Enter Life (1981) User Reviews

Shown in the Smithsonian

[Random2CM6 · 7/10 · 27 July 2006]

This film is an animated short depicting a theory of how life could have began on Earth. The short is very colorful, with a very catchy song. While the subject is simplified for younger children, it does illustrate how the Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen and Nitrogen molecules 'combined' to form amino chains which were precursors to simple one-celled creatures. The new chains appear as small creatures comprised of the letters themselves (C-H-O-N) and dance around. While the animation isn't of the highest quality, the animated short has been showing continuously in the Smithsonian for as long as I have visited.

This film was (and may still be) running in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, in a dark alcove right by the Dinosaur wing on the first floor.

The life cycle made simple and entertaining

[llltdesq · 8/10 · 15 June 2014]

This is a short produced by the Hubley Studio for the Smithsonian. There will be spoilers ahead:

CHON=Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen. The building blocks of life as we know it. Faith Hubley and the crew at Hubley Studio have made an excellent short depicting in a very short time the basics to the life cycle, set to a catchy tune, probably titled "CHON", because it's repeated frequently, as a chant, throughout the short.

Children and adults will find lots here to enjoy. Animated in the Hubley style, its rhythm is infectious, the visuals are marvelous and it's informative to boot.

This short was in print and can be found on the Hubley Collection, Volume 1 DVD from Image Entertainment. Recommended.

Excellent, fun and educational to boot!

[slifchez · 10/10 · 26 April 2005]

My wife and I just got back from the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. where we watched Enter Life several times. It's maybe a 5 minute animated show about how basic elements came together on Earth some 4 and a half billion years ago and started the cycle of life. The animation is a lot of fun and we've been singing the "CHON" (Carbon-Hydrogen-Oxygen-Nitrogen) song ever since.

We also visited the National Zoo where there's an exhibit called "Amazonia". I now see on IMDb that the creator of Enter Life also did a short called "Amazonia", which I'm guessing is the film used at the zoo. Unfortunately we missed this show, but if it's as good as Enter Life, we'll just have to make a return trip to D.C. to see it!

If you go to D.C., you simply must visit the Museum of Natural History and see Enter Life. We'll definitely be back!