"Watership Down" (1999) TV series

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Genre:

Adventure | Animation | Fantasy

Plot:

The adventures of a warren of rabbits as they struggle to develop their new home & protect it from the various threats they face.

Plot Keywords:

Rabbit | Place Name In Title | Runt | Remake | Based On Novel

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Richard Briers	...	Captain Broom (15 episodes, 1999-2001)
Jane Horrocks	...	Hannah (14 episodes, 1999-2000)
Andrew Falvey	...	Fiver (13 episodes, 1999)
Phill Jupitus	...	Dandelion (13 episodes, 1999)
Stephen Mangan	...	Bigwig (13 episodes, 1999)
Lee Ross	...	Hawkbit (13 episodes, 1999)
Ian Shaw	...	Hazel (13 episodes, 1999)
Rik Mayall	...	Kehaar (13 episodes, 1999)
Elliot Henderson-Boyle	...	Pipkin (12 episodes, 1999)
Rob Rackstraw	...	Campion / ... (9 episodes, 1999)
David Holt	...	Vervain / ... (8 episodes, 1999)
Kate Ashfield	...	Primrose (7 episodes, 1999)
John Hurt	...	General Woundwort (7 episodes, 1999-2000)

(more)

Series Directed by
Troy Sullivan		(13 episodes, 1999)

Series Writing credits
Richard Adams		(13 episodes, 1999)
Roger Stennett		(5 episodes, 1999)
Martin Riley		(3 episodes, 1999)
Anna Bourque		(2 episodes, 1999)
David Finley		(2 episodes, 1999)

Series Produced by
Justin Bodle	....	executive producer (13 episodes, 1999)
Neil Court	....	executive producer (13 episodes, 1999)
Steven DeNure	....	executive producer (13 episodes, 1999)
Martin Rosen	....	executive producer (13 episodes, 1999)
Beth Stevenson	....	producer (13 episodes, 1999)
Simon Vaughan	....	executive producer / producer (13 episodes, 1999)
Curtis Crawford	....	producer (2 episodes, 1999)
Denyse Ouellette	....	associate producer (2 episodes, 1999)

Series Original Music by
Mike Batt		(13 episodes, 1999)

Series Art Department
Benoit Cecyre	....	storyboard artist (2 episodes, 1999)
Trevor Hierons	....	storyboard artist (2 episodes, 1999)

Series Animation Department
Phil Postma	....	key animator (13 episodes, 1999)
Michel Dazé	....	overseas animation supervisor (2 episodes, 1999)
Scott Fiander	....	sheet timer (2 episodes, 1999)
Michel Guérin	....	background artist (2 episodes, 1999)
Woong Cheon Jang	....	animation posing artist (2 episodes, 1999)
Teo Kiriakov	....	background artist (2 episodes, 1999)
Michael Mitchell	....	track breakdown (2 episodes, 1999)
Lise Murka	....	color stylist (2 episodes, 1999)
Knud Skov	....	background supervisor (2 episodes, 1999)
Sue Wilkinson	....	layout artist (2 episodes, 1999)
Lynn Zentner-Roos	....	background artist (2 episodes, 1999)
Julie Styles	....	animation posing artist (unknown episodes)
Sarah Taylor	....	animation posing artist (unknown episodes)
Sebastian Weber	....	animation posing artist (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Michael Thibodeau	....	colorist (2 episodes, 1999)

Series Other crew
Mary Crawford	....	executive story editor (13 episodes, 1999)
Alan Templeton	....	executive story editor (13 episodes, 1999)
Alan Templeton	....	voice director (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Alltime Entertainment
• Canal Famille
• Decode Entertainment
• Funbag Animation Studios
• Helix Animation
• YTV

Distributors

• Independent Television (ITV) (1999) (UK) (TV)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2009) (Australia) (DVD)
• YTV

Country:

Canada | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:G

Company:

Alltime Entertainment

Movie Connections:

Version of Watership Down (1978)

Soundtrack:

In Fields of Sun

The world of Watership Down

Some people who have read the book hate both this TV series and the 1978 film. I've read the book, and do not hate them. Maybe because I saw the TV and film adaptations before.

This series is children's version of the classic novel - so unlike the 1978 film - there is considerably less violence and darkness. Most children will love it because of the endearing characters and fluent animation (quite good for a TV cartoon.) This was one of my favourite shows when I was little, and I liked it because of the way rabbits were presented - intelligent dignified and handsome creatures, not cutesy little balls of fluff.

I must confess, I saw the film before I saw this, and I like both. However, if it were not for this TV show, I would probably never have been eager to read, and love, the book. Many people do not like the 'kiddified' feel, but they do not realise the fact that this was created to introduce children of all ages to the amazing world of Watership Down.