8 /10 1 Votes
7.6/10 TV Original language(s) English Running time 24 minutes Final episode date 1995 | 8.5/10 IMDb Country of origin United Kingdom No. of episodes 9 First episode date 1992 Number of seasons 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Similar Magic Adventures of Mumfie, The Animals of Farthing, The Octonauts, Thomas and Friends, 64 Zoo Lane | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends is a British animated anthology 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 the BBC between 1992 and 1995 and subsequently broadcast in the U.S. on Family Channel from 1993–1995 and ABC in Australia (29 September 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 by Carlton Video.
Contents
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 special 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 on 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, either from after finishing a watercolour painting and running home with her pet dog, Kep or doing the shopping and hitching a ride home on a horse-drawn vehicle, sitting down to some tea with her pet rabbit, Peter, and then setting up the featured story. Once the story is finished, Potter either posts the picture letter herself or asks a boy to do it. An exception to this is The Tailor of Gloucester episode, which is set at Christmas time. The Tailor of Gloucester begins with Potter's maid, Daisy serving out mince pies to some carol singers who sing the Sussex Carol while Potter and her pet cat, Simpkin listen to them. 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 (May 13, 1992)
- The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies and Mrs. Tittlemouse (June 24, 1992)
- The Tale of Tom Kitten and Jemima Puddle-Duck (July 22, 1992)
- The Tale of Samuel Whiskers or The Roly-Poly Pudding (May 19, 1993)
- The Tailor of Gloucester (June 9, 1993)
- The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle and Mr. Jeremy Fisher (July 7, 1993)
- The Tale of Pigling Bland (May 18, 1994)
- The Tale of Two Bad Mice and Johnny Town-Mouse (June 29, 1994)
- The Tale of Mr. Tod (June 21, 1995)
Cast
Reception
At the 1993 Emmy Awards The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends was nominated for best animated program.
