The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends

I should preface this review by stating that I am a major fan of the Beatrix Potter series and therefore am also a major fan of the show The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends. This series does such a great job of reflecting the pure innocence that the books are known for. I personally don't understand why some of the books were a single episode while other times two books were combined into two segments per episode, although I can kind of understand this in the case of Peter Rabbit/Benjamin Bunny since the books are somewhat connected. I also wish that there was a Squirrel Nutkin episode. Those two small nitpicks aside, I absolutely adore the series. For one thing, I really love the animation, which is very felt-like. I know I use that comparison a lot but it's very noticeable here. Another thing that I very much enjoy is the dialogue, which is very nice and somewhat funny at times. Best of all, the stories always keep the whimsy and enchantment of the originals. Consisting Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny, Two Bad Mice And Johnny Town-Mouse, Mrs Tiggy-Winkle and Jeremy Fisher, Tom Kitten and Jemima Puddleduck, The Flopsy Bunnies and Mrs Tittlemouse, Samuel Whiskers, Pigling Bland, Mr Tod, and The Tailor of Gloucester. Check out this magical land of disobient bunnies, rambunctious kittens, and practical hedgehogs.

I find The World Of Peter Rabbit and Friends (1992) is rather splendid, because of the Characters, the story, the animation, the art style, the music, the narration and the voice acting, It has got rabbit characters are Peter Rabbit, Mrs. Josephine Rabbit, Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-Tail, Benjamin Bunny and Mr. Bouncer, the cat characters are Tom Kitten, Moppet, Mittens, Mrs. Tabitha Twitchet, Cousin Ribby and Simpkin, the duck characters are Mr. Drake Puddle-Duck, Rebeccah Puddle-Duck and Jemima Puddle-Duck, the dog characters are Kep and John Joiner, the rat characters are Mr. Samuel Whiskers and Anna Maria, the pig characters are Aunt Pettytoes, Pigling Bland, Alexander and Pig-Wig, the mice characters called Mrs. Thomasina Tittlemouse, Tom Thumb, Hunca Munca, Johnny Town-Mouse and Timmie Willie, the hedgehog character called Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, the frog character called Mr. Jeremy Fisher, the newt character called Sir Isaac Newton, the toad character called Mr. Jackson, the badger called Tommy Brock and the fox character called Mr. Tod. I'm giving this a 10/10.

This is this only video I own, of the series, and I am so enchanted by the live opening and ending sequences that I could watch them over and over, like a favorite song. They are more than worth the price of the video. In these short, exquisite moments I feel I am transported to Beatrix Potter's cottage and beautiful surrounding countryside. She comes in from a beginning rainstorm, to sit at her desk and begin writing her letter to her niece, with a bunny right there on her desk. The music that accompanies these scenes fits the moments beautifully. I leave the animated portions for the kids, they are, as earlier posters have stated, very true to the authors books.

The other day I stumbled across a VHS in the charity shop of 'Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny' from this series; 1st time seeing this production since the early-mid 90's I guess ! If 'Peter and Benjamin' was the 1st in this series, they made (8?) other programmes of Beatrix Potter tales.

I forgot just how classy and refined this series was. It was beautifully animated; true and accurate to the style of Beatrix Potter's illustrations, with no caricatured/digital plasticity.

I particularly liked the live-action segments at the start and end of the cartoons, portraying Beatrix Potter- played by the highly cute Niamh Cusack - at her farmhouse home, inspired by her beloved pets to write the stories of the animals.

The music featured during the end credits of the early programmes from 1992 is also worth mentioning; a tender, refined folky number, sung by Miriam Stockley of Adiemus fame.

All in all, I will have to give this production a full 10/10 for its beauty, perfection and nostalgic element, the latter evoking the good ole' early 90's we all remembered and loved !

Beatrix Potter was one of my favourite authors when I was a kid, and at 17 I still love her stories to this day. They are just so simple and charming that they are so easy to like. So is this truly wonderful series. The series consists of 9 episodes based on her books- The Tale of Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny, The Tale of Samuel Whiskers and the Roly Poly Pudding, The Tale of Tom Kitten and Jemima Puddle Duck, The Tailor of Gloucester, The Tale of Pigling Bland, The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy Winkle and Jeremy Fisher, The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies and Mrs Tittlemouse. The Tale of Mr Tod and The Tale of Two Bad Mice and Johnny Town Mouse. I really cannot decide on a personal favourite of mine, for they are all so brilliant, but if I must probably Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny, though Tailor of Gloucester is a perfect Christmas treat.

Back to the series, the live action sequences were exceedingly charming and exquisitely filmed. The period detail was splendid and the scenery was breathtaking. Niamh Cusack as Beatrix Potter was perfect, exactly as I imagined her, shy, quiet and reflective who found solace in her drawings and stories. The animation was just like Miss Potter's illustrations, and they were colourful and carefully drawn. And the music was just outstanding, and is careful not to overpower what is going on screen. The song Perfect Day, both in melody and lyrics, is one of the best songs I have ever heard, and Miriam Stockley's vocals were perfection. The episodes themselves are remarkably true to their source, and lose none of their charm. The world of Beatrix Potter is a wondrous place I find, full of bunnies, kittens, hedgehogs and ducks, that are every bit as sweet as they are likable. Also there was clearly a great deal of care into finding a perfect voice cast for each episode. Some of our finest actors and actresses June Witfield(Mrs Rabbit), Shiela Hancock(John Thaw's wife, Anna Maria), Ian Holm(The Tailor), Pam Ferris(Auntie Pettitoes), Derek Jacobi(Jeremy Fisher), Anna Massey(Mrs Tittlemouse) and Hugh Laurie(Johnny Town Mouse)all but to name a few expertly bring their characters to life, and make the most of faithful and well written material.

Overall, The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends is a must see if you love Beatrix Potter like I do. It doesn't spoil the books at all, and Miss Potter herself would be proud if she saw this series. It is charming, handsome, faithful and so relaxing to watch. I also recommend the 1971 ballet film The Tales of Beatrix Potter, because that is every bit as delightful. Plus the late great Frederick Ashton himself makes an appearance as Miss Tiggy Winkle. A definite 10/10 Bethany Cox