However, as time passes, the pigs, led by the power-hungry Napoleon, begin to abuse their power and exploit the other animals. The movie follows the animals' struggle for freedom and equality, as they realize that their revolution has been hijacked by those who were supposed to lead them.

The film follows the standard Orwellian arc: the idealistic "Old Major" inspires the animals to overthrow the neglectful Farmer Jones. However, the dream of "Animalism"—where all animals are equal—is quickly subverted by the power-hungry pigs, Napoleon and Snowball. Key themes explored in the movie include: