The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends is an animated television series based on the works of Beatrix Potter, featuring Peter Rabbit and other anthropomorphic animal characters created by Potter. It was originally shown in the U.K. on BBC between 1992 and 1998 and subsequently broadcast in the U.S. on Family Channel from 1993–1995 (with some of the characters' voices re-dubbed by actors with more American-like accents). The series has also been released on VHS and DVD.
Production[]
The show was produced by TVC London for the publishing company Frederick Warne & Co. in association with the BBC and the Japanese companies Pony Canyon Inc and Fuji Television Network Inc. The first six episodes cost approximately US$11 million to produce. Dianne Jackson, director of the 1982 Christmas movie The Snowman, was involved in the planning of the series and received series director and writer credit on the first six episodes, but she died of cancer in New Year's Eve 1992.
Contents[]
Each episode opens up with a live-action Beatrix Potter, portrayed by actress Niamh Cusack, coming to her farmhouse out of the rain, sitting down to some tea with her pet rabbit, Peter, and then setting up the featured story. An exception to this is The Tailor of Gloucester episode, which is set at Christmas time. Some of the episodes include storylines from two separate books, either told one after the other or intermingled. The animation style of The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends is very close to Potter's artwork in the original books. The main title song for the show is "Perfect Day," sung by Miriam Stockley.
Episodes[]
- The Tale of Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny (20 December 1992)
- The Tale of Tom Kitten and Jemima Puddle-Duck (9 April 1993)
- The Tale of Samuel Whiskers or The Roly-Poly Pudding (29 August 1993)
- The Tailor of Gloucester (24 December 1993)
- The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle and Mr. Jeremy Fisher (1 April 1994)
- The Tale of Pigling Bland (27 December 1994)
- The Tale of Two Bad Mice and Johnny Town-Mouse (26 December 1996)
- The Tale of The Flopsy Bunnies and Mrs. Tittlemouse (27 December 1996)
- The Tale of Mr. Tod (25 December 1998)