John Henry: The Steel-Driving Man

John Henry: The Steel-Driving Man is an animated short that is based on the tale of John Henry, an African-American folk hero from the United States. It is an episode part of the anthology "Animated Tales of the World".

Summary
As a child, John Henry is influenced when he sees the workers building a railroad. He is always curious to know what is new with the market and dreamed of himself riding a train upon looking at the train models. However, something went wrong in the railroad by the mountain: an explosion occurred, trapping two workers inside. Sanchez tells the captain that the workers who were trapped inside need air to breathe. The captain then tells the people that he needs John Henry to help the people. John Henry (now an adult) was able to help the people by receiving a hammer to smash through the debris and rescue the workers who were captured inside. He was victorious of rescuing the workers who were trapped inside the debris. John Henry then falls in love with a woman named Polly-Anne.

John Henry and Polly-Anne help the workers continue building the railroad, thanks to the use of his hammer. In the evening, John and Polly went home just like it was in an ordinary day. After dinner, the two have fun in playing a game in to know whoever captures a firefly gets good luck and someone who loses must make dinner tomorrow. The next day, modern machinery arrives in the railroad to help build the railroad faster. A steam engine is revealed and it is then known that this engine is used to help build railroads faster in order to replace a number of workers and it can drill through rocks, which disappointed many people. John Henry decides to challenge against the steam machine, but a man warns him that no worker has ever challenged against a steam machine since it is dangerous during a challenge. John then decides to accept the challenge.

That evening, Polly-Anne then warns John Henry that doing a challenge against the bosses who control the steam engine is very dangerous and modern machinery will make progress every year, replacing a lot of railroad workers. After capturing another firefly, Polly then tells John that she gets to be a chef tomorrow to make a big meal for the people as part of a victory for John Henry's challenge. The next day, John challenges against the steam engine to help build the railroad and his job was supposed to tell the people what was happening. After finishing his challenge against the steam engine, the people congratulate him for his hard work. However, something went wrong. John Henry suddenly collapses and then dies. All the people mourn for John Henry's death. That night, all the people had a big dinner as a celebration for John Henry who finished the challenge against the steam machine.

Voice Cast

 * Peter Macon: The Narrator


 * Don Cheadle: John Henry


 * Regina Taylor: Polly-Anne


 * Brian Denehy: The Captain


 * Paul Bolden Staley: Max


 * Jesse Borrego: Sanchez


 * André Brazeau: Boss 1 / Hawker 1


 * David Garrett: Boss / Worker / Hawker 2


 * Jordan Wood: Child 2


 * Justin Sharlman: Child 3


 * Mikal Hameed: Worker


 * Olu Dara: Singer ("Two Hammers")

Trivia

 * Contrary to belief, this animated short based on the tale of John Henry was released in 2002, two years after the Disney adaptation was released in 2000. However, unlike the Disney version of John Henry which uses the style of traditional animation, this one is animated in the style of paint-on-glass animation.