The Canterbury Tales 

Add a Plot »

Stars:

Robert Lindsay, Neil Dudgeon, Michael Feast

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 9 wins.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Robert Lindsay	...	Harry Bailey 2 episodes, 1998-2000
Neil Dudgeon	...	The Miller 2 episodes, 1998-2000
Michael Feast	...	The Summoner 2 episodes, 1998-2000
Tim McInnerny	...	The Pardoner / ... 2 episodes, 1998-2000
Bill Nighy	...	The Merchant 2 episodes, 1998-2000
Billie Whitelaw	...	The Wife of Bath 2 episodes, 1998-2000
John Wood	...	The Knight 2 episodes, 1998-2000
Imelda Staunton	...	The Prioress 2 episodes, 1998-2000
Ronan Vibert	...	The Squire 2 episodes, 1998-2000
David Troughton	...	The Friar 2 episodes, 1998-2000
Bob Peck	...	Geoffrey Chaucer 2 episodes, 1998

Storyline

---

Plot Keywords:

stop motion | part computer animation | 

---

Genres:

Animation

---

Details

Country:

Russia UK

Language:

English Middle English

Release Date:

21 December 1998 (UK)

Also Known As:

Кентерберийские рассказы

Company Credits

Production Co:

BBC Wales, Christmas Films, Home Box Office (HBO)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

28 min (3 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Alternate Versions

The series was broadcast in the UK in three languages - English, Welsh and Middle English.

---

Connections

Follows Shakespeare: The Animated Tales (1992)

User Reviews

An especially good animated Canterbury Tales for children...

... and adults will enjoy it as well.

This is a 'popular' introduction to The Canterbury Tales, which, like the animated Shakespeare series, is sure to fascinate inquisitive children (and adults for that matter); a point some detractors here seem to have overlooked. OK, if you're well-versed in the stories then you probably won't want to watch this adaptation (much edited and abridged as it is), however, you might want your children to see it - they'll love it; and maybe sometime later they'll be inspired to pick up the original stories and explore the rich and vibrant world of Chaucer more fully.

The animation is superb and each tale is presented in a different style. Each style is beautiful in it's own right and has obviously been picked to match the style of the individual tale. The voice-over is courtesy of a quality cast of British actors. For those who are studying the original text, or who just revel in the exotic, there is a parallel Middle English voice-over (the advantage of animation now becomes clear) and that alone makes this a really worthwhile project.

I'm not sure if it's available on DVD but it certainly should be - it seems perfectly suited to that format. All three episodes (with ME) could be packaged onto one disc with subtitles for the ME, and with historical background stuff included in the "extras" section. I'd certainly grab one if it was released.

(Correction: apparently the DVD has all the above elements on it - excellent value)