cartoon, the message it brings is clear (from a 1970s hippie point of view) and applies to adults as well as kids. At the risk of sounding too "preachy," we need to be considerate in how we judge those who are different than we are. Oblio was a square peg, that's true; but we see that he had many of the same hopes, dreams, and feelings as any of the other people in the land of Point.

How long will it be before we can accept people as they are, and for whom they are, rather than judging them by their physical characteristics? Where does the hate stop? Hmm.

If you would like to watch or buy the video, you have a couple of options. At the right is a link where you can buy it on Amazon.com for a very reasonable price.

You can also find it on YouTube in 8 parts, under the YouTube user account thehobbitmov. It begins at The Point (1971) Part 1.

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Have a pleasant day!