Product Details

• Actors: Various
• Directors: Various
• Format: Animated, Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, Full Screen, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 3
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: BBC Worldwide
• DVD Release Date: February 12, 2008
• Run Time: 225 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (112 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000ZKQUZY
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #31,244 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Beatrix Potter takes her rightful place alongside Walt Disney and the Brothers Grimm as a storyteller for children of all ages, as this delightful boxed set demonstrates. The collection includes nine 30-minute animated tales (tails?) of Peter Rabbit and crew, originally--and lovingly--produced for the BBC. In The Tale of Peter Rabbit, our dear incorrigible friend Peter, along with siblings Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-tail, is left alone for the day by their mum, who tells them to go have fun but to stay away from the garden of mean Mr. McGregor ("Your father had an accident there; he was put in a pie by Mrs. McGregor"). Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-tail mind their mum, but Peter, of course, is off on a grand adventure, and quicker than you can say "camomile tea," he gets the fright of his life, and a rather upset tummy to boot. Yet Potter's morality tales are not didactic, and the misbehavior is all too human (or lapine). Other beloved Potter characters captured in this set include Tom Kitten, Jemima Puddle-duck, Mrs. Tiggy-winkle, Samuel Whiskers, and Pigling Bland. All will make fast friends with young first-time viewers as well as bring sweet memories to adults who haven't read the original books in years. Potter is known as much for her delicate artwork and beautiful watercolors in her books as for the yarns themselves, and The Beatrix Potter Collection preserves and gives homage to her artistic skill. While the animation isn't technically zippy, it's perfectly suited to Potter's art and the stories themselves, which are allowed to unfold gently, without quick-cut editing or elbow-in-the-ribs setups. Also delightful is the music, unhurried and sweetly melodic. Settle in with some nice currant buns and enjoy. --A.T. Hurley

Product Description

Peter Rabbit and his friends spring to life in this captivating, beautifully animated collection, based on the beloved tales and original drawings of Beatrix Potter.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

279 of 280 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent interpretation of classic tales February 13, 2005

By Robert Pratte VINE™ VOICE

Format:DVD

The two discs here contain nine episodes: 5 on the first disc, 4 on the second (see my run-down below). Each episode is comprised of a short, live-action framing sequence, the story itself in pleasing animation, and another live-action scene to tie up the tale. Recall that this series was produced for television, thus each episode is approximately 26 minutes long. Also, despite being produced for TV, overall I must say that everything is very well done.

The live-action sequences are detailed (costumes, scenery, etc.) and tie in nicely with the story itself. The animated sequences are detailed and visually pleasant. One of the directors, Dianne Jackson, had directed The Snowman, and another, Dave Unwin, directed the 1995 version of The Wind in the Willows, so if you enjoy "old-school" animation that is more evocative of watercolor than CGI, the visuals will be right up your alley.

If you are looking for a way to introduce your kids to classic stories, are a fan of Beatrix Potter, or just enjoy a nicely produced bit of animation, then I would highly recommend these DVDs. I enjoyed them, my wife enjoyed them, my kids enjoyed them, and (I suspect even) my cat enjoyed one or two.

In terms of the episodes contained, here is the list by disc:

Vol 1:

- The Tale of Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny

- The Tale of Mr. Tod

- The Tale of Two Bad Mice and Johnny Town-Mouse

- The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle and Mr. Jeremy Fisher

- The Tailor of Gloucester

Vol 2:

- The Tale of Samuel Whiskers of the Roly-Poly Pudding

- The Tale of Tom Kitten and Jemima Puddle-Duck

- The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies and Mrs. Tittlemouse

- The Tale of Pigling Bland

185 of 187 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Beauty and charm for all ages February 28, 2008

By Birdman

Format:DVD

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.

51 of 51 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The BBC version has all the right accents - no dub overs! June 9, 2008

By K. Lunn

Format:DVD

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.