Peter Rabbit is a CGI animated television series that debuted on Nick Jr. on December 14, 2012 in the United States and on the CBeebies channel and BBC One on December 25, 2012 in the United Kingdom. It is based on the character of the same name from the Beatrix Potter children's books. The series debuted in 2012 with a holiday special, Peter Rabbit's Christmas Tale, which was watched by three million viewers in the U.S. The first official DVD of "Peter Rabbit" came out on May 28, 2013, as a Walmart exclusive. it contains the show's first eight episodes on a single disc. On October 11, 2013, Nickelodeon ordered a second season of 26 episodes. The series is also dubbed in Welsh on the S4C channel as Guto Gwningen
The show follows mischievous, charming Peter Rabbit as he overcomes obstacles, outwits predators and avoids danger. Peter wants to grow up to be just like his late father and carries his journal (a guide on how to be a good rabbit) on his adventures with his friends, Cousin Benjamin Bunny and new character Lily Bobtail, in the Lake District of northern England.
Main characters
Peter Rabbit – An imaginative and adventurous young rabbit. Unlike the character from the books, this Peter Rabbit lacks shoes. Peter's catchphrase is "a good rabbit never gives up!" (voiced by Colin De Paula (Season 1) L. Parker Lucas (Season 2-present) in the U.S., Connor Fitzgerald in the UK.)
Benjamin Bunny – Peter's cousin and friend who joins him on his adventures. (voiced by Jorge Pupo in the U.S., Danny Price in the UK.) Benjamin's catchphrase is "rabbits are brave, rabbits are brave..."
Lily Bobtail — Peter and Benjamin's quick-witted friend who carries many useful objects in her pocket. Lily was created by the production team for the series. (voiced by Michaela Dean in the U.S., Harriet Perring in the UK.) Lily's catchphrase is "I know that for a fact!"
Mr. Tod – A fox who constantly tries to capture Peter, Benjamin and Lily. (voiced by Mark Huckerby)
Squirrel Nutkin – A tailless squirrel and the leader of the squirrels. His tail was pulled off by Old Brown. (voiced by Jeff Bennett)
Mrs. Rabbit– Mother of Peter, Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-tail. Aunt of Benjamin. (voiced by Stephanie Sheh (Season 1) and Kate Koslowski (Season 2))
Flopsy and Mopsy – Peter and Cotton-Tail's bossy and smug twin sisters. Benjamin's twin cousins. (voiced by Fran Brill (Season 1) and Brittany Harms and Sawyer Niehaus, respectively (Season 2))
Cottontail – Peter, Flopsy and Mopsy's baby sister. Benjamin's youngest cousin. (voiced by Jennifer Iacono (Season 1) and Aviella Kibel (Season 2))
Mr. Bouncer – Benjamin's father. Uncle of Peter, Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-tail. He likes to invent many things (often they all go wrong). (voiced by John White)
Recurring characters
Mr. Jeremy Fisher – A frog who Peter, Benjamin and Lily accidentally cause trouble for on occasion. (voiced by Kirk Thornton)
Jemima Puddle-Duck – A kind, yet very simple-minded duck who knows Peter and his friends well. (voiced by Sarah Bolt)
Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle – A hedgehog and one of the many townspeople Peter interacts with. She washes the town's laundry. (voiced by Gwenfair Vaughan)
Ginger and Pickles – Cat and dog who run the village shop. (voiced by J.B. Blanc and Kirk Thornton, respectively)
Mr. McGregor – A human farmer whose vegetables are the target of Peter. His face is kept hidden from the picture. He is portrayed as an old man who gets winded often.(voiced by Dave Mitchell)
Tommy Brock – An irritable badger who finds Peter and his friends obnoxious when they wake him up or disturb his posessions. (voiced by John White)
Old Brown – A short-tempered owl who wants nothing but silence. Thus he would attack anyone who makes a sound within his vicinity. He constantly chases after Nutkin for disrupting the peace. (voiced by Dave Mitchell)
Samuel Whiskers – A rat who's full name is Samuel Jeremiah Bartholomew Edmond Cornelius Whiskers He is always after an easy meal, preferrably cakes and baked sweets. (voiced by Shawn Curran)
Dr. Warren Bobtail – Lily's father. The Rabbits' family doctor, he has a strong sense of smell. (voiced by Shawn Curran)
Mrs. Bobtail – Warren's wife and Lily's mother. (voiced by Sarah Bolt)
Pig Robinson - A friendly pig who lives on a farm with his best friend Mittens. He loves to paint on his easel, and tries mostly to befriend everyone he meets.
Mittens - A young cat who lives on a farm with her best friend Pig Robinson. While somewhat hostile to Lily, Peter and Benjamin at first, she eventually warms up to them. She is aggressive to Samuel Whiskers, and abhorred the idea of Tommy Brock moving in her farm.
Mr. Tolly - A tortoise, who, over his many years, has acquainted with many of Peter Rabbit's friends, enemies, as well as Peter's father.
Jack Sharp - A three-spined stickleback who once knew Peter's father. Often fights with Mr. Jeremy Fisher
The Shrew - His territory possesses a bountiful field of dandelions, which he guards against Peter Rabbit, or any other rabbit. He once tracked down Peter to his burrow to demand the return of dandelions picked by Peter and his friends. He is the object of Cotton-tail's affection, much to his dismay.
The Mice - Albert, Louisa and Stanley are two brothers and one sister mice siblings who just want to survive
Episodes
Fifty episodes of the series have been aired as of 2015.
Broadcast
Presently it is airing in Canada on Treehouse TV which also has games. In the United Kingdom it currently airs on CBeebies.
Reception
"Peter Rabbit's Christmas Tale" (Dec 14, at 7 p.m. ET/PT), drew 3 million total viewers and ranked as the number-one program with K2-5 and K2-11 across all TV in its time period. It was also the top-rated and most-watched preschool telecast for the week, posting double and triple-digit gains over last year with K2-5 (6.7/891,000, +196%) and K2-11 (4.7/1.6 million, +22%); and A18-49 (.9/940,000, +73%), making it the week's top preschool telecast.
According to 'By The Numbers', Nickelodeon's brand-new animated series Peter Rabbit hopped to the top of the charts, with its Tuesday, Feb 19 premiere, which delivered 1.7 million total viewers. The new CG-animated series was also basic cable's top telecast in its time period (12-12:30 p.m. ET/PT) with K2-5, A18-49, W18-49 and total viewers, posting double-digit gains for the net with K2-5 (5.7/760,000, +21%), A18-49 (+47%), W18-49 (+43%) and total viewers (+31%).
CBeebies broadcasts of the show have been equally successful with the broadcast on Christmas morning 2012 on BBC1 earning it the highest ratings on any channel in that timeslot.
At the 2014 Emmy Awards, the show bagged three daytime Emmys and scored another five nominations, earning the most nominations for an animated show this year.
