The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends

THE WORLD OF PETER RABBIT AND FRIENDS - a magical place inhabited by disobedient bunnies, rambunctious kittens & practical hedgehogs - comes beautifully to life in this lovely British animated series based on the classic tales by Beatrix Potter.

The animation, which has been crafted to look like Miss Potter's original drawings, is first rate. Care has been given to find the perfect voice cast and several of Britain's finest actors (Sir Ian Holm, Sir Derek Jacobi, Hugh Laurie, Patricia Routledge, Prunella Scales, etc.) lend their considerable talents to the enterprise.

The animation is charmingly framed with live action sequences featuring Niamh Cusack as Miss Potter, filmed in the English Lake District at the author's beloved Hill Top Farm and the village of Near Sawrey.

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

"The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends" was (and is) an absolutely beautiful television show about Beatrix Potter's stories. The animation was perfect, it looked exactly like the illustrations in the stories! And the music was just stunning, among the most beautiful music that I've ever heard. I have a few episodes on tape that I watched all the time as a kid and I still do. The show captured the comedy and the drama of the stories, though, frankly, the drama nearly had me in tears as a kid because it was that sad and it still does. But don't ever think that it's too sad for children to watch, because it's not. Adults will be hooked into it as well and also may get teary eyed! In conclusion, I very highly recommend this show. It's beautiful, it's funny, it's sad and, most of all it's stunning.

My diagnosis: WATCH IT!

You can keep watching the series just for the opening sequence. Wish they continued making animations like this...

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.