Customer Reviews

The Beatrix Potter Collection

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

With the resurgence of interest in the art and tales of Beatrix Potter, there should be great interest in this fine compilation of nine 30-minute episodes from the BBC animated series. As the credits suggest, extraordinary care was taken to preserve Miss Potter's original art down to brushstrokes and washes. The animation is gentle, and invokes the author's characters - for the most part - with great charm and humor, Each episode opens and closes with photographed vignettes from the author's life in the Lake Country, and some are quite moving. The musical score, which sounds like an adaptation of Vaughan Williams, evokes Miss Potter's pastoral existence, and the closing credits feature "Perfect Day," a bewitching song performed by Miriam Stockley, the lead singer of Adiemus.

As I grow older, these stories, animated or not, acquire a mythic quality they did not have when I was young.
In addition, since these animated versions of Potter's most familiar stories bring the eye closer to the art than most readings provide, one can appreciate the color sense, character and innovation in her art.

I am not ashamed to say that I am 55 years old and enjoy watching a tale or two before I go to sleep. Now, as then, Beatrix Potter's stories, her colors and lines and reverence for nature have a way of removing me from the chaos of the present,

This slipcased gift set will make an affordable gift for a child, or for an adult who has not relinquished the child within.

Warmly recommended.

These videos are absolutely delightful. My boys and I have enjoyed them for years. They love Samuel Whiskers and the Roly Poly Pudding especially. I have been looking for a production of these videos that was NOT by GoodTimes. The reason is because some of the old VHS tapes that were produced by GoodTimes had inserted some odd dub overs in a few places - exchanging the original British accent on a word with a dub over "American" version. I was planning to just have my old VHS tapes transferred over to DVD but now I don't have to !!! LOVE THEM!!! Love the British accents.

Regarding the 3/08 BBC 3-DVD release, "The Beatrix Potter collection"--The Beatrix Potter Collection: This excellent and charming 1990s, British animation series of nine Beatrix-Potter tales, initially called "The world of Peter Rabbit and friends," was previously released on DVD in 2/04 by GoodTimes as "The complete Beatrix Potter collection"--Complete Beatrix Potter Collection 2pk, a box set consisting of two slipcased thick-case DVDs. The Goodtimes release also lacks extras (shame!), is in 4:3 color and Dolby 2.0 stereo, but claims 235 minutes total. GoodTimes sequences the tales as follows:
BBC DVD 1 = GoodTimes 1/1 2/3 2/2 (DVD/tale)
BBC DVD 2 = GoodTimes 1/4 1/2 1/3
BBC DVD 3 = GoodTimes 2/4 2/1 1/5
Quality of the GoodTimes release is very good (the animations are uncompressed). I've not seen the BBC 3/08 release. The GoodTimes 2-DVD set is currently available at 2/3 the cost (list price) of the BBC 3-DVD set.

The series stars Niamh Cusack (born in Dublin 20 Oct. 1959) as a very effective (but voiceless) Beatrix Potter (born 28 July 1866, South Kensington, London, died 22 Dec. 1943, Castle Cottage, Near Sawrey, age 77), with scenes from Potter's cottage and environs at Near Sawrey in England's Lake District. Voices of the animated characters include some very famous actors, as Patricia Routledge (as Cousin Ribby), Derek Jacobi (as Mr. Jeremy Fisher), and Hugh Laurie (Johnny Town-Mouse). More info at IMDb.

Do not buy the Goodtimes release!!! It's way inferior to this 2008 BBC release! I compared them head to head and the difference is so obvious! The Goodtimes release managed to ruin the picture quality, it sure has to do with the fact that they squeeze the whole thing into two single layer dvds, as opposed to the BBC release who got them on three dvds.
Sure, the price on Goodtimes it's much lower, or you can pump-up the colors on your player/display but the missing data cannot be replaced ! I wish someone told me that when I did my buying!

"The Beatrix Potter Collection" presents the series "The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends." Each episode opens with several minutes of "live action" in which an actress depicting Beatrix Potter does her rounds in an English country village and in her cottage. She then sits at a desk and writes the tale that enfolds through animation. The delicate and subtly-rendered animation is faithful to the style and spirit of Potter's original watercolors. As if that weren't enough, the soundtrack is first-rate. Don't be surprised when you find yourself humming the main track "Perfect Day" throughout your not-so-perfect day. I was impressed with how Potter and these contemporary animators imbued such drama to everyday country life. As a father, I am heartened that there still are animated stories that create suspense and humor without having to resort to the mindless slugging and vapid dialogue that too often passes for children's entertainment. Our two young daughters were spellbound by these episodes.

Beatrix Potter has captured children's hearts & imaginations with her books. Now on DVD 14 of her stories have been brought to life, with the animation based on Beatrix Potter's illustrations. A great addition to your DVD collection! When the stories start, children are mesmerised - silence reigns!
Niamh Cusack is great as Beatrix Potter. You meet her at the beginning of the stories, & see how she got her inspiration for the stories as she's out painting in the Lake District. Lovely, haunting music adds to the pleasure of the viewing.
The Story of Fuzzypeg the Hedgehog (Little Grey Rabbit: the Classic Editions)
One Starry Night: Stop and Smell the Roses Series (Stop and Smell the Roses)

This set of 3 DVDs is something wonderful! A very good adaptation form the Beatrix Potter tales that in my opinion, it is the perfect complement to the stories, you know, a book will always be a book. All the carachters here are well know from the Tales of Peter Rabbit and friends. Even if you have not read the whole stories,this is a good reference to the joy you will have when you read the stories. Every chapter here is attention catching and you will enjoy watching again and again. And children certainly will love this films. Here you will have the chance how Peter Rabbit from being a naughty rabbit gets to a hero when saving his nephews and nieces along Benjamin Bunny. And the most interesting is the cross refrence with other characters from Mrs. Potter's wonderful stories. Not by chance they are a classic of child literature in English and with this DVDs, you will enjoy watching it with your children. Animation is pretty fine and as I mentiond above, your attention will be inmediatly focused on what is next. If I could say I wanted something else, would be subtitles in Spanish and French. At least they have subtitles in English for the hearing-impaired. Each DVD is about 75 minutes.

A wonderful adaptation of some brilliant stories written by the inimatable Beatrix Potter.
Charm oozes out of every picturesque scene we are presented with.

The characters are brought to life in such a realistic way with voices by well chosen actors.
My Mother bought the video version of these stories years ago when I was still a young child,but they sadly didn't work anymore.
Even though I am now 17,I asked my Mum to buy this DVD collection so I could watch them again and again for years to come.

We are both transfixed by the enchanting world that we entered into.
Proving that these timeless DVD's can appeal to children of all ages!

Great DVD selection. My daughter is 10 month old and she loves Peter rabbit! this is a way to bring the character closer and in a funny way. I think this dvd selection will acompany her along her childhood.

A writer and illustrator of children's books, Beatrix Potter provided the world with such memorable characters as Peter Rabbit and his three sisters Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cottontail. Nine of her stories were made into short films (about a half-hour each) and these comprise this boxed set.

Animated ... with live-action intros and exits ... these nine movie shorts capture the heart of Beatrix. Rabiits, mice, birds, cats, and other animals are given human personalities, voices, and ... troubles. Mr. McGregor's garden is, for example, a big trouble spot.

The quality does vary from film to film ... both in their production and Beatrix's writing ... with the adventures of Peter Rabbit (a very naughty bunny), Benjamin Bunny, Mrs. Tittlemouse, and Jemima Puddle-Duck being, I think, the best ones.

But if you want to watch charm and innocence in film, these Beatrix Potter stories are for you.