The Sweater 

Other than the memes, that kid is right about not wanting a Leafs sweater. Who would want a sweater of a team that does so much choking and has a drought so long that it arguably makes them the most pathetic, sad, sorry excuse for a team and arrogant fanbase in all of sports? I know cause I am Leafs fan. Wearing the team outside the city brings about scorn and laughter.

8:54 is what you are all looking for

Mr Eaton should have known better then to send a Francophone a Toronto Maple leafs sweater, it was probably a sick joke.

For anyone watching who's not from Canada, this is not just a cute animated short...this is a commentary on Canada itself! Back in the day of Maurice Richard, the NHL was ruled and founded by british aristocrats. The Stanley Cup itself is named after a British lord and governor general (representative of the Queen of England in Canada) so when you are a poor, rural french canadian, those are the people you want sent to the guillotine like the cousins did across the pond. In 1955, Richard, the french canadian underdog himself, was suspended by The Man himself, Clarence Campbell and the ensuing riot is seen as one of the events that triggered Quebec's Quiet Revolution.

"You are exagerating the influence of hockey in our national identity" -No canadian ever.

I’m born and raised in Toronto. I absolutely love this story because it fully encapsulates the MTL/TOR hockey rivalry - and, generally, any hockey rivalry. This story is as important to the country as the Canadian Constitution.

Roch Carrier's mom: If you wear that old sweater, people are going to think we're poor! Also Roch Carrier's Mom: It's not what you put on your back that matters, it's what you put inside your head. ..Gotta feel sorry for that guy o_o;

We lived in three places: The Church The School And the Skating Rink, but our real lives were on the skating rink. An actual quote on our five dollar bill.

So the mom tells the son “it doesn't matter what you wear on your back”, but insists that her family all wear the latest styles, as to not let people think they are poor. 😂

Even as a Leafs fan, I never understood why Roch's mother, a Quebecois woman, couldn't understand and empathize with his revulsion at having to wear a Toronto sweater

It's funny how much I adore this short despite, well, not being Canadian, but I have a very specific nostalgia connected to "The Sweater". When I was young, my neighbors used to have screenings on their little patio of great old movies with an old-school projector and reels that they got from a local library. The Sweater was one that they showed every time, without fail. We all knew the story by heart. We quoted it as it played, and hummed the tunes. Those movie nights were some of my best memories, so it stands to reason that I'd still be thinking of The Sweater after all these years.

The Sweater: tells the author's childhood story about being discriminated against because he wore the jersey of their hated anglophone rivals during a time period when tensions between English and French-speaking Canadians were at a boiling point -- even when it came to playing the country's most beloved sport, thereby demonstrating just how deep the hatred between the two groups went. The internet: "Goh tu thuh chirch and ass Godd tu fuh-GEEV yu!"

This is a timeless classic

I remember reading this book when I was a kid and when the boy got the Toronto Maple Leafs jersey I cringed. I'm from Edmonton, Alberta so this is kind of like me wearing a Flames jersey instead of a Oilers jersey.

Nobody's gonna comment on how wearing the wrong team's sweater is not a justification to be treated the way he was? He was pushed to the sidelines for a perceived preference.

I like how there isn't even a moral to the story, a kid is just forced to wear a sweater and gets hated for it.

You know it's Canada when instead of using a mail order sheet, you just politely write the CEO and he handles it for you.

Good luck getting the theme sound out of your head after this. I've been singing it for the last 7 years.

American film critic/journalist & former Entertainment Tonight film correspondent Leonard Maltin once wrote in one of his "Classic Movie Guide" books that "The Sweater" is perhaps the best short film ever made. (animation or live action) I agree 100% !!!!!!!

This is so charming and is absolutely how a young boy of that tender age would feel. I'm actually glad it just ends with no resolution. The hope is all ends well. Just another life lesson for a young boy.

A lot of people watched this short as children and got bogged down in the semantics of it. It's not about bullying. It's an allegory for Anglo-Canada vs Frank-Canada. The "specifics" as they happened IRL are almost certainly hyper-exaggerated for the purpose of the story. Don't take it at face value.

I decided to base my Christmas card this year after this classic. I must've re-watched it at least a couple dozen times and freeze-framed the living hell out of it while trying to imitate the art style; it gave me a whole new appreciation for the work of the animators.

