It's been a long time since I saw it and I'm not likely to watch it again. A rabbit clan forced to migrate, loosing the last of the does, forced to fight the normal hostile nature for rabbits, avoid the temptations of abundant food, with an explicit scene concerning wire traps. open war with a stronger clan for a home land and new does. It's about as depressing as the Secret of Nimh, but with a very powerful story along the lines of Animal Farm. Life is not always easy or pretty. It's one of those movies I feel all animation people should see at least once, but don't expect sunshine and flowers. Wind in the Willows,,, it ain't.
I got it on DVD because of its obscurity (at least it is in the U.S.).
Very interesting film. The plot is about a group of bunnies leaving their warren after one of them has a dark premonition. The movie itself is very dark. In fact, some scenes are downright disturbing. Even the end is bitter sweet. If you're tired of Disney/Pixar/anime fare and you're in search of an obscure, mature animated film, you should check it out.
The movie terrified me as a kid, and probably still would now. Like mentioned before, the life of these animals is not always pretty and Watership Down does a pretty good job of making us well aware of that. There are some gruesome scenes, yet it's nothing that shouldn't make you want to continue watching (unless your me).
Overall, i was pretty satisfied with the movie but sometimes feel its overblown. but its a really depressing, although i wouldn't say as bad as Grave of the Fireflies. anyways, i know its a huge book and i felt like they cut out some of the essentials but i haven't read it yet. but the movie was good enough to make me want to read it. I definitely recommend it to anyone.
Actually, I don't see why parents would be a bit hesitant to show this to kids because of the blood and gore parts. That were minor scenes in the film, and it's not horrifying (but then again, all kids are differrent and I can only speak for myself - but I watched it when I was 5 and had no ill effects).
I LOVED this film as the kid, and in my case, it was watching the film first that lead me to reading the book when I was in Junior High school. It's funny how a lot of the points in the film were lost on me until I watched it again when I was older and then I had a better understanding on the themes of life, death, freedom, and the triumph to survive against all odds and nature all in a quasi-fantasy environment.
I feel the film more or less stayed with the book, although MANY of the characters are missing. However, I do remember that my favorite character was Fiver, ever since I first watched it (maybe because I could relate to being a "runt")
But I think the film also needs to be commended on its muscial score. The orchestral parts and the symphonies are absolutely beautiful, almost uplifting. And especially at the end when...
Hazel passes away of old age and El-ahrairah (or the Black Rabbit) escorts him to heaven to join his Owsla.
THAT last scene is breathtaking. Just listen to the background. The muscial number at that part just seemed to make this last moment all the more touching, almost as if it was not an end but a new beginning, and frankly, it's one animated part that never fails to pluck at a heartstring or two. Yeah, I'm maudlin. :anime:
I personally think it's one of the more memorable animated features out there, and considering this was made around the 70s, this is actually ahead for its time. A wonderful film!
And it had a relatively unique approach to cel painting. As I recall (it's been many years), there were very few outlines, just colors meeting each other. Came across more like moving paintings than the usual "cartoon drawings".
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