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. 14 of Potter's stories were adapted into 9 films, and the series was originally shown in the U.K. on the BBC between 20 December 1992 and 25 December 1998. It was subsequently broadcast in the U.S. on Family Channel between 23 October 1992 and 23 October 1995. For the initial VHS releases, some of the characters' voices were dubbed-over by actors with more American-like accents.
Production
TVC London, in association with the BBC and the Japanese companies Pony Canyon Inc and Fuji Television Network Inc., produced the show for the publishing company Frederick Warne & Co. The first six episodes cost approximately £5 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. The animation style of The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends keeps very close to Potter's artwork in the original books. The main title song for the show is Perfect Day sung by Miriam Stockley. The live-action scenes in Potter's cottage and grounds were filmed on location at her actual cottage, 'Hill Top', in Cumbria, which is maintained unchanged as a museum by the National Trust.
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 after finishing a watercolour painting and running home with her pet dog, Kep, or after doing the shopping in town 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 Potter finishes the story, she either posts the picture letter herself or asks a boy to do it. An exception to this is The Tailor of Gloucester episode, which takes place at Christmas time. The Tailor of Gloucester, unlike the other episodes, 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, and it ends with pictures taken from the main story. Some of the episodes include storylines from two separate books, either told one after the other or intermingled.
Episodes
Cast
Niamh Cusack – Beatrix Potter (live action) Mark Lockyer - Peter Rabbit (adult), Alexander Rory Carty (UK) / Robert Carey (US) – Peter Rabbit (young) Adrian Scarborough - Benjamin Bunny (adult) Andrew Clitheroe (UK) / Daniel Peter Klein (US) – Benjamin Bunny (young) Enn Reitel – Mr. Bouncer, Cock Robin, Grocer, Mr. Drake Puddle-Duck, Kep, Sparrows, Animals, & Insects June Whitfield – Mrs. Rabbit Richard Wilson (UK) / Andrew Robertson (US) – Mr. McGregor Richard Griffiths – Mr. Alderman Ptolomy Tortoise, Sir Isaac Newton, Mr. Jackson Ian Holm – The Tailor of Gloucester Dan Russell - Mouse Tailor, Mice Derek Griffiths - Simpkin Hugh Laurie – Johnny Town-Mouse Alan Bennett - Timmy Willie Prunella Scales – Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle Rebecca Hall - Lucie Rik Mayall - Tom Thumb Felicity Kendal - Hunca Munca Alan Bowe (UK) / Atsuyuki Fujinuma (US) - Tom Kitten Katie Wilkins (US) - Moppet Rachel Azoulay (US) - Mittens Rosemary Leach - Tabitha Twitchit Patricia Routledge - Ribby Struan Rodger - Samuel Whiskers Sheila Hancock - Anna Maria John Gordon Sinclair - John Joiner Su Pollard (UK) / Sandra Dickinson (US) - Jemima Puddle-Duck Pam Ferris - Aunt Pettitoes Dinsdale Landen - Mr. Tod Don Henderson - Tommy Brock Derek Jacobi - Jeremy Fisher Chris Lang - Pigling Bland Josie Lawrence - Pig-Wig Selina Cadell - Rebeccah Puddle-Duck Sheila Steafel - Flopsy (adult), Cook & Nurse Jenny Moore - Flopsy (young), Moppet (UK), Flopsy Bunnies Mary Jane Bowe - Mopsy, Mittens (UK), Flopsy Bunnies Sarah Woolcock - Cotton-Tail, Flopsy Bunnies Anna Massey – Mrs. Tittlemouse June Watson – Mrs. McGregor Suzanne Bonetti - Sarah the parlour maid & the Child, Mice, Insects Anthony Jackson - Policeman David Neal - Mr. Piperson the Farmer Kim Parker & Nichola Dawson - Flopsy Bunnies Moir Lesley - Female Sparrow Bob Saker - Mice Deb Strafford - Mice Bruce Ogston, Phillip Dogham, Lynda Richardson & Rosemary Ashe - Singers
Documentaries
When the films were released on VHS, they featured a special mini documentary at the end.
Trivia
Even though his story was never adapted Squirrel Nutkin made a guest cameo in The Tale of Mr. Tod which obviously took place before as Nutkin still had his tail.