This is a masterpiece! Even as an English speaking Quebecer , I lived it, just as it is presented here. Getting to meet the Great "Rocket Richard" himself is one of my most cherished memories.

I am now a very amused Australian for having seen this work of art, created by our Canadian brothers.

Its a classic Canadian story book.

I remember reading the book version of this, "The Hockey Sweater", several times as a kid. It was in the library at my school, and I lost track of the number of times I checked it out. I'm surprised I didn't get my own copy. While I never was a Canadiens fan, I always found this story fascinating. That's likely I kept reading it again and again.

Something keeps making me come back to this film, I don't know what.

I do not know much french, But I'm of heavy French Canadian ancestry. I really love this story.

Go to 4:59, pause the video, and use the period and comma keys to go frame by frame. That dog is terrifying!

They used to play this every morning before the start of ROM (Royal Ontario Museum) summer camp. This brings back nostalgic feelings and memories every time I watch it. Anyone else have the same experience?

"A good boy never looses his temper!" [Proceeds to loose his temper]

That's like a New York Yankees fan getting a Boston Red Sox jersey.

I was a child of 8 when I first saw this on a PBS station in Minnesota. I understood the young boy's disappointment of getting the wrong sweater, although I loved figure skating and followed the MN North Stars. Now 50 years later it was good to find this on YT. Still love hockey, follow the MN Wild, but haven't skated in years. It is good to know that getting the right sweater is important. Tres Bon. - Annie

Every play off season this video grows in power

I’m not even Canadian but this video is my favorite film I’ve watched like 6 times.

One of the reasons why I had three jobs at 15 years old was to have money to avoid finding this cartoon way too damn relatable.

A great story, evoking nostalgia and the terrible injustices of childhood. Nicely done.

Last time I saw this it was on a wood grained floor model television. Now it’s on a 6” handheld screen that is 1 cm thickish. Kinda surreal when you think about it.

Love this still till this day ❤

This is one of the must watch of Canadian films. Its such a classic!

The most Canadian of stories. Brilliant.

They were trolling hardcore even back in the 40's.

I'm proud of being a fan of the Canadiens. This little short is very charming and cute, and as far as hockey and as a result, Canadian culture is concerned, it's quite cute to see the fires of rivalry back in 1946 I think is when Roch said it took place. The rivalry between the Habs and the Leafs goes way back. I'm just glad I'm rooting for the right team (firewall up)

I'm a Blackhawks fan, but I also respect and lover the Maple Leafs and Canadiens equally. GO HAWKS, GO LEAFS, and GO CANADIENS!!!

My dad is from North Bay and his mother was ethnically French Canadian, but she was brought up by English relatives after her mother died in childbirth. I never met her dad, my great-grandfather, who died the month after I was born. He was a bilingual French Canadian carpenter on both sides of the Ottawa valley. Whenever I think of him, I hear the wonderful voice of Roch Carrier. Merci beaucoup, monsieur.

This a classic Canadian story

It must be 30 years ago I first saw this. It will always be one of my favorite things.

8:54 the reason why you're here

Wonderful story spoken in a child's voice. It would have been tough to wear a sweater of "the other team" no matter where you lived. I know because I chose to support Montreal when everyone else cheered for Toronto. It made me tougher.

In the way early days of cable T.V. this was a staple 'filler' - my brother Marty loved it. RIP Bro.

Growing up in a US town with an "Original 6" hockey team, I get this. My dad would have loved it.

Well, time to draw an immaculate representation of sportsman Everyone else, well they can look like crayon drawings of a Morel Orel character

Moral of the story: The book's cover matters more than the content.

My friend and I have this routine we do at parties about, like, a pyrotechnics-heavy sequel where the kid (now grown up and played by Vin Diesel) goes to Toronto to unleash a plague of moths on the Leafs. Of course we tell it all in a Quebecois accent and the tagline is "This summer, REVENGE combs its 'air like Maurice Richard!" It's so stupid. :)

this would make an incredible Boards of Canada music video

I first saw this at the Cineplex Eaton Centre in Toronto. The cartoon started after the kaleidoscope display ended. If you are just old enough to remember what a kaleidoscope was, you'll agree that watching a movie in those days was special. That is, it was an event. You were sometimes helped to your seat by an usher with a flashlight. The popcorn somehow tasted better than popcorn anywhere else. There was a heavy velvet curtain in front of the screen that parted just before the main feature began.

