Le vent dans les saules

The book by Kenneth Grahame is a perfectly enchanting one, with the memorable characters and the beautiful story. This animated film is my favourite adaptation of the book, I thought it was beautiful and charming. The animation was splendid, exactly like I pictured it, the film is very true to the book and the music is very lyrical. My favourite scene has to be the one on the riverbank, beautifully done, and is one of my favourite parts of the book. But what made the film is the voice cast, Rik Mayall the standout as Toad, but Michael Palin, Alan Bennett and Michael Gambon voice their characters Rat, Mole and Badger respectively. They were advantaged by a well written script and assured direction. This was a perfect film, and anyone who hasn't seen it already, you will be enchanted by this. 10/10 Bethany Cox.

I am a little biased because this is the version I grew up on, but since re-watching it as an adult I still believe it captures the magic of the book better than any other version.

Unlike the others, this version doesn't shy away from the spiritual aspects of the book. Despite apparent danger, this world is inhabited by magical beings who look after the river-folk. Also, even though this movie is for kids, it trusts it's audience to relate to the internal struggle between wanderlust and responsibilities. Both Mole and Toad share this struggle, but each handles it differently. This is a fantastic lesson for kids to learn. The animation is beautiful and looks like a painting come to life. The voice acting is also perfect. Overall, the presentation is great and the story is rich. This movie will enchant children and adults alike.

For this take I didn't understand what was going on.

Production wise with animation it was really good. Other than that the story lost me.

One second the toad is in prison. The next he escapes then the story ends.

What can be learned? Animals are cool.

Verdict : confusing

I am writing this review after seeing this movie on the STARZ! channel by accident. Hopefully, I can save other viewers some confusion. This was advertised as The Wind in the Willows, the live-action film directed by Terry Jones of Monty Python fame and starring Jones along with other former Python stars. This is not that film. This film is actually an animated made-for-TV version. The confusion arises from the fact that both versions were made in 1996 and both feature former Python Michael Palin. He is the voice of Rat in this version and he is the only Monty Python star associated with this production.

To further the confusion this cartoon does begin and end with brief live-action scenes. These scenes show Vanessa Redgrave boating along a river and reading to some children. She also serves as narrator throughout the cartoon.

The animation here is about what you'd expect. It looks like every other version of The Wind in the Willows. But the story is a slight mixture of Kenneth Grahame's original "Willows" and the more recent sequel "Willows in Winter" by William Horwood. Toad's obsession with motor cars is taken from the first book rather than his obsession with airplanes in the second book. A few scenes of winter in the Wild Wood and a brief subplot of Portly the otter being lost are all that is taken from Willows in Winter.

Overall it is a good cartoon. The language is very close to the books and I was glad to see that the animals still smoked pipes and cigars and carried pistols. It has not been "watered-down" for children and simpletons.

Having now watched various versions of WITW with my 3 year old son, this was undoubtedly the best of the bunch for both of us, as well as being the most faithful adaptation, and captures the very special and very English magic of the book.

Right from the start a warm elegiac mood and feel is achieved, and the voices of the four leading characters are all excellently cast. We especially loved Alan Bennet, who for me made Mole come fully alive for the first time, and manages to very subtly inject real humour into his delivery. Messrs Gambon (Badger) and Mayall (Toad), were also perfect.

A perfect way to spend a cosy Sunday afternoon curled up with young (or indeed not so young) family.