A Classic NFB fi and teaches some life's lessons besides! One of my favourite NFB films!

Classic story. My dad read to me as kid all the time. The french version Le Chandail de Hockey

I'm 3 generations -older- younger then this kid and I'd still tell my mother to go pound sand if she ever tried to buy me a Maple Leafs jersey. It's Canucks #1 Habs #2. Anything else = noes. You have to be a Canadian not living in Toronto to understand.

8:54 is a masterpiece

C'est une belle histoire sur le Québec rural. La famille de ma mère a des racines au Québec et ce film est un merveilleux rappel de cette culture.

And just think that Carrier was forced to wear the Maple Leaf sweater all because his mother didn’t want to upset the guy who ran the catalog in fear that he was a fan of them.

I really like the way this is drawn and animated. Really childlike and carefree

My tradition every time I get a new sweater (Jersey) I come here and watch this! Just ordered the Dahlin goathead!

I watched the French version of this in grade 3. Fun fact: this story was on the back of the old $5 bill.

This is honestly so adorable! It really brings the book to life. Viva The Rocket!

His mom ordered a Canadiens jersey and they sent him an ugly rag. True story.

Stand: [MAURICE RICHARD] Stand Master: [ROCK CARRIER]

I remember reading this book. A Canadian hockey claßic. Will buy this book for my grand children.

If this was made today, the boy would've got a Boston Bruins jersey and he would be dead by the time he comes in to the rink

8:54 the meme

This is cool animation.

If you don't understand the social commentary of this video then you must not be Canadian.

Such wonderful memories wash over me seeing this again. You didn't have a proper Canadian childhood if you've never read the book or watch this at school.

What do you call 32 millionaires watching the NHL playoffs? The Toronto Maple Leafs😅😅😅😅

Boy: I can't wear that!!!!Mother: Why the sweater is a perfect fit!!Boy: Maurice Richard would never wear it!!!!Mother: Your not Maurice Richard!!!!!

I probably shouldn't be surprised, but this is the most Canadian looking thing imaginable.

This is actually beautiful

I remember watching this in like grade 1. Good memories

I like how the only moral of the story is "fuck the maple leafs"

Wow... you could get a sweater for $3 in the 1940's? Man, inflation is evil. :[

I watched this when I was in grade 2!!!!!!

8:05 i want this to be a meme (yes, with the 'come')

I saw this in the late 70's at the St. Louis Art Museum. They did a series of presentations of Canadian animation over several months. This and the Logdriver's Waltz were my lasting favorites. My best friend who shared the series with me (as neither her boyfriend, nor my girlfriend "got it") still wonder at the fact that Canada has the NFB. What a gift to Canada and the world.

9:08 what almost every single LEAFS fan wishes every spring when they lose in the first round

I remember reading this book in public school and I thought it was missing a few pages because it ended with him wishing for his sweater to be eaten by moths. Now 15 years later, I see this and think "now I can find out how it ends", Only to find that the book wasn't missing pages.

today in french class i had to study this story it was like dissecting my childhood lol

I have to watch this because I have a test on moday about it!

I remember way back when I still lived in the US. I did a french project in high school about this story... Ah memories

even as a toronto lifetime resident, I don't blame that kid!

Awesome story. So well done. The video and the story. All of it. So nice to see this. Thank you

8:54 Beautiful

These cartoons are special to me...growing up canadian, we got parked in front of the tv alot and this was the kind of things wed watch . Usually bugs bunny or spiderman would finish a little early and these film board things would come on . Its weird its almost comforting seeing them, familar

he actually went to the church lol

Wow....haven't seen this animated story since I was around 13 years old.....that's 44 years ago! I honestly have learned more about it's significance from the comments here. I didn't get the French rural thing.

Lmao, as a lifelong leafs fan, this was hilarious to me :p

We rock The Sweater, we rock it proud. Rock like Carrier, we rock it loud Throw on that C-H go, and let The Whole World know.

I love this so much.

Thanks for uploading

This seems like something right out of my childhood, but I found it through internet memes